“The one that was meant to blind the person unfortunate enough to stare at it for more than a minute?”
I giggled and then I nodded.
“So? What about it?”
“Apparently, it was a thirty-thousand Harry Winston.”
Adam took a gulp of his beer.
“Only thirty?”
I raised a brow at him. “You knew!”
He sighed. “I can tell the difference from cubic zirconia and diamond, thank you very much.”
“Why didn’t you tell me, Adam?”
He shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
I groaned. Then I said, “Don’t tell me you also knew that the date I brought with me was a fake! He wasn't really a bartender!”
He was silent for a long while. I stared at him, unable to believe that Adam could hide the truth from me.
“Oh my God, Adam! How could you?” I groaned.
“Hey, Ash. It wasn't my position to tell, and he asked me not to.”
“What? When?”
“Well, I got the door for you, remember?” He said. “I recognized him at first glance. Ryder Van Woodsen is a prominent guy in some cities. He was new here. But in Manhattan, he has a face value.”
“A-list?”
Adam nodded. “Sort of. Their family is not exactly unpopular. They’re quite rich and they own a chain of restaurants in three continents. When I saw him, I told him immediately that I was expecting to meet a bartender. He asked me not to say anything to you. But he’s willing to help you out in your own little game.”
“Why?”
Adam shook his head. “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”
I sighed. “That was why you were looking at him funny all evening. That was why you were constantly warning me not to fall for him.”
He nodded. “I was not really happy that day, you know. Or maybe a little.” He smiled. “Because I know I would be getting my ten grand back. But other than that, I was worried.”
I sighed. “He must have been having the laugh of his life that night!”
“Who knows? Maybe he was bored with his life.” Adam said. “The ring was gorgeous though.”
“I returned it.” I whispered.
“Good for you.” He said. “Show him you’re not one of the material girls he knew.”
I took a gulp of my beer. “I didn’t know until the guy in the jewelry shop told me I was wearing an authentic Harry Winston. That’s when I looked for him again. True enough, he wasn’t known in Oil Rig as the bartender.”
“He owns the place.” Adam whispered.
“I’ve been duped twice in a row, Adam!” I muttered.
Adam smiled. “But if it’s any consolation, I did a little research on him. He doesn’t seem so bad. He was just too much into his work, but the good news is… he was never rumored to be a womanizer.”
“I don’t care about Ryder Van Woodsen, Adam.” I said. But I know something inside me is deeply broken. I don’t know why. But I felt really sad to see him again today and find out that he really is Ryder Van Woodsen, and not the Ryder Woodson I was looking forward to see again.
“Then why do you sound so sad?” Adam asked wearily.
It took me a while to answer. “Because I was disappointed. Because, for a while, I was hoping to meet him again. To show him the side of me that isn’t… you know… cuckoo!” I sighed again. “I really liked him. The guy who went with me to the wedding. He was funny and smart. Down to earth and… romantic. He inspired me to be better. And now, I think I am. And I was hoping to find him again… so I could see what… lies ahead of us.”
“You found him again, Astrid. This could be the beginning of something great.”
I shook my head. “I will never see him again.” I stared at Adam sadly. “I will never see Ryder Woodson again. Because he doesn’t exist. He never did.”
“What about Ryder Van Woodsen?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know him.” I replied. “I never did.”
“Well, don’t you want to get to know the guy?”
I laughed humorlessly. “Come on, Adam! That guy is way out of my league! There is no way I’ll fit in to his world. It won’t last. And you know, if I will start believing in ‘ever after’ again, I need to find a man who can lead me to that. Not a playmate for a while, who will ditch me later on. I don’t want to live like that.”
Adam narrowed his eyes. “Live like what? Like a queen? With a guy who can give you everything your heart desires?”
I shook my head. “I’m not asking for much. I never did. I liked the simpler things. I just wanted a stand up guy who can grow old with me, would respect me and won’t look down on me. And I don’t want to live like… a bomb is about to fall on my head any day. That he might tire of me because he lived in an exciting world full of glamorous women who would do anything and everything to take him away from me.”
“You’re a very complicated woman, Ash.” Adam shook his head. “Now, I understand. Even a guy like Ryder Van Woodsen would be crazy about you!”
“I’ve been through a lot. And now that I’m almost out of that zone, out of danger, I… wanted to make sure I won’t head down the same path again.”
“I don’t think you would head down the same path, Ash.” Adam said reassuringly. “Bryan is… one of a kind!” He added sarcastically.
“He’s a classic, isn’t he?” I said shaking my head. “You know I saw him tonight. At the wedding.”
“Oh? And how did that turn out?”
“Really bad. I slapped him.” I said.
“Finally!” Adam threw his hands up in the air triumphantly, as if he had been hoping for that to happen for a long time. “Now, do tell!”
“Well, he came up to me and congratulated me for getting back in business. Then he said that he didn’t think I really loved Ryder, that he thought I was just using Ryder to spite him. Then he told me that Ryder bought me. I couldn’t take it. I slapped him.”
“Still couldn’t accept the fact that he lost you. And he lost you to a better man. And then what happened?”
“I turned away from him, and ran straight into Ryder. I don’t know what he was doing at that party… but he was there at the right time. Bryan told him that he didn’t think that Ryder really had me.”
“What did Ryder say?”
“He doesn’t give a damn.” I replied. “He said he loved me enough for both of us and that’s all that matters.”
Adam snorted and then took a gulp of his beer. “Van Woodsen reads a lot of cheesy novels!”
“Sometimes I don’t know if he’s for real.” I admitted. Ryder just blows me away. But then again, I really didn’t know him.
The real Ryder Van Woodsen runs a chain of bars and has money I wouldn’t be able to count. There’s no way he will have time to read cheesy novels. And he didn’t step out of a romance novel either, that’s for sure!
Chapter Twelve
WEDDING FAVORS:
There are plenty of choices for wedding favors. You can choose from figurines, candles or mints. Just make sure that whatever you choose, it’s not out of your theme and your budget. Plus, it should be something that you yourself would be glad to receive.
I made myself busy the next week. I got the early shots of Angela’s and Jacob’s wedding. I asked permission for these to be uploaded onto my site. I also asked for some early video clips that showed most of the venue, the arrangements, and the highlights of the party.
I was very happy with the results. Rose is getting a lot of inquiries for our services. I don’t give a quote unless I have met with the couple and hear about their ideas, and of course, their budget.
I met with my friends at a new bar called Rig Style. I do not want to risk meeting Ryder at Oil Rig. I promised to stay away from that place since I found out he owned it.
“So when will you treat us for a round of beers?” Dannie asked me.
“Once I start making money. Right now, it’s still on take off stage. But I’m happy wit
h how popular we’re getting.” I said with all smiles.
“You’ve always been great, Ash. This is you. This is who you are, and what you’re made of.” Nicole said. “And I won’t forget what you promised me. You’ll hire me as soon as the cash comes pouring in, okay?”
I nodded. “I promise.”
When we took our bill, the waiter told us it has been taken care of.
“By who?”
The waiter stared at me. I raised a questioning brow at him.
“My boss said you’d know.” He said. “He was hoping you would come up to his office.”
At first, I didn’t get what he meant. Then it dawned on me and my heart pounded inside my ribcage.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” I groaned. How rich could he be?
My friends looked at me curiously.
“Any chance this bar has the same management as Oil Rig?” I asked the waiter.
The waiter smiled and then he said, “Then I trust you understand what I meant.”
I groaned and then I turned to my friends who were smiling now.
“Wow!” Dannie couldn’t help saying.
“Okay, where’s his office?” I asked the waiter.
I told my friends I won’t be long. I just need to tell Ryder that next time he wants to see me, he must make the effort to ask me himself.
I was led to the office upstairs. When I opened the door, I found Ryder standing on one side, looking through the glass wall, his back turned on me. I know that he knows I was standing behind him, but I made no effort to call his name or to make any sound to indicate my presence.
“Can you do me a favor?” He finally asked.
I sighed. “What?”
He turned to face me. “Will you have dinner with me?”
“I already had dinner.” I said, although it was more a snack than dinner. I intended to make some pasta when I get home.
“Would you humor me then?” He asked.
“What for?” I asked back.
He smiled and he stepped closer to me. “We… got off on the wrong foot the last time. I’d like to make up for it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ryder, what do you want from me? I know I owe you a favor. But can you tell me what you want in return so we can go on our separate lives?”
“That’s the thing. I can’t seem to decide what I want in return.” He said, his eyes twinkling. I almost forgot how to breathe. He was so handsome and the look he gave me just blew me away.
I sighed and then I nodded. “Okay. I just need to tell my friends.”
I dialed Dannie’s number and told him that they can go ahead since Ryder and I have some business to talk about.
“Would you like to have dinner here then?” I asked Ryder after my phone call.
He shook his head. “No. I’ve got something else in mind.”
He grabbed his car keys and then he took my hand. I tried to pull it away but he only gripped it tighter, refusing to let me go. Then he turned to me and winked.
I heaved a sigh. I wish he would just tell me what the hell he wants so I can start moving on with my life!
We drove quietly for a while. He parked in front of a hotel and then he went out of the car and opened the door for me.
“Mademoiselle.” He said.
I stared at him and found that his eyes were twinkling, like he was suppressing a laugh or something. I didn’t know what to say so I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him for a moment and then I walked past him. I heard him chuckle behind me.
We walked into a restaurant. He chose a spot outside where we had a lovely view of the beach.
The waiter handed us a menu. Although I said I already had dinner, I still ordered pasta. Ryder was suppressing a smile when he heard me order something from the waiter.
When the waiter left, we stared at each other blankly. Then Ryder chuckled.
“What?” I asked in an irritated tone.
He shook his head. “You’re cute.”
I knew I blushed at that. But I raised my brow at him instead of turning away.
“What do you want from me, Ryder?” I asked.
“Come on, Ash. You were not this grumpy at the wedding. What happened to that girl?”
I sighed. “That girl was desperate and broken. This girl is nearly fixed now and she’s mad at you for lying to her, and making her feel like a first class…”
“Stop!” He cut me off. Something in his voice scared me. He took a deep breath. It was evident that he was trying to control his temper.
I was afraid to utter a word. I bit my lip, while I waited for him to say something.
He took a deep breath. “I never meant to make you feel that, Astrid.” He said in a low voice. “In fact, I never planned to… I didn’t plan the things that happened that night.”
“I know. I threw myself at you. And you’re just a man.” I said.
His eyes narrowed. “Do you think I would take any woman who would throw herself at me?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know you.”
“Exactly. You don’t know me. So don’t… judge me, Ash.” His words were bitter, but his voice was gentle. Like he’d been hurt by my words but he was trying to understand me.
“Then why did you do it, Ryder?” I asked him. “Why did you agree to do pretend to be my boyfriend? You didn’t need the money.”
“Sometimes, you don’t need to have a reason for doing something. Sometimes, you just… want to.” He said.
“It must have insulted you that I thought you were just a mere bartender.”
He shook his head. “Not really. Would you have spoken to me if you knew I owned the place?”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t even look at you.”
He smiled. “I was at the right place at the right time, Astrid. You needed me. Call it a favor.” He said gently.
Our food was served. We ate in silence for the about five minutes. And then I couldn’t help asking him, “What about the events that followed after? Is that a favor too?”
He stared at me for a while. He knew I was talking about the night we spent together. He shook his head, “That… that I did for my own benefit.”
I blushed again and this time, I did look away from him.
The he reached forward and pulled my chin so I could look at him. “The ring was not a payment, Astrid. It was yours the moment I bought it. I never intended to just lend it to you… or to give it to you only after what happened between us. So… please… do not think otherwise.”
“Why, Ryder? Why would you give me that ring in the first place? I know you’re rich and you could afford it. But you don’t just give out expensive rings to people you don’t know.”
“I know you, Astrid.” He said softly. “And I know you deserved it.”
“It’s not enough.” I whispered. “Your reason is not enough.”
He smiled. “If I find a reason that seems ‘enough’ for you, will you wear the ring again?”
I raised a brow. “I gave it back to you already.”
“It’s still yours. I’m not going to send it back to the store.” He said. “So? Will you?”
I sighed. I don’t know what that meant, or why he was so persistent, but somehow, what could it hurt if I accepted his gift? As long as he finds a good enough reason as to why he was giving it to me, then I guess it was fine.
“Only if your reason is good enough.” I said.
He nodded. “Then we have another deal.” He smiled.
“I’ll get to be the judge, so don’t keep your hopes up.” I said seriously.
He laughed. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”
* * *
It’s Kaycee’s and Michael’s wedding day. They were childhood sweethearts, and they wanted their wedding to be a feast of flowers. The place where the ceremony was held was covered in lilies. The reception had roses in shades of red, orange and pink.
The floor was covered with rose petals. I mixed the artificial ones with the real ones to
save on cost. Balls of roses hung from the ceiling in different heights. It looked like a classy fairy, flower land.
“I told you, you should hire me now.” Nicole said. “You really could use some help.”