CHAPTER 2: THE TRUTH
1582 Words
GEORGE.
THREE YEARS LATER.
“Congratulations!”
The cheer is as deafening as it is loud.
Different people come up to me and Genny to give us their well-wishes and congratulations on our engagement.
It is supposed to be a joyous occasion and, for all purposes and appearances, it actually is.
It is just… there is something missing.
A spark.
A contentment, a true one that I had only found with Deidre.
No.
We are not thinking of her.
Not today.
I would be lying if I said I had truly moved on from her.
I haven't.
Every day, since that day, she has crossed my mind.
Scenarios of her being actually able to explain all the bizarre and damning evidence flashed through my mind, trying to weaken my resolve.
And I would have broken if not for Genny.
She is a childhood friend, one that I have only gotten close to in recent years.
Our parents had always wanted us to end up together, but I was determined to find my own way.
The day after my break-up with Deidre, she had shown up at my hotel with a package from my mom.
I must have looked a terrible sight because she had just stared at me in dismay when I had opened the door.
She had also refused to leave, and had continued to badger me until I had opened up.
Ever since then, she has been a quiet confidant and strength through the years.
I don't love her, not as I loved Deidre, and frankly, I don't think I will ever love like that again. But I do care for her.
She is a good woman. Strong, intelligent, business scary and very comfortable in our world with a strong sense of loyalty.
At least, I know she won't betray me -and even if she someday did, I don't think it would break me.
Earlier this year, I had decided that it was time I actively moved on from Deidre.
Time was not doing me any favors, so I took matters into my own hands.
I asked Genny to be my fiancé, to which she readily agreed.
A few months later, we are having our engagement party.
“You know,” she whispers as he leans towards me. “You could at least smile. People might start to think I strong-armed you into this engagement.”
I scoffed at her statement before sending a weak smile.
She is a beautiful woman.
Dark haired, blue eyes, pouty lips with a little body, a stark contrast to Deidre's wild mane of red hair, sparkling gray s***h silver eyes, full lips and curvy body.
A body that my hands still ache to hold.
“I am happy,” I told her before taking another gulp of what is my third glass of champagne. “Just exhausted. They have all basically been saying the same thing over and over again. Congratulations. You two make a very beautiful couple. Such lovely babies you will have. Your two families will grow bigger now. It's exhausting.”
“Maybe. But it is expected. This is our life, we get used to it.”
Deidre would have hated it.
She preferred a quiet life. As do I.
We were planning a quiet engagement between just family and then a quiet, simple wedding on an island where we could both disappear for a few months. It would have been -
Snap out of it, George.
It has been three years already.
Do you really think she will be thinking of you, like you are doing right now?
I turn back to look at Genny, who sends me a small smile before turning to nod at what the man in front of us said.
She is a good woman.
She will be a good wife.
Don't be an as*hole.
“Would you mind terribly, if I ask my fiancé for a dance?” I asked, interrupting whatever monologue the man is spewing.
“Oh no. Of course not. Have fun. Ah, young love. What a delight. I remember…”
I don't wait to hear what he remembers as I take her by the hand and pull her to the dance floor.
The quartet takes it as a cur to begin a slow romantic dance as we take our first steps.
I try.
I really do.
I even stare into her eyes as we dance, trying to force some spark of emotion other than comfort but it doesn't come .
My heart is dead.
And it is all because of Deidre.
I manage to finish the dance and Kane, my best friend, thankfully swoops in.
“You look like a dead man, walking,” he mutters into my ear before turning a charming smile on Genny. “You look dazzling ,Genny.”
“Thank you, Kane. You look dapper yourself.”
“Thank you. So, would you mind terribly, if me and some of the guys took this one over here out for some fun. I am pretty sure he is contemplating suicide at the thought of talking to one of those stuck ups one more time.”
She gives a small chuckle as she shakes her head. “No, I don't mind. Do take him away and bring him back to life.”
“You are a darling,” he says as he drags me away and out of the hall towards the exit.
“You are a savior,” I tell him as we get into the car.
“Well, you wouldn't need to save if you hadn't made the stupid mistake of proposing.”
Oh not this again.
“It was not a mistake. Genny is a good woman and-”
“Genny is not the problem. You are. You don't love her. You can't. Not when you are still hung up on Deidre.”
“Don't mention that name.”
“See! You can't even stand to hear her name without you reacting like an offended peacock. Maybe… just maybe… Why didn't you consider looking for her? Give yourself some closure.”
“There is no closure to give! She betrayed me, that is the end.”
“Well, it doesn't look like the end for you. What would you do when you are making love to Genny and you mistakenly call out Deidre? She might be a saint, but I doubt not even she will tolerate that. You need closure.”
“I thought you were taking me out to have some fun.”
“Man, you are stubborn,” he mutters. “And, yes I am. The boys are waiting for us at the Indigo.”
The Indigo is an elite club that caters to only the one-percenters and anyone they seem fit to bring into their nest.
I rarely come here, but tonight, I don't mind.
Anything that will yank me out of this numbness.
“You are here,” Mark, another of our friends, says with a blank look on his face.
“What is that look for?” Kane demands as we took our seats.
I look over to see both Archie and Tom sharing similar looks while avoiding my gaze.
“What happened?” I ask.
“What do you mean?”
“You all look like you just heard the worst news of your life.”
They are silent for a few seconds as the three share a clocked look.
“Okay, you are pissing me off now,” Kane says as he signals a waiter. “I brought our man here to loosen up and you three are already spoiling the mood.”
Mark sighs as he gets to his feet. “I will be back,” he says as he disappears into the crowd.
“What is wrong with him?” I ask.
“Just give him some time,” Tom says.
“A few minutes later, he returns holding a seriously drunk man and dumps him at the table.
A beat if silence and then, “What the hell mark?!” Kane snarls as he recognizes the man. “Why would you bring him here?”
“You recognize him, George?”
How could I not.
His bloody face has been ingrained into the back of my eyes.
The f*cking Jake.
“Why is he here, mark?” I ask coldly.
“Tell him,'' Mark growls at Jake at my question. “Tell him, what you have been crowing to the whole club or I swear to you, I will ruin you, your family and everyone who has ever had the misfortune of crossing paths with you.”
The fear in his eyes is palpable as he stares around the table at stone faced men who he knows can fulfill that threat.
“I… I was s-say-saying-”
“Speak clearly, dammit!” Kane snaps.
“I was saying… how much of a …. A fool you are. How I had …destroyed your relationship. With Deidre. I framed her.”
The world seemed to slow down at his words, none of it making sense.
Diedre.
He … he framed her?
“What?!” I growl out, deadly calm. “What do you mean?”
“Deid- Deidre never cheated on you. I was paid to do that. She wanted you to break up with her. So that you will fall into her hands.”
“Fall into whose hands?” Archie asks.
“Your Fiancée, Genny.”
- Writer
