THE PERFECT LIE

CHAPTER 5: The Wedding Preps

December 21, 2015. Monday. In the morning, Jeanne's replacement SUV was delivered at the Trista International Hotel as Jeanne had instructed. She and Ace had visited the hotel for such. Jeanne had also informed the front office the name of her guests that would be accommodated to the penthouse that she booked and paid for.

Late in the morning, the sister-in-law/jeweler of Ace's friend came with an array of wedding bands from different top jewelry brands in the world. They had chosen the simplest of all the designs, a matching pair of golden wedding bands from De Beers. 

Ace had already ordered something for Jeanne as a Christmas gift and the jeweler had given the package to him secretly. He also secretly ordered several items for Jeanne for the wedding and the jeweler assured him they would be delivered in time for the wedding.

At lunch break, Aunt Carmela dropped by at the ranch to deliver their wedding license.

In the afternoon, Jeanne's fashion designer/stylist best friend, Lyza Du, came for her exact body measurements for the gown. Lyza was formally introduced to Ace and his family. Lyza also brought some of Jeanne's own cocktail dresses, shoes, and accessories.

Lyza stayed for the night at the penthouse at Trista International Hotel. Without Jeanne's knowledge, Lyza agreed with her future grandmothers-in-law just to purchase an expensive wedding gown for Jeanne instead of her doing it because she was also unsure if she would be able to finish a wedding down within the short period of time. She coordinated with Zia. They met at the penthouse. Ace, knowing about it, secretly asked Lyza for a favor as well.

December 22, 2015. Tuesday. In the morning, Ace and Jeanne went back to Maunni to do some errands. They agreed to do some errands together and other personal errands separately.

The first item in their schedule was to personally talk to two of their former professors in Athenaeum. Ace's male law professor and their female management economics professor would be the first pair of principal sponsors.

Afterwards, they went to Restau Lorenzana for the wedding menu, wine and cake tasting. Jeanne personally introduced Brenda, her executive chef/best friend to Ace. After lunch, they agreed to do their personal errands separately. But before Ace left, he had secretly asked for a favor from Brenda.

After five hours, Ace fetched Jeanne at her restaurant. They dropped by at a small town in Canyan to meet his uncle/priest, Rev. Fr. Charles De Castro. Their wedding counseling and confession were scheduled.

Afterwards, they headed back to Trista City. They were instructed to go to the De Castro Mansion for a family dinner. All the  Enriquezes were there as well. Kuya Tony, arrived with wife and twins. Zia arrived with Dominic and his parents.

During their stay for the dinner they talked to Uncle Jun, his uncle-judge, and Aunt Carmela, his aunt-in-law/civil registrar. They would be the second pair of godparents.

December 23, 2015. Wednesday. In the morning, her cousin Kaylee with husband Paolo arrived at the ranch. Formal introductions had been made and they finalized the flower arrangement based on the availability of the flowers. Kaylee had already made inquiries from the local flower farms all over Trista City and some neighboring towns for all the flowers that Jeanne wanted for the wedding. After the meeting, Kaylee and Paolo were accommodated at the penthouse in Trista International Hotel for the night. Kaylee and Paolo would leave the following day and would return on Christmas morning.

In the afternoon, Kristine, her handler/best friend arrived with all the Christmas gifts she had ordered online the previous day for the Enriquezes and the De Castros. Kristine was formally introduced to Ace and his family.

They also notified the rest of the members of the entourage: Carlitos De Castro (Ace's cousin/best friend) as best man; Kristine (her handler/best friend) as the matron of honor; Kuya Tony and Ate Genevieve as veil sponsor; Dom and Zia as cord sponsor; Joshua and Faye as candle sponsor; Gabriel Athony (his nephew) as the ring/coin/bible bearer; Gennie Fatima (his niece) as flower girl. 

The color motif of the wedding is bloody red with a touch of deep purple.

The entire De Castro, Enriquez, Lorenzana, and Soriano family would be invited at the wedding.

The De Castro Family included Ace's grandparents, uncle-judge, uncle-priest, uncle-surgeon, aunt-in-law/human rights lawyer, aunt-in-law/city civil registrar, three male cousins and two female cousins.

The Enriquez Family included Ace's grandparents, parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, and sister.

The Lorenzana Family just included her florist-cousin Kaylee and husband Paolo.

The Soriano Family included her father, her stepmother, her half-brother and her half-sister.

Only few of Ace's brothers in FEBC knew about the wedding. He told them to keep it private until he and Jeanne would be ready to have it revealed. They agreed and also excused themselves for not being able to attend the wedding because of their own holiday plans.

They had their confession and marriage counseling with his uncle/priest, much later in the afternoon. They visited him back at his parish in the small town of Canyan.

December 24, 2015. Zia and Dominic arrived with Dominic's parents, John and Dulce. Jeanne celebrated the Christmas' Eve Dinner with Ace's family. It was a joyous event. The entire De Castros had joined the Enriquezes at the manor for the celebration. Sumptuous feast were shared and gifts were exchanged. Ace and Jeanne exchanged gifts when they were already in the bedroom.

Ace handed her a Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry box tied with dainty red ribbons.

"Merry Christmas, fiancée," he greeted her in a lighter note.

"Thank you very much, fiancé," she also got her gift for him on the bedside drawer and handed a small red gift bag containing three different branded boxes (Bvlgari, Hugo Boss, and Mont Blanc) of cufflinks to him. "Merry Christmas, too."

"Thank you," he expressed his gratitude.

She informed him, "I will be leaving for the hotel later this morning after the mass. I will be staying there until the wedding. Kaylee and Paolo will be there to keep me company then the rest of my friends would stay over as well."

He acknowledged it, "Okay. I will drive you there."

"Okay," she uttered and then suddenly felt the need to hug him and so she did, "Thanks for everything. This is the happiest Christmas I ever had in my life," then she released his body. Being with a very big happy family was very new to her and it really gave her immense happiness. Ace's entire family were all very nice to her.

He was so caught up in the moment that he felt the urge to kiss her but he stopped himself. "It is my happiest Christmas too. Let us now sleep."

December 25, 2015. Later in the morning after the mass and family breakfast, Ace drove Jeanne to the city proper to drop her off to the hotel. He had parked his car by the underground parking. He escorted her up to the penthouse, exchanged pleasantries with her cousin and cousin-in-law then he left. He needed to drive back to Maunni City to check on some details with regards to the errands he did last December 22.

During his stay in Maunni City, he could not help but missed Jeanne. He then started to question himself –  Am I really falling in love with you, Jeanne? I believe I am, truly, madly and deeply. I feel that my heart desires your presence so much. Waking up each morning with you for the past few days fills my soul with so much gladness. I am very fond of you and I never get tired of thinking about you

He decided to send her a message when he reached his condominium unit – I arrived in my condo already, fiancée. How are you?

Jeanne replied after a few minutes – Nice to know, fiancé. I am fine but kind of missing being with your family. Also kind of feeling guilty coz we are fooling everyone.

He tried to ease her guilt – I understand what you are feeling. But we are two in this pretense. So do not feel so guilty.

She answered – Okay. By the way thanks for the jewelry set you gave me. Amethyst is my birthstone.     

He acknowledged it – I know. That is  the reason why I chose such. Well, thank you very much for your gifts too. I love all the pairs of cufflinks you gave me.

She reacted – Happy to know they are to your liking.

The telephone rang. It was from the front desk informing him that his visitor had arrived already.

He informed her then – Got to cut our chat now. I have to do some errands now, fiancée. I miss you. ;)

Such last line had hit Jeanne coz she felt the same way with him. Could i really be falling for him already? Waking up with him for the past few days had always given a smile on my face. i am even open to the idea of experiencing such for the rest of my life with him. I am beginning to be very fond of him. Having his presence in my life has given it some sort of glow. I have been lonely for quite some time losing Mom. Kaylee and my friends might be around often. Ace gives me a different kind of happiness. I just feel like myself when I am with him, that I do not need to pretend to be happy coz I am really happy being with him and being surrounded by his family.

December 26, 2015. Early in the morning, Ace drove back to Trista City.

Jeanne received a large basket of red and pink roses from Ace that day. She really felt so good receiving such.

It came with a handwritten note –

Fiancée,

    Just to cheer you up!

Fiancé

Kaylee's reaction when it was delivered that morning was, "Your fiancé is sparing no expense, Jeanne. I cannot even count the roses anymore coz they are too many.  I am sure your half-sister will die of envy!"

She commented on her cousin's last remark, "Let us not talk about her, please."

Kaylee agreed, "Yeah. We will not like spoiling your happiness. Your fiancé is really thoughtful and spendthrift,  I might say.

Kristine's reaction to the flowers when she arrived with her husband, Bernie, in the afternoon was, "Do not tell me these roses came from your fiancé?! Guess, he really loves you that much! You are such a lucky girl! You have the notorious playboy totally enamored to you." Kristine arrived with her husband to host a bridal shower which was to be held at the penthouse.

Jeanne retorted, "Yeah, I have heard a few comments of my fiancé being a player but please do not tell me anymore whom he had affairs with in showbiz."

Kristine responded, "Okay, I will not. But just to let you know, your evil half-sister is not included on the list."

Jeanne said, "Okay, But can we just please avoid including her in our conversations."

Kristine agreed, "Sure. All positive vibes only!"

Lyza's reaction to the flowers when she arrived with two gowns and the other accessories just an hour later after Kristine  was, "Wow. No doubt that guy won you over! Those roses are really very expensive."

Jeanne noticed the two garment bags. "Why are there two gowns?"

Lyza answered, "Well, when I came last time to the manor, your grandmothers-in-law asked me if I can finish the gown in time. Because if not they are willing to buy an expensive wedding gown for you. And since I love you so much and I just want the best for you, I told them I may not be able to finish it. That is the truth anyway. So, they gave me the contact details of your future sister-in-law. We met here at the hotel and we decided to buy you a Monique Lhuillier wedding gown. As for the other gown, before I left the manor your fiancé asked me to buy an expensive gown that you could wear for your half-sister's wedding. So, I also asked the help of your future sister-in-law in deciding what to buy. She got so many contacts from different stores abroad owned by famous designers all over teh world. We opted for an Alexander McQueen's black multi-silk chiffon daisy bouquet gown. As for your wedding shoes, we bought a Christian Louboutin Cinderella wedding shoes. And for your evil half-sister's wedding, we bought a Jimmy Choo black suede and glitter peep-toe pumps. We also added up a black Jimmy Choo Lockett MinaudiereClutch."

Brenda came two hours thereafter. Her reaction to the flowers, "Gosh, they are so lovely, Jeanne. Does your fiancé have a brother?"

Jeanne just smiled and informed her best friend, "Yes, he does but sad to say Kuya Tony is already happily married with two kids. Well, Carlitos and Matthew are still single and available. They are Ace's cousins."

Then Ace's female relatives came shortly thereafter – Zia, Genevieve and his twin-cousins, Dianne and Daphne.

As Ace's relatives arrived at the hotel, Paolo and Bernie left to attend Ace's stag party at the guest house in the ranch hosted by Kuya Tony and Carlitos.

Jeanne was envied by every woman who attended the bridal shower because of the flowers Ace had sent.

Meanwhile, when they were all having fun, Regina Villa-Soriano, Jeanne's stepmother, was receiving information about Ace from the private investigator she hired. She had shared it with her daughter, Regine Faye. Regina was also the one who tipped the media about Jeanne checking in to Trista International Hotel for the holidays. She overheard it from her husband's conversation with his lovechild from Joanna Lorenzana.

"That b***h is indeed so lucky! We succeeded on snatching Joshua from her but all the while she has kept a billionaire boyfriend as a secret from all of us," Regina told her daughter.

Faye was so surprised, "She is marrying a billionaire?!"

Regina gave the reports of the private investigator to her daughter, "Anthony Charles Elijah De Castro Enriquez is a self-made billionaire. When he ran away from home when he was just about nineteen years old he was already a millionaire coz he won a gold medal in the Olympics in 2004."

Faye voiced out what she had read from the report. "He is from two rich clans in Arginne. His grandfather, Don Carlos De Castro, is a former chief justice and his wife Doña Zenaida De Castro is from a rich political clan in Arginne. They own several parcel of lands all over the province of Arginne, which are being leased by several businessmen for their business endeavors."

Regina agreed to her daughter, "And the Enriquezes own one of the biggest ranches in the country. They breed, grow and train only the finest horses in the world. His father, Don Elijah Enriquez, is a world-renown equestrian trainer and his mother, Doña Fatima De Castro-Enriquez, used to be a prima ballerina. His older brother, Antonio Enriquez II, owns a successful real estate development company while his younger sister, Zia Emerald Faith Enriquez, has her own chain of high-end fashion boutiques all over Arginne."

Faye further expressed what she had read,  "And this man she is to marry succeeded on his own. He accumulated millions in online stock trading. He has preferred stocks on several multinational corporations that accumulate millions in annual dividends. He also has several bank accounts in different banking companies in the country. And rich businessmen in the country avail his legal service on international corporate and business legal matters. He was also the founding president of Filipinas Elite Billionaires' Club. But how did they actually meet?"

Regina said, "He usually conducts most of his client meetings in her restaurant and they live in the same building. They also both studied in Athenaeum, so they could have met in any of those circumstances."

Faye asked her mother, "So what do we do now, Mom?"

Regina stated, "She will be marrying a notorious womanizer. The guy has not been in any serious relationship but he had bedded lots of women in the past. We will let them get married but we will ruin their marriage by capitalizing on her man's weakness – pretty liberated ladies."

Faye questioned her mother, "Do not tell me you will ask me to seduce him just like what I did with Joshua, Mom. Don't forget that I am pregnant and I will be getting married very soon."

Regina snapped at her daughter, "I know that! So, I will pay young ladies to do it for us. I will do everything in my power to ruin her happiness. Why does she just have to be so lucky in everything? She is school smart while you and Pete are just average. Her restaurant business is doing well. She won an international beauty title. She mad it really big in the showbiz industry even if she just entered it. So many companies want her as their celebrity endorser. Magazine companies prefer to be their magazine cover. She had also won acting awards, hosting awards and even recording awards. Why did she have to be multi-talented and multi-skilled? You and Pete are very far from what she had already achieved in her career even if you have the same father."

Faye tactlessly commented, "Well, we have different mothers. That can be the reason why she is different from us."

Regina responded, "Yeah, that is already given. But you did not even inherit my acting skills. In the best character actress there is in showbiz right now. I have won several awards. But you just have a pretty face and a sexy body but your  acting skill  is just mediocre. Good thing you were able to seduce Joshua Madrigal. It can somehow affect her acting projects."