THE PERFECT LIE

CHAPTER 4: Promises

December 20, 2015. Sunday morning. News about the wedding date of Joshua Madrigal and Faye Soriano came on newspapers. 

His grandparents and parents had read about it on the lifestyle section of the Filipinas Daily Inquirer. So when they were joined by Ace and Jeanne for breakfast, they brought out the topic for their own wedding date. 

Lolo Antonio started, "We read in the papers that your sister will be getting married by New Year's Day, hija. So, we suggest that you and Ace get married ahead of them before this year ends."

Ace accidentally choked on his food when he heard it. Jeanne who was seated on his left side handed him a glass of water and patted his back gently.

Jeanne was calm in answering his grandfather, "Lolo, Ace hasn't met my father yet. I don't think it would be proper if we didn't seek his approval."

Daddy Elijah stated, "I already called him up this morning. I told him about our plans to have the two of you married before the year ends. He agreed and he would just come here with his family in time for the wedding to escort you down the aisle."

Ace answered, "There is no need for the rush, Dad."

Mommy Fatima imparted, "Zia and Dominic had warmed up to each other last night. Zia left with them this morning. Dominic wants to push through with their wedding this coming year. The family will still retain the ownership of the ranch because of your money, Ace. But your Dad and Dominic's father  have already agreed into a business partnership. Dominic will help manage the ranch, breed the horses, and then have them trained along with riders here at the ranch. Their ranch is not that big compared to ours. Dominic, himself, is also an Olympic gold medalist in equestrian, hijo. He also finished a degree in veterinary medicine and has a specialization in equine medicine."

Lola Esmeralda added, "You are older than Zia so we want you to get married ahead of her."

Lolo Carlos stated, "I already phoned your Aunt Carmela this morning. She will come here this afternoon with the marriage license application form and then have the license processed tomorrow."

Lola Zenaida then asked, "So when do you want the wedding to be, before or after Christmas?"

Jeanne looked into Ace's eyes. She felt so shocked with the turn of events.

Under the table, he reached for her right hand with his left hand, gave it a gentle squeeze and addressed everyone, "E will all let you know once we reach a decision."

After the breakfast, they returned to their bedroom and talked.

She asked him, "What shall we do now?" She was already in a bit of panic. She liked him a lot but getting married very soon was definitely not what she wanted.

He knelt down in front of her, held both her hands, and said, "I can marry you. We can keep the marriage a secret or if you want it revealed. It will just be fine by me either way. I know we just met. We do not know much about each other. I know you want to be married for love and I want the same thing. We both have a busy career. It can just be a marriage on papers. If we happen to find the one we're really meant to be, then we can file for an annulment. Besides, I really feel comfortable around you and I think you feel the same way too. Do not be so stressed out. I would not take advantage of you. That is a promise." He felt that telling her about his feelings and plan of wooing her would not be a good idea. He needed the perfect timing to divulge such to her. And that moment was simply not the right time for such.

She could feel the sincerity in his words so she hugged him and cried on his shoulders. "Dad was only thinking of how to clear up the issue about Faye stealing Joshua from me. I do not think he really loves me. He has not even met you and yet he already agreed with your Dad to have us married," she stopped crying then looked at him, "Do not get me wrong. I know you are a good man even for just the short period that we have been together. You have always been the perfect gentleman towards me. I know that you have a loving family as well. This is my fault! I should  have not made up that lie."

He reminded her, "You were just trying to help. Who would have thought that Dominic and Zia will warm up at each other just fine? I can sense the goodness in him. We had talked last night. He really seemed enamored with my sister."

She agreed, "Yeah. And Zia's defiance over the arranged marriage seemed to have melted when Dominic had shown his gentlemanly ways."

He gave her a reassuring smile and then asked her then, "So, will you marry me?"

She smiled then showed him her left hand, "I already have Lola Ada's ring. I tried removing it last night before we went to sleep but I found it difficult to do so. I did not bother removing it anymore."

He said, "Well, you better get cleaned up. I will tour you around the ranch. Zia had left some clothes, riding outfits, and boots for you according to Mom. A maid will deliver them here any minute now."

She informed him, "I asked her last night to accompany me in shopping coz I do not have much formal clothes with me. You also mentioned horseback riding last night, I do not have anything for such."

A housemaid knocked by the door. Ace opened it and received the basketful of clothes, shoes and some accessories. It came with a note –

Ate Jeanne,

Sorry if I cannot go shopping with you. Dom had invited me to stay at their place for a while. He will be flying to Australia after New Year's Day, so he wanted to spend more time with me. Dad and Mom had agreed. These clothes are mine but I have not worn them yet. Consider them as gifts from me. I and Dom with his family will celebrate Christmas and New Year there at our ranch.

Until then,

Zia

Jeanne reacted, "I cannot take them. They are too many."

He said, "Zia will not be happy if you refuse her. Just take them. She is a professional shopper. She has fashion boutiques all over the province catering to the high end market."

Jeanne reasoned out, "They are too much. I can buy my own anyway."

"She will be offended if you do not take them so just accept them," he told her and then asked, "So, are you up for some riding lessons?"

Her answer was, "I am kind of scared. What if I fell off the horse?"

"I will not let such happen," he said. "You can take a shower now and be in a riding outfit. I will use the bathroom in one of the guestrooms."

When they were both ready for horseback riding, he toured her first at the stables to check on the horses. In his eleven-year absence, none of the horses he rode in the past was there anymore. So, he asked his father's foreman to give them the most tamed among the horses. He also requested for a two-seater saddle.

The horse warmed up to Ace instantly when he rubbed it gently.

He asked Jeanne to do the same and she was so surprised when the horse licked her face.

She laughed from so much joy and said jokingly, "Guess, the horse wants to eat me."

Such had made Ace admired her even more. She was not like other ladies who would not want to get dirty around animals considering she grew up as a city girl. The horse had really warmed up to Jeanne easily.

He taught her first how to properly saddle the horse. She learned very fast. Next, he taught her how to properly mount the horse. She did it perfectly at her first try. Afterwards, he also mounted the horse behind her and urged it to walk slowly and then run not so fast. He toured her around the ranch by horse.

Without them knowing, they were being observed by his parents and grandparents from afar.

"I am glad he has finally come back," Lola Esmeralda shared. "And I am way much happier coz he went home with a very kind-hearted fiancée."

Mommy Fatima said, "Our lies had worked. I knew he would not let Zia marry not for love. And I knew he would not want the family to lose the ranch."

Lola Zenaida then asked, "What if he finds out we only tricked him to come home?"

Lolo Carlos remarked, "It is not important anymore whether we tricked him or not. What matters is that he is here with us and he is with his very lovely fiancée."

Daddy Elijah admitted, "I know it was my fault why he ran away. But look at him! He is just so natural around horses."

Mommy Fatima reminded him, "Well, he may not have followed everything you like but he did fulfill your wish for an Olympic gold medal. He has his own dreams and he seems very happy with his life right now. He had managed to reach all his aspirations without our help."

Lolo Antonio then said, "Good thing, Tony agreed to be in a bad light just to trick Ace from coming home."

Lola Esmeralda agreed, "True! When in fact, we really are not on the verge of losing the ranch and Tony is just doing perfectly well with his own career."

Lola Zenaida changed the topic, "I want a grand wedding for them. Did Zia already contact the best wedding planner in the country?"

Mommy Fatima informed her mother, "Mama, I think Ace and Jeanne just wanted a private wedding with family and closest friends. They want the media not to know about it as much as possible so I told Zia not to contact the wedding planner anymore. I already asked her to collate the latest wedding gown designs of Monique Lhuillier, Vera Wang, and Valentino. She will e-mail them to me later and we can show them to Jeanne for her to choose from. Zia and Genevieve also contacted a jewelry store owner, a florist, a bakeshop for the wedding cake, a catering service for the food and a photo/video coverage team. I told them to demand for full confidentiality or else we will not pay them full."

Lola Esmeralda then asked, "Do you think they already decided on a date?"

Mommy Fatima wished, "I hope so. We can talk to them again once they return from their tour around the ranch."

When Ace and Jeanne returned from their tour around the ranch, the oldies had waited on them to come in by the living room then asked them to join when they entered the manor.

Lola Zenaida asked as they settled next to each other at the only vacant seat at the living room which was the love couch, "Have you already decided on a wedding date?"

Ace answered, "Yes. I and Jeanne agreed to have it on December 29. It will be a Tuesday. We just want a simple evening wedding by the chapel here. Uncle Charles can have us wed. I already contacted a jeweler to travel here so we can choose wedding rings and she already phoned her designer-friend to make a wedding gown for her. She promised this friend that she will wear one of her creations once she gets married. We want it strictly among family and closest friends. The executive chef and the pastry chef along with a few staff in her restaurant will be in-charge of the food, the wedding cake and the reception set up by the garden. She also contacted a photographer/videographer-friend to do the photo and video coverage of the wedding. As for the flowers, her florist-cousin will do all the flower arrangements. We will pay for our own wedding so all of you should just wear your best and attend it."

Mommy Fatima asked them, "What about the entourage?"

"We already have a list in mind, Mom," Jeanne replied.

Lola Zenaida reacted, "But we want a grand wedding for the two of you."

Ace reasoned out, "These are what we want for our wedding, Lola. We want it to be very discrete as possible."

Lolo Antonio volunteered, "Let us pay for the wedding then."

Ace declined, "Just reserve them for Zia's wedding, Lolo."

That same day, Ace had called a few friends to ask huge favors. Jeanne also did the same thing.

By lunch time, Ace's uncles, aunts-in-law, and cousins came to the manor to meet Jeanne.

Jeanne still could not believe that she would be marrying Ace Enriquez. Her cousin and friends were all very surprised as well when she told them that she needed them in Trista City for her wedding. Of course, they were not aware of her having a boyfriend coz she really had none. So she had to lie again and told them the story that she and Ace had already told his family, relatives and friends. It was nice that Ace also lived in the same condominium where she lived so they did not suspect that she was not telling the truth. Ace was also a nice catch although they were quite apprehensive about him because of his playboy image. So she assured them that he was a nice guy. In her mind – Yes, he is a nice guy. I will not agree on this marriage if I feel that he will take advantage of me. I really can feel his sincerity. Perhaps, there is hope for us making all our lies turn into reality. But I still have to know him much better. I just hope that he is also open to the idea of  us really being together. But if not, then just like he said, we can file for an annulment.

On the other hand, Ace was thinking – She has agreed to marry me. I must make her feel comfortable at all times regarding our setup. She must not think that I am taking advantage of her. I must be very careful when expressing my feelings for her. Actions are better than words. So for now, I will just show her my feelings. I will protect her. I will always try to put a smile on her face. I will be her confidant. I always lend her my shoulder or my chest to cry on.. I will always dry her tears. I will try not to be the reason for her to shed those tears. I just want her happy all the time. Seeing her beautiful smile is just a breath of fresh air. I have never been this happy with another lady before. I just wish that you will warm up to be as well when you already know my feelings for you. I really like you so much. I can really see myself spending the rest my entire lifetime with you. So I will do everything to win you over. I will want to gain your full trust. I want to have your love. So I will make myself worthy of you.  

Meanwhile, Jeanne's father had not told his family yet that Jeanne would also be getting married – Jeanne and her fiancé have kept their relationship for long. They also want to keep their wedding very private. I must respect that. But they really need t attend Faye's wedding to Joshua Madrigal just to stop all the rumors that my younger daughter has stolen Joshua Madrigal from my older daughter. That's not the case anyway. Jeanne has no romantic involvement with Joshua Madrigal. They are just on-screen partners. No more no less. But it was only last night that I found out that she did not like Joshua as a person. What could be her reason? Joshua seems to be a nice guy, though. They also seems to have a good working relationship. But knowing she does not like him, then such might not be the case. Jeanne is very professional with her work just like her Mom. Oh, I still miss you, Joanna. I just hope you are here to witness the wedding of our daughter. She will be marrying a self-made billionaire. He seems to have a playboy image but then I trust our daughter's judgment. I will also talk to him man-on-man when we met before their wedding. I must be sure that he will take good care of our daughter, that he will love her truly, and that he will be strong against all the temptations. I do hope that he is not like me. I was not strong enough to resist Regina with her seduction and so I ended up cheating on you. You called off our wedding, Regina got pregnant and so I had to marry her instead. Anyway, the family of her fiancé also seem to like her so much. They just met her up close and personal yesterday, but they already wanted to marry then right away. Well, our daughter is really sweet and thoughtful. She is also very courteous to all people no matter what their social status are. She got her charming personality from you. I am really proud of her. You have raised her very well. I do hope that Regina and Faye will already stop being indifferent with her. Jeanne and Pete get along just fine. But I really do not know why she and Faye does not. I really hope that this man will be true to her.