THE PERFECT LIE

CHAPTER 3: The Announcement

When they emerged at the lawn to join the others, Mommy Fatima had motioned them to join their table. Seated on the table where his grandparents on father side and mother side and his parents. On the table adjacent to them were his brother, his sister-in-law, his nephew, his niece, his sister, his sister's would be fiancé, and the guy's parents. After some introductions and pleasantries with his family, Daddy Elijah stood up and went up to the small stage. 

Daddy Elijah started to speak, "You might all be wondering why we invited all of you for this dinner party. As most of you had witnessed, my other son, Atty. Anthony Charles Elijah Enriquez just came back home with a very gorgeous young lady, who happens to be his fiancée. This party is to welcome my son and her lovely fiancée, Miss Athena Jeanne Lorenzana. Ace, Jeanne, please join me here." 

Ace secretly slipped first the engagement ring to Jeanne's left ring finger before they joined Daddy Elijah at the stage. 

The rest of the guests slightly had tapped their goblets with their spoons asking them to kiss. 

Their faces both went red. Ace gently put his right hand on Jeanne's left waist to draw her body much nearer. Jeanne's fair cheeks were blushing so much. They looked eye-to-eye. As his lips inched nearer, she closed her eyes. He kissed her just at the side of her naturally pinkish lips. 

When the kiss ended, she opened her eyes and mouthed a very soft – Thank you.  to him. 

He knew it was for him not taking advantage of their situation. But to everyone it appeared as if she mouthed a very soft - I love you. to him so they were all giddy. 

His father gave Ace the microphone and left the two of them at the stage. 

Ace decided to speak as he was expected to, "Good evening everyone. It is actually nice to be home again. I really got nothing much to say. I and Jeanne just came here to spend the holidays with my family so she can know them better. We kept our relationship private. We both wish that it will stay the same way. We don't want the media to have a feast on this personal and private moment. Her on-screen partner also just got engaged. We don't want to steal the media attention from him and his fiancée. That is why we opted to be quiet about ours. Let us all just enjoy the night. As requested, you can all have photo opps with my fiancée but we request that our relationship be kept a secret just among all of us. Good evening again and let us all enjoy our dinner." 

They returned to their seats. She whispered to his ear on their way back to their seats, "Are you sure the media will not know?" 

He whispered back, "I hope so." 

As the dinner started, his grandparents and parents also started asking them questions. 

Lolo Carlos, his mother's father, asked, "So when did the two of you meet?” 

Ace answered, "December 19, 2012. Exactly three years ago, Lolo." 

Lola Zenaida, his mother's mother, followed it up, "Where and how?" 

Jeanne replied, "Got a car problem on my way to the opening of my restaurant. He stopped by, helped me out, and drove me to my restaurant, Lola." 

Lolo Antonio then asked, "When did you formally become boyfriend and girlfriend then?" 

Ace provided the answer, "After her reign, Lolo. December 18 last year." 

"So, it was a long courtship then." Mommy Fatima then asked, "And when did you propose?" 

Ace replied, "On our first anniversary, just last night. It was not really a formal proposal, Mom. We were having home-cooked dinner at her place and I just said I want to spend the rest of our lives spending more moments like that." 

She added convincingly, "I then asked him – Are you proposing?" 

Ace continued, "I said – Yes but I still haven't bought a ring." 

She further narrated, "I told him I also want the same thing but I wanted to know first his family. So here we are." 

Lola Esmeralda then concluded, "So you got engaged ahead of your on-screen partner? And he's engaged with your half-sister?" 

Jeanne confirmed it, "Yes, Lola. I am really not that close to my father's family. I do attend the family dinner once a month. Dad also paid for my education and provided me monthly allowance when I was still not earning on my own. But that is it. I still have not introduced Ace to my father formally. In as much as I have celebrity parents and I am now a celebrity myself, I still want my personal life kept private from the media." 

Daddy Elijah replied, "We understand your predicament, hija. So have you decided on the wedding date already?" 

Ace answered, "No date yet, Dad. But we are planning to have it this coming year as our schedule permits." 

Lola Zenaida then pointed out, "What about your half-sister's wedding, hija? It is bad luck to have two weddings in the family in the same year not unless it is a double wedding." 

They really missed that point when they talked about their stories, so Ace remarked, "Owwws, we missed that point. We just knew about their engagement from the news today. And we had no idea yet when they are getting married." 

Lolo Carlos then stated, "Whether it is in 2016 or 2017 won't matter. We can actually have the two of you married before this year ends. One of your uncles is a priest, another is a judge. An aunt in-law of yours is the city's civil registrar. We can secure a wedding license immediately. Jeanne, you will meet the rest of the family tomorrow. They were not able to come tonight because they are all busy with Christmas parties at work. " 

Ace replied, "There is no need to rush, Lolo. We have a lifetime ahead of us anyway. If not in 2016 then we can get married in 2017." 

After sometime, Jeanne's phone rang. She excused herself and found a spot in the lawn where there was less noise. 

"Yes, Dad," putting the call on speaker she answered. She did not like putting her smartphone near her ear. She kind of preferred putting it on speaker with or without the earphones.

Her father asked, "Where are you, buttercup?" 

She replied, "Dad, I told you I will be in Trista City." 

Her father answered, "Yeah, you did. Well, the news said you did not arrive at your hotel. It made me kind of worried. The media are after you because of the news about Joshua and Faye." 

She then felt of telling her father the lie she had started, "I am with my boyfriend and his family in Trista City, Dad." 

Her father was surprised, "You have a boyfriend and I did not know about it!" 

She tried to explain, "I just want my personal life kept private, Dad. I hope you understand. And my boyfriend is not from showbiz so we both like our privacy." 

Her father inquired, "When will I meet this guy?" 

Her answer was, "In time, Dad. So why did you call aside from worrying regarding my whereabouts?" 

Her Daddy Peter said, "Well, I just want to inform you that Faye is pregnant that is why we had to announce her wedding engagement with Josh. We did not mean to make this a big issue. We know it could affect your on-screen partnership with Josh but I also have to protect your sister's honor." 

She commented, "I understand the situation, Dad. I and Joshua had never been in an actual relationship. You do not need to explain anything. And I really do not mind if this issue will affect our on-screen partnership. Honestly, Dad, I do not even like Joshua as a person. So, when will the wedding be?" 

"This coming New Year's Day, buttercup, and I do expect you to attend it with your boyfriend, just to diffuse the issue that your sister stole Josh from you," her father kind of ordered. 

"Dad, I'll ask my boyfriend first if he is ready to come out of the limelight. He is not from showbiz," she reasoned out. 

"You and your boyfriend will attend the wedding. That is not a request, Athena Jeanne. It is an order," her father's voice was firm. 

She replied meekly, "I will tell him, Dad. But I am not promising. I am in the middle of a family dinner. Let us just talk about this some other time. Bye for now, Dad." 

When she returned to her seat beside Ace, he noticed her upset mood. 

He thoughtfully whispered asking her, "Who was that? You seem upset." 

She tried to fake a smile and answered in a very soft and low voice, "It was Dad just checking on me." 

The emcee announced the first dance and invited Ace and Jeanne to open up the dance floor. 

Ace guided Jeanne at the middle of the dance floor. He then talked to her as the music started. "Tell me now what happened," he tried to coax her to talk. 

"Dad asked where I am. Apparently the news had revealed that I did not arrive at my hotel as I was supposed to. He said he was kind of worried about me so I said I am with my boyfriend and his family. I know he would try to explain the situation with Joshua and Faye so I lied about having a boyfriend. I knew from the start that his wife and his daughter hated my Mom and me. I am also aware that they are not happy with the success I'm enjoying in my showbiz career. My half-sister entered showbiz when she was just a child and never had this popularity I am enjoying. I knew she was screwing Joshua to infuriate me because they thought I have an off-screen romance with him. When the truth is I really don't like Joshua because he's very arrogant. So, I think it was their real intention to break off our partnership. What they don't know is that I never wanted any of these – the beauty title, the successful showbiz career, the popularity. They all just came to me without me even trying. I did compete for the pageant because of my Mom. I also entered showbiz because of my Mom." 

He commented, "Well, I do not think they will succeed on ruining your success even if they succeeded having Joshua Madrigal hitched to your sister." 

She then told him, "I don't care much whether my showbiz career is doing well or not. I don't have an off-screen romance with Joshua Madrigal. But then my lie of having a boyfriend backfired on me. Dad just ordered me to attend the wedding with my so-called boyfriend this New Year's Day just to diffuse the news about my half-sister stealing Joshua from me. And she is pregnant by the way, that's why they announced the engagement right away." 

"I can play the part of your boyfriend at the wedding. We are actually playing as an engaged couple anyway. A day will not hurt," he told her but in his mind – This can actually be a way of prolonging our interaction. I will woo you anyway. I want you for keeps. I like being around you. I feel happy just seeing you smile. But I also feel sad seeing you sad. I want seeing that beautiful smile of yours for the rest of our lives. So please cheer up now.

"It will put our fake relationship on the limelight," she warned him. He said, "I don't mind. You helped me out with my sister's situation. I also will help you out. We are on this together." 

"Thanks," her eyes were a bit teary. She decided to hide her eyes on his shoulders. 

He felt the need to give her comforting words, "I will have your back, Jeanne. Don't worry. You got a real friend and a fake fiancé in me." He just did not like seeing her upset – Why am I worrying about your feelings? I don’t like seeing you sad. Why do I have this feeling that I have to protect you? Is this what they called being in love? Am I actually falling in love for the very first time? Isn’t this just a strong physical attraction? But I had been physically attracted to other ladies in the past and even had casual affairs with them. But why am I a perfect gentleman with you, Jeanne? Why can I not take advantage of our situation? Why are you making my heart beat fast? I guess formally meeting you this afternoon was faith. Deciding to be a friend to you was choice. But then falling in love with you is beyond my control. I do not want our pretend engagement to just end. My family likes you a lot as well. They even want us to get married immediately. I will be very good to you That is a promise!. I will protect you. I will always put a smile on your face. I will not let you be upset I don't like seeing you shed a tear. .   

Such last line had made her laugh. She looked at him and pinched his nose. "Thanks for making me laugh, fiancé!" 

He gently wiped her tears with his fingertips. "You're welcome, fiancée!" 

He gave her a comforting hug and bestowed her forehead a short kiss. Such had made her felt good. She never felt Ace was taking advantage of her. He was actually the perfect gentleman with her the entire time. 

Zia was able to capture on photo every sweet moment that transpired between them the entire night. In her mind – I am really happy for you, Kuya. You have already found the love of your life. You just look so happy together. Seeing you this way makes me less worried about you. I just hope you will not get mad at me once you found out that we lied to you about the ranch and my engagement. We just want you back here. We want your presence in the family again. It had been eleven long years since you ran away from home. Your return had given our grandparents so much happiness. Then you made them even much happier by bringing along your very sweet thoughtful and respectful fiancée. I was not wrong fangirling over her. She is not just beautiful externally but more so from within. She makes you happy and that’s what matters the most.   

They were able to talk to others and have photo opps with the family and the rest of the guests.

Ace also had the chance to talk to the man their father had chosen for Zia. Dominic Smith, a half-Australian/half-Filipino equestrian who competed and won an Olympic silver and gold in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Their wedding engagement announcement seemed to have been cancelled but their parents still agreed for Dom and Zia to get to know each other better. 

That night, when the party ended, Ace opted to sleep by the couch. In as much as he felt extremely attracted to her, he did not want to take advantage of their situation. She trusted him and he did not want to break such trust. 

Jeanne even asked, "Are you sure, you will sleep there at the couch? I can sleep there instead." 

He answered in a lighter note, "You are my guest, fiancée. So, you should sleep on the bed." But in reality – I will really want us to share the bed but it might scare you away. I need to have more patience when it comes to you. I don't want you to feel disrespected by me." 

"Okay. Good night, fiancé," she replied in a lighter note as well. But in her mind – Thank you very much for not taking advantage of our situation, Ace. You have been a perfect gentleman towards me since we formally met this afternoon. I don’t know why I trusted you right away. Usually, I am not too trusting with men. Despite your playboy reputation, you are very respectful of me. I have not experienced any sense of arrogance in you even if you are a very much accomplished man. You are already a millionaire at the age of 18 and you have worked very hard to enrich your fortune without any help from your family. I am in awe with your achievements. Why do I admire you so much? This is not just about your looks. It is also not just about your achievements. Is this thing I am feeling for you called love?  Am I actually falling for you? Why do I feel safe around you? Why do I feel like I want to know you even more? When you kissed the side of my lips a while ago, it just felt magical! So how will it actually be if you really claimed my lips? I even divulged to my Dad about having a boyfriend. Do I feel so comfortable with our lie that I even let my Dad be a victim of it too? You are just so cool with everything. You are not even mad that I announce to your family that we are engaged to be married. You just go with the flow. You were not against about that lie. You were more worried for me being a very awkward position. Your elders even wanted us married right away.  I got to have an instant fiancé in less than twenty-four hours.  Why do I have a feeling that I don’t want our pretend relationship to end?