Bittersweet Love

Chapter Seven: Banquet Drama

Zander

Everyday I kick myself in the ass for the past. Everyday I regret everything that happened. Everyday I wish I never agreed to this stupid agreement because it’s been the most hurtful, painful thing I have ever experienced in my entire life. The last six years have been utter fuckin’ hell and the last two have made me want to commit murder.

I’ve been close, so goddamn close.

All I could think about tonight was how I wanted to have Elle on my arm once again. Just thinking about her gives me a half chub and trust me when I say I've tried to keep her out of my mind, but it's impossible, not when my asshole of a cousin is the one that gets to go home to her every damn night all because he fuckin' lied about everything. The dumbfuck had messed up way too many times and I knew this was the last time. I could feel it and it’s not only because my slut of a wife is involved in this whole thing as well. He was here, without her, but soon, she'll be here. Did he really think that he could get away with going to this thing without her and meeting Patricia there? God, they’re both stupid all because she also thought I wasn’t going.

It makes me even wonder if he ever even loved her. He said he did but if you truly loved someone you wouldn't hurt them like that. It makes me sick and breaks my heart looking at how hurt she is. I've wanted to talk to her for years but after the messages she sent me after she woke up...I couldn't face her.

Marrying Patricia was the second dumbest mistake I have ever made but that f****d up situation was a whole other story and I don’t have anyone to blame but myself for that, well, kind of. Good thing I found a loophole and can finally be let go from the hell she’s put me through.

I walked through the doors of the hotel banquet hall where she planned the whole event and noticed how fuckin’ gorgeous it was. Everything she planned looked like this and this was no exception. I knew Jean would have done amazing on it but once I heard my Elle was doing it too, I knew it would be exceptional. Black and gold balloons and lights were all throughout the entire hall. The black table clothes and chair covers were accented with gold and silver ribbon. The center pieces were a mix of white flowers with sprayed gold tips in water vases with floating diamonds in it with surrounding floating candles and flower petals on the table. Everything looked immaculate.

Like everything she does.

I walked over to the table where I was supposed to sit with my hands in my pockets, alone. I looked around and not one person noticed I wasn’t with my wife, which shows how often we were seen together. We avoided eachother, well, moreso I avoided her. She gave up on any type of relationship with me after what happened and I freaked out on her one day when I found her naked in my bed. Fuckin' b***h ruined my life and I promised I would never touch her ever again. She thought I was bluffing.

I don't bluff. Right now, it doesn't matter. All I need is just a glimpse of her to ease my mind so I shook my head and kept making my way to the table, still looking around to see if I can see her.

My table was the first one next to the head table where the executives were. I should have been up there but I knew there was no way my mother would allow that, not after what happened. Not giving it a second thought, I looked at the favors that were placed on each spot, each one personalized. She did amazing as she got custom beer glasses for everyone invited with our names on them and filled inside were an assortment of candies. It just so happened the candy she picked were my favorite.

After shaking my head with a small smile on my face, I picked up the glass and looked at it. Prescott. A name I love and hate all at the same time but right now, I love it because she was the one that had it put on this glass. I looked at the one next to me and saw another Prescott and wished it was hers and not Patricia’s. I picked it up and looked around for someone on the wait staff. Calling someone over, they rushed with a tray carrying flutes of champagne.

“Put this in the kitchen for me please. I will be grabbing it on my way out.” She nodded and took off with the glass. I looked around, looking for my so called ‘wife’, wondering where she was right now. She was no where to be found at the moment but something inside me was telling me she was with my cousin. God damn, if they are this miserable with Elle and I, why not just make it easier and end this whole thing? Oh, that's right. If she leaves me, she doesn't get s**t but she also must have forgot about the fedelity clause in the prenup or is completely stupid and thought I would never find out.

Someone came over and placed their hand on my shoulder, making turn slightly to look, “You’re here.” He spoke.

“I told you I would be. I’m surprised you’re here. I thought you were keeping your business with dad a secret.”

He shrugged, “It's not so much of a secret, they just don't know who the other 'investor' is right now and I don't plan on them finding out. If I could, I would stay hidden under the alias forever. Besides, the only reason why I'm even here is because June asked me to keep an eye out on her whenever she gets here and to keep hidden. Trust me when I say if I could avoid this whole thing, I would, but damn, she did amazing.”

“How long are you guys planning on keeping this s**t to yourself? She needs to know the truth. Don’t you think it’s time?” I gritted through my teeth. The situation pissed me off. It's been a constant arguement between us. The only reason why I agreed to this was because her mother and father begged me to go with what she remembered because they didn’t want to put more stress on her. And soon, those messages appeared from her and I lost my s**t, worse than I ever had before.

But f**k, my life was destroyed that night too and even with their support, it wasn’t enough. I was still beyond broken in more ways than one and there's only one way to attempt to fix it but right now isn't the right time. It can't be until she knows the truth.

Because at the end of the day, they still let her leave with my fuckin’ cousin and never told her the truth.

I told them it was bullshit. Lying to her was going to make it worse and when she found out the truth, when her memory came back, it was going to come around and bite them all in the ass and I wasn’t going to be there to help them.

I’m still holding true to that word because when it all comes forward, and it will, I’m not sugar coating s**t. She will know everything from the very goddamn beginning, starting with why my mother moved away in the first place all the way to the night of the accident. Once I explain everything, I just would have one question for her and that would be why she sent me the most heartbreaking message that destroyed me.

Because for her to say what she did, that's not like her...

Once both our divorces are finalized, I'll be free to be with who I was meant to be with and mine will be official Monday, hopefully, as long as she signs the damn papers. If not, I'll bring her to court and get what I want anyways. She won't win, she can't and I have all the proof I need.

“June wants to tell her everything as soon as the divorce is final but I don’t think we should wait that long. I’m on the same page as you Z. I wanted to tell her years ago. We've kept our mouths shut long enought and watching the both of you suffer is just fuckin' torture." Travis sighed, “I get why they didn’t want to but it’s just not right. What they did to you was fuckin’ messed up.”

“Ya think?” I grunted, “You guys aren’t the ones that had your heart ripped. You weren’t the ones that had your life forever changed and for the worse. Your life didn’t fuckin’ end that night. You didn’t watch the love of your life get married and have a fuckin’ kid with the dipshit. That life was supposed to be mine and hers and you all could have said something, anything, but you all kept that s**t secret. Every time I tried; I got stopped so I fuckin’ gave up!”

“I know, we all f****d up. I just…ugh.” He groaned as he tilted his head back. I heard her laugh from not far, making both of us turn our heads slightly. There she was. My ‘wife’, “Are you excited to be single soon?” he chuckled as he shook his head at the sight before us.

“She made it way too easy and broke the terms of the agreement. She never expected to get caught, fuckin’ bitch.” I said with no emotion in my voice, “That was the second dumbest thing I ever did.”

“You never told me why you did it. You love Evie so why marry her?”

I watched Patricia walk over to Evan which didn’t surprise me. People knew they were close but they thought they were good friends. I first found out about them f*****g months ago when I came into the office to pick up a file for a client and caught them in her office. I stood there for a moment, shook my head, took a picture and left without a word.

I immediately sent the picture to my lawyer and started the divorce proceedings happily as all hell to finally be rid of her. My mother on the other hand freaked the f**k out. So I did what I do best, ignore her and did what I wanted anyways.

I never touched Patrica, not since that night two and a half years ago, but this was the out I needed from this sham of a marriage. And tomorrow at our family dinner, I’m putting my foot down, demanding her sign the agreement and getting her out of my hair for good.

“It doesn't matter.” I mumbled, “Besides, what she did to me years ago forced my hand with my family and hers. I still think she fuckin’ lied about it.”

“I agree with you.” he mumbled, only knowing part of what happened, as a waiter walked by carrying a tray of champagne. He grabbed us both a glass and handed one to me. I took a sip and looked around, furrowing my brow. Patricia was still with Evan and they were closer than normal, not even hiding the fact that they were together.

“Where is she?” I asked, looking around for Elle. He furrowed his brow as well, noticing that she wasn't here so he took his phone out and called June.

“June is staying outside the house right now with Aless. She did say that Evan hasn’t come yet. I told her he doesn’t look like he’s leaving anytime soon.”

“f**k this s**t. Give me the address. If he's not going to get her then I will.” I demanded and he did. I turned around and started to make my way through the crowd of people, ignoring those that were trying to catch my attention. I don’t usually come to these things so it was a surprise to a lot of them that I was here and they wanted to catch up. They mostly wanted to talk to me because of my dad. Whatever. Well, too goddamn bad, I was on a mission.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Travis asked as he followed me to the car.

"It's the best damn idea I ever had." I grinned, "If Evan is too damn stupid to have the most gorgeous girl on his arm tonight, then I'll take that advantage and maybe, after tonight, we can talk and slowly rebuild what was destroyed so many years ago. I’ll be back. Keep an watch on them and let me know if they disappear.” and I made my way out to Evan's place to pick up my girl, even if she doesn't know she's mine.

I opened the car door when we got back to the hotel and held my hand out to her, helping her get out of the car. Goddamn, picking her up was the best decision I ever had. She was a fuckin’ goddess in that dress. I couldn't speak when I first saw her and thank god June got me the tie to match her dress. We looked like a real couple and everything about that thought made me internally smile. Everything about her radiated elegance and I was proud to have her on my arm.

“Are you sure about this?” She whispered as I placed her arm in the crook of my elbow, "I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe I should have stayed home."

“Absolutely, I'm sure.” I smiled down at her, “Trust me on this okay? Besides, you not gracing them with your presence is a disservice. You are meant to be here and stand out.”

“But what if they see us?”

I shrugged, “Let them. And to be honest, they are too into each other right now to even notice. Patricia has been hanging off Evan since she showed up and he’s made no move to come and get you.”

“That explains a lot.” She mumbled.

“Are you okay?” I paused my step and held her hand in mine, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb, “Tell me what you want and we’ll do it, whatever it is.”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s just go in there. June was right. I’m not going to let him ruin a night I worked hard to put together myself and plus mom has been wondering where I’ve been.”

“Then let’s go find your mother.” I smiled and she nodded as we made our way into the banquet hall.

We instantly went to the back corner where Jean was standing wearing a headset and holding a clip board. We had to weave in and out of people, everyone nodding at me and saying their greetings. A couple eyed us, knowing she was married to Evan but she was here with me. I'm sure rumors will spread because these vultures have nothing else better to do. I kept an eye on Travis who was standing on the other side of the room and nodded at me, letting me know he was watching. Evan and Patricia were still in the same corner as before, but this time, he was holding her hand in his.

I wanted to be pissed, but I wasn’t. It actually made me laugh a bit.

“Mom.” Elle whispered as we approached her.

“You are beautiful!” she beamed, “And you’re here with Zander…”

“Hello Jean. It’s good to see you again.” I nodded and she just looked at me.

“Can you excuse us sweetheart?” she said looking at Elle, “Go grab a drink from the other side and take a look at your work. It’s truly beautiful.” Elle nodded and looked up at me, her eyes asking if it was okay.

“I’ll find you when I’m done.” And with that, she turned and walked into the crowd, soon disappearing.

“What in the world are you doing?” Jean snapped at me.

“I’m taking care of your daughter because her ass of a husband decided to leave her at home and not bother to even message her that he wasn’t coming. You should be happy that I’m here with her. She looks goddamn gorgeous and she actually looks happy.”

“She was always happy with you.” She sighed, “But we haven’t told her what happened. And if your mother finds out...”

“I gave you guys years, six goddamn years to tell her the truth. I made a promise to you that I would stay out of it for her sake but now, it’s done. I’m done hiding the truth. You're all not only hurt her in the long run but destroyed me as well and none of you cared enough to ease that pain. It’s time I take matters in my own hands. And screw what my mother thinks. It doens't matter. It's not like you two are friends anymore or anything.”

I spun around and walked into the crowd to find her. After about five minutes, she was standing at one of the tables and looking in the direction of Patricia and Evan. Her eyes held so much emotion, hurt, anger, sad, fury. They still weren’t hiding their affair and I can see the tension in her shoulders. I placed a gentle hand on her hand, holding it and turning around.

“Dance with me?” I asked her. She looked over at them one more time and we saw Evan take Patirica’s hand and lead her to the dance floor, “I don’t want to dance because of them. I want to dance with the most beautiful person in this room in my arms once again.”

“Once again?” she asked softly. I nodded and brought her to the dance floor. With her in my arms, I nodded to Travis and he went to the DJ and played the song I wanted, the song I needed, our song.

I placed my hands on her hips as she wrapped hers around my neck, leaving just a couple inches between us, too much space, but I needed to respect that’s what she wanted right now. I know for sure once I tell her everything, with time, there will be no space between us.

The music started to play and I felt her tense in my arms as we started to slowly sway. I was transported back to that special night in our Inn. I had rented out the entire back barn for us like I always do, once a month, but this night, something was different. She wanted to tell me something, some amazing, happy news and I wanted to ask her an important question, the most important question of my life.

As I uncovered her eyes, she let out a gasp at the sight in front of her. Travis helped me set everything up. I had flameless candles spread throughout the entire bottom level and the fireplace was blazing, the flames flickered, creating shadows of everything in the room. On the table was a gorgeous bouquet of her favorite flowers, white roses, as I had a wax melt set, filling the room with her favorite smell of cherry vanilla.

“It’s beautiful.” She whispered, looking around the whole room.

“Not as beautiful as you.” I whispered, pulling her into my arms and cupping her face. I pulled her closer to me and brought my lips to her, sharing a sweet, passionate kiss before pulling away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, “I love you, so much Elle. So goddamn much. I always have.”

“I love you too.” She whispered back, tears welling in her eyes as one trickled down her cheek. I wiped it away and kissed her forehead.

“Dance with me?” I asked.

“Always.” I pulled my phone out and put on this song I heard, a song that describes how I feel about her and we started to dance, looking into each other’s eyes, never gazing away. I was holding my world in my arms and I never wanted to let her go.

I’ll never stop trying. I’ll never stop watching as you leave. I’ll never stop losing my breath every time I see you looking back at me. I’ll never stop holding your hand. I’ll never stop opening your door. I’ll never stop choosing you babe, I’ll never get used to you.

And with this love song to you, it’s not a momentary phase. You are my life, I don’t deserve you but you love me just the same. And as the mirror says we’re older I want to look the other way. You are my life, my love, my only and that’s the one thing that won’t change.

“Zander…” She whispered looking up at me as I held her closer, our bodies touching with no space between us, “We need to talk.”

“We do.” I stopped dancing with her and held her in my arms. I used one hand to rub her hip as another went into my pocket, pulling out a small box. She gasped as she stepped away, her hands flying to her mouth, tears instantly started to fall over her flushed cheeks. I knelt down on one knee and looked up at her, “You are literally my world Elle. From the moment I saw you, I knew we were meant to be, even if our parents said we were way too young. I didn't think five was too young." I chuckled, "I was there for you growing up, playing as children until my parents moved away. The first time I saw you that day during football practice, I was literally knocked off my feet and I knew I needed you in my life. I watched from afar, keeping the most important part of us intact, our friendship, but that soon developed into something more. My cousin messing up was the best thing that happened because it led you to me. God damn it Elle, I love you and need you in my life. These past four months have been the best months of my life and I can’t imagine you not being there with me by my side. You looked past my name, you looked past my family’s money. You saw me for who I am and not for who the world wants to see me as. Elle, I love you with my entire heart, mind, body and soul. Will you please…”

And she cut me off.

“I’m pregnant.” She whispered, tears streaming down her face and I froze and looked up at her with my mouth open, “Before you ask me, I needed you to know. I…I’m having your baby, Zander.” She cried out, “I understand if this was too soon but…”

I leaped up from where I was kneeling and puller her flush to my body, “You’re perfect.” I whispered, slipping the ring on her finger, tilting her head to me, pressing her lips to mine, “You are perfect and thank you for giving us this gift. I love you.” I whispered with our foreheads together, my hand resting on her stomach.

She rested her hand on top of mine, both of us rubbing the small life we created out of love, “I love you too.”

“Zander.” I heard from behind me, snapping me out of my memory of one of the best nights of my life. I froze and closed my eyes, knowing it was Patricia, “What are you doing and who is that?”

My grip tightened just a bit before I let go of her, knowing that this would be one of the last times I am able to for a while. “I’m going to…go to the rest room.” Elle whispered before she ran off. The look on her face was pure terror and I didn’t even get a chance to speak with her. I ran after her, ignoring the calls from Patricia and Evan. I needed to make sure she was okay.

She ran into the bathroom and her mother ran after her, seeing what happened. Before I could barge into the bathroom, Evan grabbed my shoulder and pulled me away.

“What the f**k are you doing with my wife Zander?” He yelled, “You were told years ago to stay the hell away from her but I find that you’re here with her now?”

“I wouldn’t be with her right now if you would have done your goddamn job and picked her up like you were supposed to!”

“She didn’t need to be here!” he yelled, "I decided she needed to be home taking care of our daughter." He smirked at me. He knew that was a sore spot. Asshole.

“Then why the f**k are you here with my wife knowing I was supposed to be here? And did you even tell her not to come or was it your plan to have her sit at home and wait all goddamn night for a piece of s**t like you?” I said angerly, “Huh? Why are you here with Patricia when the most perfect, gorgeous woman was sitting on a damn couch waiting for your ass?”

“I’m not here with her!” he screamed, “You were supposed to be here with her but you conveniently showed up late, didn’t you? Let me guess, were you stalking my wife again? Were you planning on hurting her more than she has been in the past?”

“No dipwad, that’s all you.” I sneered, “You’re the one that couldn’t keep his d**k out of the wrong p***y long enough to be in a committed relationship. You’re the one that used her for your own personal needs instead of manning up and doing the right thing.”

“The right thing? THE RIGHT THING!” He yelled, “You’re the one that stole her away from me and ruined my goddamn life!”

“You only wanted her for the fuckin’ family inheritance. News flash Evan, I never wanted that shit.”

“And now you have it and you think you can have her? Yeah, right. When she finds out the truth you are done for.”

“Like hell. Your truth is nowhere near what really happened. Should I tell her everything, Evan? Everything starting from the very beginning with the fight between our parents or should I start when you were using her? Or how about the accident? Shouldn’t she know the truth, the whole goddamn truth?”

“I will destroy you.” he seethed.

“You already did!” I yelled, “You and her mother, June, Travis, her father, my mother, you all destroyed everything that her and I built! You lied to her over the years and hurt her by not letting her live the life she was supposed to with me! You all made the conscious decision to hide her past and then force me to stay away but this ends now.”

“Evan…” she whispered, standing in the doorway, tears streaming down her face as Jean tried to hold her. She shrugged her mother off her and looked between all of us, “Mom…Zander…what’s going on? What are you guys talking about? What happened?”

“Baby, it’s nothing. Really.” Evan smiled and went to her, “Let’s get you home and comfortable, okay?”

She shook her head, “Don't touch me. Tell me, what happened?” she asked looking up at him but he didn’t say anything. I was about to when Evan held his hand up, stopping me.

“Nothing baby girl.”

“Bullshit! Stop lying to her!” I was about to unleash the anger that was inside, “It’s time she learns the truth about everything!”

“Tell me.” she whispered and when he didn’t say anything, she looked at me.

“Come with me and I’ll tell you.” I held my hand out as she shook her head no.

“You’re all hiding secrets and it’s…it’s not fair. I can’t…I can’t do this…” and with that, she ran out of the room and before I could chase after her as Jean called out and ran to try to catch up, Evan grabbed me and took a swing, punching me right in the jaw.

I took my fist and punched him in the eye, kneed him in the gut, making him fall to the ground as Patricia ran to his aid, “You’re a piece of s**t, you know that. You had the world and you let her go, dumbass.” And that was the last thing I said before I got back to my car and drove around until I got to the park, a park that held too many memories.

God, what a fuckin’ mess.