Chapter 50--Goodbye, Jasper/Grant
*Ryan*
“Ryan! Just wait for a second!”
Amber’s voice resonates through the hallway as I pull her along with me. My mind is full with rage and I want nothing more than to be out of this large, suffocating area.
I burst out of the company building and pull amber all the way to the car.
“Ryan!” she yells again.
I finally let go of her arm and snap my head to her. She is heaving heavily, her face a mix of worry and surprise.
“Ow,” she sighs as she rubs her now bruised wrist.
Realization hits me as I gaze down at her wrist. I reach out to her, grabbing her wrist and planting a soft kiss on the reddened area. “Amber, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I was just—“
“It’s fine. I was more than glad that you came in. I don’t know what I would’ve said to him.”
I exhale, feeling the tension on my shoulders loosen. I pull her into a hug, nestling my head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to hear all of that. It must have hurt a lot.”
Amber shakes her head. “I’m alright, now that you're here.”
It is such a simple statement, but each word sends my heart into overdrive. I look down at her, my head lowering until her breath grazes my lips. I capture her lips in a kiss without hesitation and I feel her reciprocate immediately.
Her hands finds its way into my hair, and within a second, we are lost in each other’s taste, completely ignoring the fact that we are still standing outside the company building.
I tear my lips away from hers and watch as she smiles at me, a soft gentle smile that seems to pull at my heart strings.
This woman is mine.
“You know what?” I ask.
Amber tilts her head at me. “What?”
I smirk. “We’ll start preparing for the wedding right now.”
I watch as her eyes go as wide as saucers. “Right now? Where are we even going to start from?”
“Why don’t we start with your wedding dress?”
°°°°°°°°°°°°
*Amber*
I gaze up at the tall doors of the dressing room, which is situated on the third floor of the Holden mansion. Ryan was more than serious about the dress testing.
Ryan had gone out of his way to provide me with his own personal stylist, all for this testing. I did not know how to feel about it, but a storm of nervousness is building with me.
I take a deep breath and step into the opulent dressing room. my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. As I walk deeper into the studio, I’m greeted by the stylist, a tall and elegant woman.
She smiles at me the moment our eyes meet. “Hi, I’m Sophia.”
“I’m Amber,” I reply sheepishly.
“Amber, it’s so lovely to meet you,” Sophia says, her voice carrying a soothing tone. “Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Ryan has shared some wonderful ideas about your dream dress. Let’s make your vision a reality.”
I follow Sophia to a spacious fitting area adorned with soft lighting and full-length mirrors. Racks of beautiful gowns in different styles and fabrics line the walls, each one holding the promise of transforming me into a radiant bride. Sophia begins by asking me about my preferences, taking the time to understand my style and desires. She listens attentively as I describe the image I’ve always envisioned for myself on this special day.
With a knowing smile, Sophia glides across the room and returns with a selection of dresses carefully chosen to match my wishes. As she holds the first gown in front of me, I marvel at its intricate lace details and flowing train. My fingers tremble with anticipation as I slip into the dress, feeling its weight settle around me like a cocoon of silk and tulle.
Sophia, her expert eye trained in the art of perfection, adjusts and pins the dress meticulously to ensure a flawless fit. Her nimble fingers glide across the fabric, delicately tugging and smoothing, sculpting the dress to accentuate my figure. I stand tall, captivated by the reflection in the mirror. This gown, this ethereal creation, seems to have been made solely for me.
Sophia steps back, her gaze gentle yet discerning. “Amber, this dress is magnificent on you. The way it hugs your curves and frames your face is simply breathtaking. But let’s not stop here. Let’s try on some more dresses, shall we?”
And so, the dance continues. Dress after dress, each one evoking a different emotion within me. I twirl in gowns adorned with cascading layers of organza, feeling like a ballerina in a fairy tale. I sashay in elegant satin creations that exude timeless sophistication. Sophia guides me through this transformative journey, helping me understand what works best for my body and personal style.
Throughout the process, I catch glimpses of Sophia’s eyes sparkling with shared excitement.
Hours melt away, blending into an enchanting blur of fabrics and emotions. Sophia’s expertise guides us toward the final contender, the dress that merges my dreams with reality. As I stand before the mirror, adorned in delicate lace and shimmering pearls, tears well up in my eyes.
The image staring back at me, leaves me in disbelief.
Sophia clasps her hands together, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. “Amber, you look absolutely radiant. This dress was made for you, and I’m sure your fiancé’s jaw would drop when he sees you.”
“I’m sure they will, because damn did it leave me speechless.”
I snap my head towards the direction of the voice, and my eyes land on Jasper, who was waltzing his way towards me. I furrow my eyebrow, the corner of my lips curling into a snarl.
“I am really not in the mood for your antiques, Jasper,” I scoff.
“Hey, hey,” he says. “I am only here to see the beautiful bride to be, is that a crime now?”
I look away from him, my eyes going back to my reflection in the mirror. Jasper lets out a sigh and walks up behind me. I gaze at him, through the reflection and something about his expression strikes me as weird.
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you why I’m really here. I want to apologize.”
I snap my head back at him, my eyes wide. “You..what?”
Jasper shrugs. “I am genuinely sorry... about everything. And I’m happy for you, I’m happy that you’re getting married to my brother. You were to good for me anyways,” he chuckles.
I am left in disbelief, as I search for any hint of foul play in his words, but the look of resignation on his face tells me he is being sincere.
“Well,” he continues, “I’ll be leaving to Ireland to work as CEO of our new branch over there. So I guess I can to say goodbye?”
Goodbye, huh?
A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips, until it transforms into a warm smile. “I’m guessing we won’t be seeing each other anymore?”
“Who knows?” He smirks, then makes a U turn and starts to walk away from me. “Goodbye, Amber, and don’t miss me too much.”
I shake my head as he disappears into the hallway.
“Goodbye...Jasper.”