Kapitel 11: Casey: Beyond A Love Triangle
"I love you, Kira." Jace's words echoed in my head as I watched the guests file out of the hall.
The rehearsal dinner was over and it was a rousing success. I was sure that the reporters had all gotten loads of sound bites and valuable pictures. The internet was going to be buzzing for the next couple of weeks. More things were planned out in the days leading to the wedding, more activities that would be sure to boost publicity.
However, I wasn't thinking about all that at the moment. I couldn't even think about the impact the success of this night alone had on my career. All I could think about was Jace confessing love for Kira. I wondered if he meant it or if he was only saying that for the benefit of the reporters present. And then, their kiss.
That gory picture was seared into my brain and as much as I tried to forget it, I just couldn't take it out of my head. Watching Kira kiss him made me so jealous and it made me so angry not necessarily at her, but at myself. I was never supposed to feel this way, especially not to my best friend's fiancé. Yet, I couldn't help it. It was as if while the dinner had gone great, everything else was falling apart.
Soon, all the guests had gotten out and they had driven off. I looked back into the hall and saw my staff were already beginning to clean it up. It was one of my policies, to always clean up after myself, I hated being the planner who left her venues messed up and dirty. So, I made sure that it was properly cleaned up. It helped a lot if I ever had to rent the venue again.
I looked further and saw that the band were packing up their instruments, within an hour or so, everyone would be gone and I'd have to return to my hotel, or to my date with Jace. But then, with everything I had witnessed tonight, was that still going to hold?
Just then, I saw Lena walking hurriedly towards the exit. As usual, she had her tablet in her hand while her free hand was used to make a phone call as she called for the driver to bring their car over. I quickly intercepted her and took her by the arm, "Lena…"
Before she could say anything, I dragged her to the side, away from prying eyes and listening ears.
"I'm in a hurry, okay?" She said. "Jace would be leaving soon, he has somewhere else to be tonight."
"It won't take long at all," I told her. "I just want to ask you, are you okay? You seemed pretty off the last time."
"Oh that?" She looked away as she pinched her neck. She was avoiding my eyes, a classic tell that she was trying to lie. "It's nothing, okay? Forget I said anything. I guess I got caught up in the moment."
"Lena, you didn't get caught up in the moment. You said some pretty strong things, and it showed your feelings about this wedding. You don't think it's a good idea, do you?"
"What I think doesn't matter, and honestly, I don't appreciate this interrogation. Jace is my boss and I can't do anything that would hurt him. I would never do anything to hurt him. Can I leave now?"
She tried to push past me but I stepped in front of her, "not just yet, Lena. You also said something about me, earlier. When you asked me how I was so calm about it all, what did you mean by that?"
This was an answer I needed because I had to be sure if Lena knew about Jace and I. That could explain how Kira had managed to find out about Jace having a woman besides her. Besides, I could understand how hard it would be to hide things from Lena when she's his personal assistant and basically follows him everywhere he goes.
"I'm not in the mood for this, I already said you shouldn't mind those things. I didn't mean anything by them, okay? It's just that she's your best friend, so allowing her to get married to a man she clearly doesn't love shouldn't be easy for you, should it?"
"Oh… that's it?" I muttered as I watched her face closely. I desperately wanted to believe that was all there was to it, but I also knew that she could be saying that just to get me off her back. Still, I knew that pressing her won't get me the answers I was after, so I had to let her go.
I stepped away, "You speak like you don't know who Kira is. No one allows her to do anything, or better still no one can stop her when her mind is made up. She does whatever she wants. Besides, easy or not, I can't stop the train. But then, didn't you see them acting all lovey-dovey? Jace confessed to being in love with her and she kissed him. There might be hope for their union."
She scoffed at that, it was a quick action and one I was sure she didn't plan to make. Then as if realizing her mistake, she faked a cough, patting her chest lightly as if she was having a reaction. I didn't say anything this time around when she walked past me. As she did, the lights caught the pearls of her dress and her necklace.
"Lena…" I called before she walked out the door, "I wasn't kidding when I said your dress was beautiful. Is it the same set with the necklace and shoes?"
She fingered the necklace as she nodded, "Yeah."
"Wow… where did you get it? I'd like to buy one myself."
"It was a gift."
"From?"
She stopped then, realizing where the questions were leading, she stood ramrod straight as she stared at me, "Someone special. Jace's car is here, I have to go now."
I watched her hurry off, her gown shimmering over her body in a dazzling light. My suspicions were accurate. Lena was definitely in love, and I was certain that it was with Jace. He was also the one who got her that dress.
I remembered all the times she spent fondling the damn necklace while watching Jace and I felt my blood boil. She hadn't been able to hide her feelings at all, and it was infuriating. Had Jace really bought the dress for her? Did he also get her the necklace? Jace had never bought me anything, although that was because I expressly warned him never to after he tried it once. I could see that Lena didn't have that reservation.
I felt my heart skip a beat as I thought about the mess I had found myself. I was in love with a man who was betrothed to my best friend and whose personal assistant was also in love with. I had no idea yet if Kira's feelings for Jace had changed, but from what I had seen tonight, I wouldn't be surprised if that turned out to be the case. The kiss she gave him had seemed genuine and I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that in the coming weeks and months, there just might be a battle between the three of us for the heart of Jace.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Jace and his security team approaching. They seemed to be in a hurry. He saw me and smiled at me, but I didn't return the smile, I wasn't happy with him at all. He whispered something to Ethan, and then he broke away from the group as he approached me. I instinctively took a step back, I was scared I would want to jump on him and kiss him if he came too close. He didn't deserve that after the stunt he pulled tonight.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded when he stopped before me, "Your guards can see you."
"Relax, I'm only thanking you for an exceptional service. You can relax, I won't try anything inappropriate with you. Until later tonight." He winked at me as he said it.
He paused as he noticed the look on my face, "hold on, we're still seeing tonight, right?"
"No, we're not," I replied angrily. "Now, where is Kira? Your fiancée that you love very much."
He stepped back, "is that what this is all about? Because of the toast I made? Casey, those were just a bunch of words, I didn't mean them." He tried to step closer but I backed even further, "See, have you forgotten that this is strictly a business deal? We have to give the press something to salivate over."
"Yeah," I nodded sarcastically. "Kira sucking on your tongue like a lollipop sure gave them something for the ages!"
"That wasn't planned, I promise!" He said. "Kira…. Kira… she's going through some things with her uncle right now and I think it's messed her up. I'm sorry, okay?"
"What happened with her uncle? I noticed how upset it made her."
"She'd have to tell you that herself, honey. Meanwhile, I need you to believe me when I say that all through this night the only person I wanted to be with was you. The only thought that kept me pushing through it all was getting to spend tonight with you. You can't back out now."
I looked at him, and all I could think about was his profession of love for Kira, the way she kissed him, and Lena crying her eyes out while wearing the dress and necklace he got for her. I shook my head sadly, I wasn't in the right state of mind for this.
"Where's Kira?" I said instead.
"She's in the backroom, okay? Where we were earlier."
I nodded, the same room we almost had sex in until Kira barged in on us.
"Casey, you have to believe me-"
"I have to go, Jace," I told him then I walked past him. I didn't even spare Ethan a glance as I hurried off towards the backroom. When I got to the door, I looked back in time to see Jace walk out of the hall. I felt a strong feeling of longing, but I shrugged it off. I needed to find out for sure if Jace was just playing me or if his feelings for me were real.
I pushed the door open and stepped in, Kira was on the chair, wiping her makeup off with a napkin. She turned when she saw me come in and smiled at me, "Did you see that kiss? Boy, did it catch every one of them by surprise!"
"Well… I was definitely surprised." I confessed.
She got up and walked up to me, "everyone thought that this marriage was simply going to be contractual and no real feelings involved. I'm going to show them that it will be more than that. This will go beyond the merger, Casey."
"Uhm…"
"I'm gonna make this work, Casey." She said, "I'm not going to simply bury my head like my uncle wants, or give it all up just because I'm a girl. I'm gonna give this marriage everything I've got, and that means anything that could threaten it would have to go."
"Everything?" I croaked.
She nodded, "especially that hoe Jace has been seeing."
"What?" My eyes widened at her, "I thought you didn't care about her?"
"That was before my uncle tried to take my birthright from me. But things have changed now, and I won't let anything get in my way. I'm gonna find out who that bitch is, and I'm gonna destroy her."
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Odd_Man
Odd_Man Well... things are moving at quite the pace right now. Where does this leave Casey and Jace? Do you think her friendship with Kira will survive this? Be sure to leave a comment and your votes will be deeply appreciated! Thank you for reading.
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