Betrayed by Trust (14 page)

“It’s not too late to change your mind,” Bridget said as she helped Caitlyn put on her veil.

Caitlyn
turned to face her. “I have a confession to make. Please don’t be upset with me but I think I’m in love.”

“
I knew it. You’ve fallen in love with him.”
Caitlyn’s eyes watered. “I’ve tried not to, but he’s been so sweet to me. We’ve been spending a lot of time together.” She went on and on trying to justify her feelings.

Bridget placed her arm around her. “Call it off. He’ll only break your heart. At least you’ll have your dignity.”

She pulled herself together. “No. If I’m going to end up with a broken heart I might as well get some money out of it. Leave me alone for a minute. I’ll be all right.”

Bridget stood up and looked at
Caitlyn.  She adjusted the straps on her violet dress. “You are so pigheaded,” she said, before leaving the room.

As soon as she knew
Bridget was out of the room, Caitlyn retrieved her cell phone. “You sure you want to do this. You haven’t found some loophole, have you?” she blurted.

Blake
responded, “We’re doing this. In less than an hour, you will be my wife.”

“Last chance.”

“Caitlyn, get off this phone. Finish getting ready and I’ll see you at the end of the aisle.”

She hung up the phone. A part of her felt disappointed. But what did she expect? Did she really think he would confess his undying love?  Tears flowed from her eyes and she couldn’t stop crying.

Tasha burst in the room wearing a knee length violet dress. “Girl, it’s standing room only out there.”

Caitlyn
used the tissue to wipe her face. Tasha rushed to her side. “Don’t cry. I mean you guys are rushing it, but I don’t blame you.” She handed Caitlyn another tissue. “I wish I had the kind of love you two have. This whole whirlwind romance brings tears to my eyes. I’m jealous.”

Tasha's
long rant gave Caitlyn time to pull herself together. “I’m fine. It’s just last minute jitters.”

The wedding coordinator entered. “Ms.
Crenshaw. This will be the last time I call you that,” she joked. “Everyone’s waiting. Ms. Tasha, we’re waiting for you too.”

Tasha
hugged Caitlyn and left the room. Caitlyn stood up and walked in front of the long mirror.  She lucked out on finding this dress, especially since she had less than six weeks to find it. The local designer made making her dress a priority when she learned she was marrying the CEO of Banks Telecom.  The ivory sheath style satin gown with a fish tail and slight slit in the back had a short train. She admired the hand sown pearls that adorned the diamond shape neckline and French lace sleeves. She touched the matching veil one last time and waited.

Bradford knocked on the door before entering. He wore a black tuxedo with a violet vest to match her wedding colors. He hugged and kissed her on the cheek.  “You look beautiful.”

“Don’t start. You’ll make me mess up my make-up.”

He led her out of the room. He said, as they walked, “He doesn’t deserve you.”

“Now is not the time.”

“I just don’t want you to make a big mistake.”

“It’s too late.”

“No, it’s not. I can go in there and tell them you changed your mind.”

“I’m going through with this.”

By now they are near the door. Bridget, her matron of honor and
Tasha her maid of honor were walking down the aisle. She looked at Bradford. He looped his arm through hers. The wedding coordinator handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers willed with lilac and other flowers. A local recording artist sang a song as her and Bradford rounded the corner and entered the room.

She tried her best to focus on the end of the walkway and not look to her side to see all of the people who had come to see her and
Blake tie the knot. She heard a few grasps acknowledging how beautiful she looked. She hoped she didn’t slip and fall because she could feel the four inch Cinderella shoes slipping. Funny, how last night when they rehearsed, the walkway didn’t seem to be this long.

Blake
stood at the end wearing a white tuxedo and lilac vest. The smile on his face put her at ease. Bradford placed her hand in Blake's and said, “I’m entrusting you to take care of my sister.”

Bradford then left and took his seat on the first bench, sitting by M
att and her aunt and uncle. Her hands shook as she walked with Blake to stand in front of the minister. The minister prayed.

Caitlyn
said a silent prayer
. Lord, please forgive me for taking these vows in vain. I do love Blake and although he says he cares about me, I want him to love me. I want this marriage to be real.  I hope you’ll forgive me.

She rehearsed her lines all morning, but now
as she stood in front of Blake, the minister and all of these people, she couldn’t remember a word. Everyone waited on her to talk. She cleared her throat before speaking. “Blake, our meeting wasn’t coincidental, it was destiny. I never thought we would be here at this moment and time, exchanging wedding vows, but we are. I confess my love for you in front of our family and friends.”

She was glad the veil hid some of her facial expressions. She continued to say, “I promise to live up to the agreement as your wife. 
Blake Banks, I love you and will spend the rest of our time together showing you how much.”

Blake’s heart skipped several beats as he stood and listened to Caitlyn’s vows. Did she really mean she loved him? He wished he could tell if she was acting. It was now his turn to express his vows.

He turned to face
Caitlyn. “Caitlyn Marie, although our meeting wasn’t the conventional way, I think I fell for you the moment I saw you. You’ve enriched my life in so many ways. I can’t imagine a life without you. I love everything about you, from the way your eyes twinkle when you’re sharing an idea or the cute dimples that form when you smile. You’ve made my world complete. I promise to love you, honor you and protect you from this day forward.”

The minister said, “Rings please.”

They exchanged rings, both nervous as they repeated the wedding vows. The minister said, “With the power invested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Blake Adams Banks, you can now kiss your bride.”

Blake removed
Caitlyn’s veil. He took his index finger and wiped the tears from her cheek before leaning down to kiss her. Time stood still when their lips touched. After hearing a few people clearing their throats, only then did he stop. Folks cheered around them.

The minister said, “Ladies and g
entleman, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Blake and Caitlyn Banks.”

The crowd cheered as they made their way down the aisle. When they got to the foyer,
Blake leaned and whispered in Caitlyn’s ear. “I’m a lucky man.”

She responded, “That you are.”
“There, there. We have people watching,” he teased.

They spent the next thirty minutes taking wedding photos.

“I can’t wait to get out of these shoes,” Caitlyn said, as she slid them off once they entered the limousine.

He took her foot and massaged it. “Beautiful from head to toe.”

“You can stop pretending. There aren’t any cameras or folks around,” Caitlyn said, as she leaned back into her seat.

His hand slid up her leg. “I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

She leaned forward and their lips were almost touching. “So your vows, did you mean those?”

He didn’t respond. She said, “That’s what I thought.” She moved her leg and attempted to put her foot back on the floor, but he was stronger and held her foot in his lap.

“Like I said, I don’t say things I don’t mean. Now marinate on that.”

He massaged both of her feet as the limousine drove them to the location of the reception. He slid her dress up and massaged the bottom of her legs. Contrary to her attitude, he could feel her body relax.

The limousine drive spoke over the intercom. “We’re pulling up now Mr. Banks.”

Caitlyn
placed both of her feet down. She pulled down the visor to make sure her make-up and hair were intact. Blake enjoyed watching her. She might not know this, but tonight, she would be his and it would be willingly.

People cheered as they exited the limousine. The wedding coordinator rushed them into the lobby so they could line up with the rest of the wedding party and greet their guests. Cameras flashed as they shook hands.

“You were complaining about your feet earlier. Imagine wearing these.”

Caitlyn
laughed. “Don’t expect a foot massage.”

He pouted. “You’re not fair.”
“Come on, they’re playing our song,” Caitlyn said, as she took Blake’s hand and led him on to the dance floor for their first dance. Luther’s voice rang through the room as she placed her head on his shoulder. Their bodies rocked to the beat. He held her close and didn’t want to let her go. They danced for several songs straight. Bradford tapped him on the shoulder.

“Can I have this dance?”

“If you weren’t her brother I would tell you no.” He released Caitlyn and left her and her brother twirling on the dance floor.

Trent walked up to him and handed him a drink. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you two were really in love.”

Blake took the drink and clicked his glass with Trent’s. “I surely am. Now I just have to convince her.”

Trent commented. “You got your work cut out for you.”

Blake agreed. It would be a challenge but he was up for it. Caitlyn’s laughter could be heard over the noise.  “Who is that dancing with my wife?”

“I don’t know, but whoever it is got her laughing.”

“Take this.” Blake handed him his glass of champagne and walked back out on the dance floor. He didn’t like the fact that some other man could make her respond like that. She never laughed that hard with him.

He tapped the guy on the shoulder. “I would like to dance with my wife now,” he said.

“Sure, man. We were just catching up. Congrats man. She’s a good catch.” The younger version of Denzel Washington said, as she walked away.

The music changed into something fast paced.
Caitlyn said, “I’m tired. Let’s go sit down.”

He had to increase his pace to keep up with her. Once they were seated at their table, he placed his arm around her chair and leaned down closer to her ear. “Who was that guy?”

“Nobody important.”
Bridget and Matt stood nearby, so Blake decided to drop the issue. Blake asked Bridget, “Would my new sister-in-law like to dance?”

Matt
and Bridget exchanged looks. Bridget followed Blake to the dance floor. Blake stopped at a spot on the dance floor where he could have a clear view of his table. He was satisfied that Matt sat and talked to Caitlyn and not the mystery fellow he saw her dancing with earlier.

“I need to warn you. My sister loves you and if you ever do anything to hurt her, you’ll have to answer to me
,” Bridget said.

Blake
swayed to the beat. “I love your sister and have no plans on hurting her.”

Caitlyn watched Bridget and Blake out on the dance floor. Matt was talking to her, but her mind tuned him out as she replayed the brief encounter with Byron. The sight of him shocked her.

“May I have this dance,” Byron had asked.

Curious to why he was there, she agreed. “I’m surprised to see you here,” she recalled saying.

“Remember my cousin Joyce Sanders?
She and Blake are on the Dallas Urban Development committee. She needed an escort and when learning you were the bride, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see you again.”

“As you can tell, I moved on,”
Caitlyn snapped.

“
Caitlyn, I won’t take up too much more of your time, but I wanted to apologize. I hate things ended the way they did.”

“You taught me a huge lesson.”

“That incident taught me a lesson too. Seeing how much pain I caused you, I never cheated on another woman.”

“Too bad it took that to happen for you to change your ways.”

“I’m sorry.”

Caitlyn
pulled herself together. She had moved on, but the pain from his infidelity seemed like it happened yesterday. “Thanks for the dance, but I have other people to see.”

When she saw
Blake and Trent watching, she decided to continue the dance. Byron tried to ease the situation by telling a joke. She laughed louder than she had to.

Caitlyn
snapped back into the present when she heard Matt call out her name a few times. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her past love. Today was her wedding day. Blake should be at the forefront of her mind. She meant every word she said during their wedding vows. Although she had loved Bryon at one point, her heart now belonged to Blake; whether he knew it or not.

Caitlyn
hoped Bridget wasn’t giving Blake too hard of a time. Matt left to use the bathroom and Trent slipped into the seat next to him. “Where’s your fine friend? She’s been avoiding me all evening.”

“I stay out of her business.”

“I feel you. So when are you going to tell Blake how you feel?”

It amazed her how on point Trent seemed to be. She shifted in her seat.
“You need to mind your business.”

“
Blake is my business.”

Caitlyn
turned to face Trent. “Let’s get something straight. I’m Blake’s wife and I don’t need your or anyone else interfering in our lives.”

Trent looked in the direction of
Blake and Bridget. They were walking towards the table. “I’ll be keeping my eye out on you,” he said, as he left the chair to meet Blake.

“Just when I thought you were cool,”
Caitlyn stated under her breath. Her body shivered. Tasha must have seen Trent leave because she slipped in the chair as soon as he left.

“There are so many single rich men here,” she said, as she opened up her clutch and showed
Caitlyn a few of the business cards she had collected.

“You should find your prince somewhere in there.”

“But nothing like your Blake.”

Blake
and Bridget were now at the table. Blake took a seat on the other side of Caitlyn. Trent returned and sat next to Tasha. After a few toasts, they were served dinner. About an hour later, the wedding coordinator guided them to the table which held the four tier white cake trimmed with purple frosting.

The crowd cheered as they smashed cake in each other’s faces.
Blake surprised her by kissing some of the crumbs off. “You’re going overboard,” she whispered.

“There’s more where that comes from.”

“Time to throw the bouquet,” the wedding planner said, as the single women in the room gathered together.

Caitlyn
turned around and closed her eyes. She threw the bouquet and turned around to see who would be the lucky woman. She laughed as Tasha and some other woman ran towards the bouquet to lose it to an elderly woman who looked to be in her sixties.

She threw it at
Tasha. “I don’t want this thing. I’m not getting married.”

Everyone around them laughed.
Caitlyn walked near Tasha and said, “I guess you’re the lucky person.”
They posed for a few pictures.

The coordinator gathered the single men.
Caitlyn sat in the chair and her heart beat fast as Blake slid her garter off. The men weren’t as enthused as the single ladies were. Trent ended up catching the garter. She heard Trent grunt as he was forced to take pictures of the garter with Blake. Bryon stared at her. Blake saw the eye exchange between her and Byron. Caitlyn hoped Blake wouldn’t ask her about Byron later, but knowing him, he probably would.

The night was coming to an end.  She found her siblings before leaving with
Blake. She hugged them. “Thank you both for your support.”

Bradford said, “
Blake’s not as bad as I thought he was. I just wish you two would have met under different circumstances.”

“Don’t let your guard down. I still don’t trust him,” Bridget said.

“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself,” she assured them.

Blake
approached and placed his arm around her shoulder. “It’s time. We’ll see you in about a week.”

Caitlyn
turned and said, “Make that two weeks. It’ll take us a week to recover.”

Blake
laughed. “I hope you mean that.”

“Don’t count on it.”

Once behind closed doors of the limousine, they forgot about the false pretenses.  “You almost made me believe you were willing to forgo one of the rules on your list,” Blake said.

Caitlyn
rubbed his arm. “This champagne has me a little light headed, so you might get lucky tonight.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of a drunk woman.”

“Maybe she wants you to.”

“Don’t play with me.”

Caitlyn placed her arms around Blake’s neck and pulled his lips down onto hers. She showed him with her tongue that she was serious. The moans she heard seeping through his mouth increased the desire she had for him. Before long, they were pulling up to the Four Seasons Hotel and their lip locking session ended.

“I rented a suite for tonight. This was the place of our first date.”

“You can be romantic when you want to be,” she said. Her heart tugged because Blake acted like he really cared.

Blake
opened the door and swooped her up in his arms. “Whoa,” she said.

“It’s tradition,” he said, as he carried
Caitlyn over the threshold.

She got lost in his eyes as he carried her and placed her on the couch in the suite. She viewed the room that was filled with re
d roses. The red rose petals led to the bedroom. Several trays of food and a bucket filled with ice contained a bottle of Moet sat on a table near the chaise.

“Tonight, I want you to forget our agreement. Tonight,
Caitlyn, be my wife in every since of the word,” Blake kissed her on the neck.

Any resistance she had before went out the window when she felt his soft lips. She gave in to her feelings. She gave in to the fantasy she and
Blake were like every other newlywed, happily in love on their wedding night. Tonight, she would give in and think about the consequences later.