Page 8
Story: His Ring, Her Rules
I reapplied my n**e lipstick and exited my office.
As I stepped inside the lift, my phone rang, and Kena’s caller ID flashed. I smiled as I lifted it up.
“Hello, Mr. Max.”
“Hi there, Vivian,” he said. “I was wondering if we could meet…”
“Well, actually I am going to try my wedding dress…I will message you the address; we can meet there only.”
“Oh, good. Who else will be there?”
“Just my best friend, a.k.a my assistant.”
“Nice, I’ll see you there,” he said before hanging up.
When I arrived on the ground floor and came out via the building’s main door, I noticed Jona already waiting near the car.
I got into the car, he sat next to me, and the driver started the motor.
“Kena Max is also coming there,” I informed him.
“The CEO of the Max Enterprises?”
“Yup.”
Kena was also the CEO of his firm and a billionaire…I was dumb not to identify him when we first met, but he was not annoyed.
We worked in separate businesses, so I was unfamiliar with him.
We soon arrived at the business where I was having my dress designed, and as I got out of the car, I noticed Kena already resting against his car.
“Were you waiting for long?” I inquired, hugging him on the side.
“Nah. Just reached here a minute ago.”
Jona approached us and stood by me. I introduced them both, and they shook hands.
“So, let’s go try that goddamn dress,” I exclaimed, making everyone laugh as we all stepped inside.
I met the business owner, who requested us to wait for a few minutes before we all sat on the sofa.
After five minutes, she summoned me to try on the outfit. I walked inside the changing room and put on the dress with the aid of a worker.
The owner looked at me attentively to ensure that the garment suited me exactly. And trust me, it fits my figure well.
I decided to show Kena and Jona the dress, so I gently stepped out while wearing it.
They were both sitting in the same spot, speaking, and I cleared my voice to get their attention.
Their heads turned to face me at the same time, and their jaws fell.
Kena’s jaw was wide open, and Jona elbowed him, urging him to close his lips. I flushed at their reaction.
Kena shouted, “Oh My God, Vivian…you are looking… outstanding!” which made me blush even more.
“Yes…you are looking gorgeous,” Jona said.
“Thank you,” I murmured, smiling shyly.
On your wedding day…
I brushed my fingers over my bridal gown as I stood in front of it in a swimming suit.
Today marked the wedding of the decade. I cannot believe this is occurring, and I am not happy about it. But from today, soon after we marry, our firms will unite into ‘Hayes and Dante Industries.’
Jaxon wanted it to be Dante and Hayes Industries, but I convinced him to put my name first.
“Ma’am?” the makeup artist asked, breaking my concentration, “Should we begin?”
I nodded slowly and sat on the chair in front of the mirror as she began applying cosmetics.
I merely called the painters to my penthouse so that I could be comfortable for a few hours.
The wedding was in the evening, and I was becoming more worried with each passing minute.
After an hour, my makeup was finished, and the artist instructed me to put on the outfit.
Wearing the outfit, I stood in front of the full-length mirror and peered at myself. I hope this marriage was real…to be honest, I looked wonderful.
I whirled around, admiring myself, and the door opened as Jona entered.
“Are you…” he stopped off, his gaze fixed on me.
“You look more beautiful with the makeup,” he commented. I grinned in return.
Jona is supposed to be walking me down the aisle. My parents are not here, but I have him. He and I are like siblings, and he offered to escort me down the aisle, which I gladly accepted.
He looked adorable in his navy blue suit and spectacles.
Once again, my eyes began to water, and he whispered, “Remember…”
“You can do it,” we both said together, chuckling.
That’s my favorite thing about him: he’s really encouraging. He kissed my forehead and held my hand before leading me to the car.
When I arrived at the site, I was fascinated by the decorations…it was Jaxon’s pick since he promised me that all I needed to do was buy the dress, and he would handle the rest.
I stood beside Jona before he joined my arm with his, and with one more encouraging grin, we began heading down the aisle.
The route I was on was covered with white rose petals, and it looked lovely.
I noticed Kena standing behind Jaxon, looking gorgeous, and then I spotted him. He looked devilishly gorgeous in his black tuxedo.
He looked at me with a chilly expression as if he couldn’t wait to murder me, and I trembled at the prospect.
As I approached Jaxon, I noticed Kena wink at me, and a slight grin appeared on my lips. Jona carefully handed my hand to Jaxon, who gripped it tightly, causing a tingling feeling on the touch.
He made me stand opposite him before the priest began speaking, and I tuned out. Jaxon appeared to have spaced out as well, despite the fact that he was gazing at me, and I had to drop my head.
The priest then glanced at him and responded: “Do you, Jaxon Dante, take Vivian Hayes to be your wife? To have and hold. From this day forward, For better or worse, For richer or poorer, In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, Till death do you apart?”
No, he did not mean all of that; he could never. “I do,” he said with an apathetic expression. I felt like weeping.
The priest then said the exact same thing to me: “Do you, Vivian Hayes, take Jaxon Dante to be your husband? To have and hold. From this day forward, For better or worse, For richer or poorer, In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, Till death do you apart?”
No. I wanted to shout, but then I looked at Jona, who was supporting me, then at Jaxon’s parents, who were overjoyed, and last at Jaxon, who gave me a look that said, “Dare you do anything stupid.”
“I do,” I eventually murmured, sealing my fate forever. Jaxon smirked, satisfied.
The priest said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may now kiss the bride.”
Wait…what?!
Kiss?!
Oh, crap! Why didn’t we discuss this earlier?!
I gave Jaxon a terrified expression while he appeared cool.
He took a step towards me, leaned down, and my breath caught.
Will he actually kiss me? I don’t want my first kiss to be merely formal.
He moved in closer, eventually placing his lips on the corner of my lips. The same way I kissed Jona the other day.
To the audience, it appeared like we kissed, although we didn’t. And the audience roared and applauded.
He let his lips linger for a second before drawing apart, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d held.
Yay, I’m married! I mentally rolled my eyes at the concept.
We were on the way to Jaxon’s place. The wedding was concluded, and I was incredibly fatigued.
I swear that if his house isn’t beautiful enough, I’ll return to live in my penthouse…but these ideas fled the minute I got out of the car and stood in front of his home.
Holy stuff! This home was wonderful; why hadn’t I noticed it before? I would have purchased it even if I hadn’t seen it from the inside.
Jaxon began heading towards the house, completely ignoring me, and I followed him.
The interior was similarly gorgeous. I have to admit that he has superb taste.
Jaxon didn’t say anything and started heading upstairs, and I had no choice but to follow him.
As I stepped inside the lift, my phone rang, and Kena’s caller ID flashed. I smiled as I lifted it up.
“Hello, Mr. Max.”
“Hi there, Vivian,” he said. “I was wondering if we could meet…”
“Well, actually I am going to try my wedding dress…I will message you the address; we can meet there only.”
“Oh, good. Who else will be there?”
“Just my best friend, a.k.a my assistant.”
“Nice, I’ll see you there,” he said before hanging up.
When I arrived on the ground floor and came out via the building’s main door, I noticed Jona already waiting near the car.
I got into the car, he sat next to me, and the driver started the motor.
“Kena Max is also coming there,” I informed him.
“The CEO of the Max Enterprises?”
“Yup.”
Kena was also the CEO of his firm and a billionaire…I was dumb not to identify him when we first met, but he was not annoyed.
We worked in separate businesses, so I was unfamiliar with him.
We soon arrived at the business where I was having my dress designed, and as I got out of the car, I noticed Kena already resting against his car.
“Were you waiting for long?” I inquired, hugging him on the side.
“Nah. Just reached here a minute ago.”
Jona approached us and stood by me. I introduced them both, and they shook hands.
“So, let’s go try that goddamn dress,” I exclaimed, making everyone laugh as we all stepped inside.
I met the business owner, who requested us to wait for a few minutes before we all sat on the sofa.
After five minutes, she summoned me to try on the outfit. I walked inside the changing room and put on the dress with the aid of a worker.
The owner looked at me attentively to ensure that the garment suited me exactly. And trust me, it fits my figure well.
I decided to show Kena and Jona the dress, so I gently stepped out while wearing it.
They were both sitting in the same spot, speaking, and I cleared my voice to get their attention.
Their heads turned to face me at the same time, and their jaws fell.
Kena’s jaw was wide open, and Jona elbowed him, urging him to close his lips. I flushed at their reaction.
Kena shouted, “Oh My God, Vivian…you are looking… outstanding!” which made me blush even more.
“Yes…you are looking gorgeous,” Jona said.
“Thank you,” I murmured, smiling shyly.
On your wedding day…
I brushed my fingers over my bridal gown as I stood in front of it in a swimming suit.
Today marked the wedding of the decade. I cannot believe this is occurring, and I am not happy about it. But from today, soon after we marry, our firms will unite into ‘Hayes and Dante Industries.’
Jaxon wanted it to be Dante and Hayes Industries, but I convinced him to put my name first.
“Ma’am?” the makeup artist asked, breaking my concentration, “Should we begin?”
I nodded slowly and sat on the chair in front of the mirror as she began applying cosmetics.
I merely called the painters to my penthouse so that I could be comfortable for a few hours.
The wedding was in the evening, and I was becoming more worried with each passing minute.
After an hour, my makeup was finished, and the artist instructed me to put on the outfit.
Wearing the outfit, I stood in front of the full-length mirror and peered at myself. I hope this marriage was real…to be honest, I looked wonderful.
I whirled around, admiring myself, and the door opened as Jona entered.
“Are you…” he stopped off, his gaze fixed on me.
“You look more beautiful with the makeup,” he commented. I grinned in return.
Jona is supposed to be walking me down the aisle. My parents are not here, but I have him. He and I are like siblings, and he offered to escort me down the aisle, which I gladly accepted.
He looked adorable in his navy blue suit and spectacles.
Once again, my eyes began to water, and he whispered, “Remember…”
“You can do it,” we both said together, chuckling.
That’s my favorite thing about him: he’s really encouraging. He kissed my forehead and held my hand before leading me to the car.
When I arrived at the site, I was fascinated by the decorations…it was Jaxon’s pick since he promised me that all I needed to do was buy the dress, and he would handle the rest.
I stood beside Jona before he joined my arm with his, and with one more encouraging grin, we began heading down the aisle.
The route I was on was covered with white rose petals, and it looked lovely.
I noticed Kena standing behind Jaxon, looking gorgeous, and then I spotted him. He looked devilishly gorgeous in his black tuxedo.
He looked at me with a chilly expression as if he couldn’t wait to murder me, and I trembled at the prospect.
As I approached Jaxon, I noticed Kena wink at me, and a slight grin appeared on my lips. Jona carefully handed my hand to Jaxon, who gripped it tightly, causing a tingling feeling on the touch.
He made me stand opposite him before the priest began speaking, and I tuned out. Jaxon appeared to have spaced out as well, despite the fact that he was gazing at me, and I had to drop my head.
The priest then glanced at him and responded: “Do you, Jaxon Dante, take Vivian Hayes to be your wife? To have and hold. From this day forward, For better or worse, For richer or poorer, In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, Till death do you apart?”
No, he did not mean all of that; he could never. “I do,” he said with an apathetic expression. I felt like weeping.
The priest then said the exact same thing to me: “Do you, Vivian Hayes, take Jaxon Dante to be your husband? To have and hold. From this day forward, For better or worse, For richer or poorer, In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish, Till death do you apart?”
No. I wanted to shout, but then I looked at Jona, who was supporting me, then at Jaxon’s parents, who were overjoyed, and last at Jaxon, who gave me a look that said, “Dare you do anything stupid.”
“I do,” I eventually murmured, sealing my fate forever. Jaxon smirked, satisfied.
The priest said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may now kiss the bride.”
Wait…what?!
Kiss?!
Oh, crap! Why didn’t we discuss this earlier?!
I gave Jaxon a terrified expression while he appeared cool.
He took a step towards me, leaned down, and my breath caught.
Will he actually kiss me? I don’t want my first kiss to be merely formal.
He moved in closer, eventually placing his lips on the corner of my lips. The same way I kissed Jona the other day.
To the audience, it appeared like we kissed, although we didn’t. And the audience roared and applauded.
He let his lips linger for a second before drawing apart, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d held.
Yay, I’m married! I mentally rolled my eyes at the concept.
We were on the way to Jaxon’s place. The wedding was concluded, and I was incredibly fatigued.
I swear that if his house isn’t beautiful enough, I’ll return to live in my penthouse…but these ideas fled the minute I got out of the car and stood in front of his home.
Holy stuff! This home was wonderful; why hadn’t I noticed it before? I would have purchased it even if I hadn’t seen it from the inside.
Jaxon began heading towards the house, completely ignoring me, and I followed him.
The interior was similarly gorgeous. I have to admit that he has superb taste.
Jaxon didn’t say anything and started heading upstairs, and I had no choice but to follow him.