70
The day of the wedding finally arrived and Rachel was there to dress Celine in the beautiful gown she had designed for her. As she helped Celine into the dress, Rachel couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t designed her own wedding gown when she got married.
The dress was perfect, and Celine was glowing with happiness. Rachel took several pictures of her to post on her social accounts, showing off her work to her followers.
As they made their way to the beautifully decorated church, it was obvious that William had spared no expense in making sure that the day would be perfect for his beautiful bride.
As the ceremony began, Rachel took her seat among the guests, watching as Celine walked down the aisle towards William. During the reading of the nuptials, she couldn’t help but notice that Leo was sitting a few rows away, and he was making it obvious that he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
Rachel blushed deeply as she felt the heat of his gaze, and when he leaned over towards her just as the newlyweds shared their first kiss, her heart raced. “Your flushed cheeks and chest complement the dress so nicely,” he whispered to her, his eyes hungrily scanning her chest.
Rachel’s cheeks burned with embarrassment and she quickly got up from her seat and walked away from Leo, not wanting to do anything she might regret. She knew that she had to keep her distance from him, no matter how much he made her heart race.
The wedding reception was a beautiful and grand affair. William had spared no expense, making sure that the day was perfect for his bride, Celine. The drinks flowed steadily, making everyone relaxed and merry. The guests were happy and laughed as they chatted with each other.
Marcus, Celine’s younger brother, made another attempt to flirt with Rachel but she simply blew him off, which made Celine laugh. Rachel was happy for her friend and felt proud of her speech that made Celine cry.
Despite the joy of the moment, Rachel couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. She kept finding Leo’s gaze fixed on her, silently watching her. Every time she looked up, she found his eyes still on her, steady and unwavering.
Their eyes kept clashing and just as Rachel was about to make her way to him, Celine called her over. “Rachel, can you come with me? I need to change into the other gown you designed for me,” said Celine. Rachel followed her immediately, even as Celine boasted about how she was her designer.
As they made their way to the changing room, Rachel couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. She couldn’t help but wonder what Leo was thinking, and why he was still looking at her with such intensity.
****
The wedding reception was in full swing, with the drinks flowing steadily and everyone enjoying themselves. Rachel and Celine returned to the reception hall, chatting and laughing after changing into the second gown that Rachel had designed. But as soon as Rachel saw Rose flirting with Leo, her good mood dissipated.
“Ignore the bitch,” Celine told Rachel, noticing her friend’s discomfort. “Let’s show her how it’s done.”
Celine convinced Rachel to do one of their high school dances, and Rachel reluctantly agreed. The crowd gathered round to watch the two friends dance, and they soon found themselves having a great time. But when Roseline caught Rachel’s eye, she smirked and whispered to Leo to help her with her necklace clasp.
Rachel suddenly stopped dancing, feeling a surge of anger as she watched Leo indulging Roseline. She saw red and before she knew it, she marched over to the two of them, determined to put a stop to Roseline’s flirting. Roseline, caught off guard, reached for Leo, but he stepped out of her way and allowed Rachel to lead him onto the dance floor.
“You’re a great dancer,” Leo said, as he twirled Rachel around.
“Thanks,” Rachel replied, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I’ve always loved to dance.”
As they danced, Rachel couldn’t help but feel a spark between them. She couldn’t explain why she was so drawn to Leo despite what he had done to her, but she couldn’t deny it either.
The same had happened that day William had purposely locked the both of them up. She hated him for what he had done to her but she found herself going back to him each time the opportunity presented itself. The wedding reception may have been for William and Celine, but it seemed as though Rachel and Leo were stealing the show.
It was the night of Celine and William’s wedding reception, and the drinks were flowing as the guests laughed and danced the night away. Rachel was still feeling a mixture of jealousy and anger as she watched Roseline flirting with Leo.
Celine noticed the change in her demeanor and encouraged her to let loose and dance. The two of them took to the dance floor, drawing the attention of the guests who gathered to watch them. Rachel felt her nerves ease as she laughed and danced with her friend, but her joy was short-lived when she caught sight of Roseline whispering to Leo.
Rachel’s eyes narrowed as she watched Roseline, and before she knew what was happening, she had marched over to Leo and pulled him onto the dance floor. Leo looked a little taken aback at first, but then he chuckled and began to lead her in the dance.
As they swayed to the music, their eyes locked and the sparks began to fly. Leo couldn’t hide the arousal that was written all over his face, and before long, he was leading Rachel out to the terrace.
The night air was cool and crisp, and Rachel could feel her heartbeat racing as she followed Leo. They stopped in front of the railing, both of them catching their breath. Leo’s gaze was intense as he looked at Rachel, and she could feel herself drawn to him.
Just as they were about to make their way upstairs, Madeline caught them in the act. With a stern look on her face, she warned them not to do anything she wouldn’t approve of, or else she would tell Celine’s religious parents all about it. But Celine, ever the feisty one, had a trick up her sleeve. With a wicked smile, she threatened to tell Madeline’s secret, about her young lover who was also at the party.
Madeline saw the fairness in Celine’s threat and relented, letting the young couple go on their way. William and Celine barely had time to get out of their clothes before they were all over each other, making passionate love. As they lay in each other’s arms, they couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of trying to sneak back into the party with hair that was a mess and clothes that were askew.
They decided it was best to just stay put for a little while longer, lost in the ecstasy of their love for each other. Celine couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day, and as she drifted off to sleep in William’s arms, she knew that she would always cherish this moment for the rest of her life.
Rachel stumbled out of the reception hall, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t believe what she had just seen, or rather, what she thought she had seen. Leo, flirting with Roseline? The very thought of it made her see red. She had to get away, she had to get a grip on herself.
She walked aimlessly through the halls of the estate, her mind in a whirl. The wedding reception was still in full swing, but she couldn’t bear to be there anymore. Thankfully, the newlyweds had already ditched their guests and retired to their rooms, like curious and horny teenagers.
Rachel felt the need for a cold shower, something to calm her down. She rushed to her room and turned on the shower, but it did nothing to quell the storm within her. She was still just as agitated and confused as before.
She couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to talk to someone. She needed her mother. She barged into Madeline’s room without knocking, not caring who she might disturb. To her surprise, she found Madeline’s young lover in bed, a look of surprise on his face as he greeted her.
Madeline came out of the shower, a look of embarrassment on her face as she excused herself and led Rachel back to her room. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” Madeline asked, concern etched on her face.
Rachel relayed her feelings to her mother, the thoughts and fears that had been weighing on her mind. Madeline listened patiently, her eyes soft with understanding.
“You have to tell him how you feel, Rachel,” she said finally. “Give your love a chance.”
Rachel considered her mother’s words, her heart beating faster at the thought of confessing her feelings to Leo. She took a deep breath and decided to heed her mother’s advice.
She made her way to Leo’s room, her heart in her throat. She was about to take a leap of faith, to put everything on the line for love.