Business Always
CHAPTER 26—XAVIER POV

After leaving her room, I slam the door shut and get into my car.

Left or right.

My brain was telling me to turn left, drive back to my office and forget about her.

Stop putting myself in so much trouble requite. It never hurt her and even when it did, it always hurt me more.

I turned right.

Her wedding venue within my sight, parking quickly I go and take a seat in the back.

Silently I watched her walk in, hand in hand with her best friend, the orchestra playing a smooth harmony.

She looked ethereal.

Her dress flirted with the floor, the creamy colour making her caramel skin glow. Her hair was flowing but mostly hidden under her veil.

I'm gawking at her shamelessly, but it's OK because so is everyone else.

Her eyes are glued to the floor nevertheless I can see a small smile on her lips.

She stands in front of her husband to be.

"We are here today to announce the wedding of Amelia Diana Davis and Alexander Michael Chopra," the pastor announces.

"Diana?" I smirked.

"I believe you have made your own vows?" the pastor asked, and we both nodded.

"La," I began, "I have to catch my breath to believe this is real, that I am marrying my true love, my heart's desire, and my best friend. You make me a better person, a better businessman, and I want to be the best husband for you. I love you with all my heart and want to make you happy forever as my wife." The pastor signalled for her to speak.

"Xavier, the first time I saw you, I was drenched in coffee, and I fell for you instantly. You are my light, my inspiration, and a blessing from God. I promise to be your nurturing wife, your caring companion and promise to love and support you in everything we do, I love you."

The pastor cleared his throat. "Xavier, do you take Amelia to be your wife?"

"I do."

"Amelia, do you take Xavier as your husband?"

"I don't."

I'm pulled out of my memories when I hear those words.

The crowd begins murmuring, every eye is stuck on her. I hear Jasmine, who's a couple

of rows ahead of me, gasp audibly.

I squint, fully absorbing the moment. She said I don't?

My heart feels conflicted. Should I be happy or sad?

On one side I was over the moon. She said no. She, although at the last moment, denied him. Whether she did it for me or for herself.

There was still a chance at us.

On the other hand, the things I said to her right before I left her room. I'm sure she won't look over them so easily.

Before I have time to have a viable reaction, the once docile paparazzi have ambushed the couple. Amelia, who's walking back down the aisle now has a sly smirk on her face.

A smirk I can recognize anywhere.

This isn't a last-minute change of heart but a planned move.

Did I expect anything else honestly?

I curse myself for thinking that she would still marry him after knowing everything about him. Of course she wouldn't have. I was too blinded by emotions to know that she's always scheming something.

She says a snarky comment to the cameramen before walking out the building.

Right before she walks out, she turns to her friend, nodding to say she's OK.

It wasn't directed to me, but I feel calmer knowing this is what was meant to happen and that she's OK.

I sit on my seat for a few more minutes, waiting for everyone to calm down before I left. Most of the guests were out of their seats, either leaving or taking advantage of the food.

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I'm about to get into my car when I see a figure in a white dress, sitting on the edge of the water fountain, dipping her fingers into the water.

She looks like an angel, but she's far from it.

My legs, having a mind of their own, walk up to her. I pause, a few feet away from her but she hasn't noticed me yet.

"Miss Davis," I call out to her.

Her head slowly turns to me, and her eyes widen slightly before going back to their normal size. "What do you want?" she mutters.

I can't help but chuckle at the way she asked it, like a child. She looks at me wrongly when she hears me laugh.

"I'm sorry. You sounded like a cute child," I justify myself.

"Yeah. I am like a child, aren't I?" she repeats my words from earlier.

I wince when she says that, wishing I could take it all back but at the same time

knowing I only said what I felt.

"You said I don't?" I change the topic.

"I know." She sighs, going back to fiddling with the water.

"Why?" I ask.

"I think you know why," she says.

"Why didn't you just dump him. What was the need for all that?" I ask, not condescendingly but curiously.

"Well like you said, I'm selfish. I wanted the whole world to know, I wanted to humiliate him the way I felt so ashamed."

I decide not to tread on that topic. "You could've told me," I suggest. "Would've saved

a couple arguments."

Her face scrunches in surprise. "Makes no difference," she murmurs. "Whether you said

it out loud or not that's how you felt right?"

"I'm sorr-"

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"Don't apologize," she cuts me off. "Your feelings are valid. For God's sake, I can't believe you haven't tried to kill me yet." She laughs.

My intrigue heightens. "If the roles were reversed, you would've killed me?" I ask, half joking half serious.

She pauses. "No." She shrugs her shoulders in defeated.

"You've changed, Miss Davis. So much," I comment.

"Your fault," she murmurs, and I laugh "So, you're single again?" I shuffle awkwardly, not knowing what to say to her, but I was happy to talk to her.

"This doesn't change anything between us, Mr King. I didn't do anything for your sake just to satisfy my conscience," she snaps.

"Not even a small part of you thought about me?" I ask. She told me she loves me. I know deep down somewhere that she did it for me, even if she won't admit it.

"You meant what you said in my room?" she asks. "Because if you're anything like me, you could've said it to spite me."

I don't know what to say. I can easily say that it was just to hurt her and I didn't mean

any of it, but I don't think she would believe me, and I wouldn't either.

"Yes. I meant everything." I look down onto the floor.

"So did I," she says quietly, remembering her own words. "I'm surprised you still came

to the ceremony."

"Of course. Had to see you for the last time." I sigh.

"Last time?" she questions.

"Well, not anymore, now that you didn't marry him," I say.

"No, it'll still be the last time." She fiddles with her engagement ring, struggling to take

it off.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"I've already made all the preparations," she says finally, pulling off her probably

incredibly expensive ring and tossing it into the fountain. "I'm moving Eva Enterprises and myself to California."