Chapter 16
Later that evening
Aaron
I grabbed both our plates and tucked a wine bottle under my arm. Tonight we were having sirloin steak fried in garlic butter, with a hefty side of roasted asparagus, and a handful of chunky home-made fries. We’ll wash it down with a delicious bottle of red wine and then we have the whole evening to plan out the wedding. I need to remember to tell her about Kenneth as well. When I went for a coffee earlier today she was hosting a meeting so I couldn’t steal her away.
"Aaron, you have out done yourself tonight babe. This food is amazing." I smiled at Cassandra and raised my glass "We've got the whole evening to sort the wedding out. We'll down this bottle of wine, blast some music and then get to work. When we're finished, you can be dessert." I caught Cass off guard "Aaron!" I grinned at her and after a moment of silence she looked at me seductively "What makes you think you can handle this?" I love it when she fights back "What do you think the bottle of wine is for?" We both laughed and carried on finishing our meals.
After polishing off our food, I grabbed the bottle of wine and we made our way over to the couch. We put a best of Queen album on to set the mood. "Oh babe, I forgot to tell you. We have to waste an invite on that business partner Mark and I had a meeting with earlier today. I don't know why he was so keen on coming, but he gave up a huge percentage of his share just for an invite. Every one will be thrilled with the bonus they're getting this year, put it that way."
Cass looked over at me "We'll make do, what's he like?"
I sunk into the couch and scratched the back of my head "I'm not going to lie, babe. He's a bit of a dick. Mark will keep him in check, don't worry."
Cass cuddled up to me and put her head on my chest "As long as I'm married to you by the end of the day I don't care what happens." I put my arm around her and pulled her in tight. She looked up at me "What's his name? I'm going to have to send out a proper invite."
"We'll post it to his office along with the final contract. He's called Kenneth James."
Cass went quiet. I looked down at her and she was pale, like she'd seen a ghost. "Cass, what's wrong?"
Cassandra
Kenneth James. Kenneth fucking James. That arrogant, self-absorbed, sexist, disgusting, vile human being. My heart beat shot up and my blood started to boil. Who the hell does he think he is? Worming his way into my wedding and barging back into my amazing life. He is a nasty virus the ruins everything he goes near.
He sacrificed money just to get an invite? That doesn't seem like him at all. Greedy little shit would trade his own Mother for a free meal. Why does he want to be at our wedding? He treated me like shit the whole time I worked for him at his company and he had the audacity to expect me to sleep with a client, like some cheap slut. Fuck him and fuck his company.
I bravely lifted my head and connected eyes with Aaron "Remember when we first met, in the Bahamas at Avery's wedding?
Aaron giggled "How could I forget? I'm a stripper at heart, you know!"
I smiled sheepishly back at him "Well, a few days before that I was fired from my job."
Aaron looked at me with a worried face. I paused for a moment, I don't know why I was embarrassed, it's not like I could prevent it "Kevin James was my old boss. The reason he fired me was because I refused to have sex with one of his clients. That disgusting monster booked a hotel room before even speaking to me. He just assumed I would be okay whoring myself out in order to expand his client base. Over night I lost my apartment, my car, and my job. But I still kept my dignity. A few days later I had to fly out to the Bahamas and pretend everything was okay. When I came home I got my life sorted and found that crap apartment you helped me move out of. I attended multiple interviews and never heard from them. Then I bumped into you again. I guess he just brings back bad memories.
Tears had formed in my eyes at this point and I could see Aaron turning bright red "Please say something, Aaron."
He stayed silent for a moment, it felt like an eternity "Babe, I had no idea. I am so sorry for what he did and I hate myself for how I treated you during that first month. To know that you were going through this and I was treating you like that breaks my heart. First thing tomorrow I am canceling the contract and paying him a visit. I will not let an old miserable fucker like that make my princess feel like this. I will ruin him. I'll make some phone calls and get the other agencies to black list him. If that sleazy cunt thinks he's coming to our wedding now, he's got another thing coming. And to think that arrogant asshole knew all this while staring me in the eyes the whole time. How fucking stupid can he get? Did he not think I would mention it to you?"
Aaron unclenched his fist and began to calm down, I looked at him in awe. To think this wonderful man would do all that just for me made my heart explode with love. "It's okay, Aaron. Forget about that first month, you had no idea. I love you and I know you love me, all is forgiven. I don't want to ruin everyone's bonus, let the prick come. I want to show him how happy I am with you and I want to rub it in his face. You make me the happiest woman in the world, Aaron."
Aaron immediately pounced on me and grabbed me in a bear hug. He squeezed me tight and kissed me on the forehead "Whatever you say baby, I will support it. If you ever change your mind I will not hesitate to ruin him. Just say the word. I love you, Cass."
I snuggled up close to Aaron and closed my eyes. After a few minutes of cuddling I broke the silence "That was a bit intense, wasn't it! Shall we get on with the wedding planning?" He released me from his grasp and we both sat up. "Sure Cass, so we're settled on Jamaica, right?" I nodded my head "I want to be right next to the beach so we have a perfect view of the sea." Aaron agreed "We need to stay in a beach hotel as well. I want to wake up and be two minutes from a morning swim." I clapped my hands excitedly "This is going to be so perfect! What shall we do for food?"
Aaron paused for a moment "I wouldn't mind trying what the hotel has to offer. We can find one with a good catering service, that way they can organize it all and we can enjoy it." I licked my lips "As long as we get to try some jerk chicken I don't care. I'm sure there's a catering service that serves our style of food and traditional Jamaican food."
Aaron tapped away at the calculator on his phone "How many people are we inviting? If we go for a hundred guests we can afford an open bar, sound good?" I leant over onto Aaron's chest "I only need about forty invites, if you can fill up sixty more slots go for it."
Aaron rested his head on mine "I can pull fifty, tops, ninety it is then." I stood up and made my way over to the stereo "So, what type of music shall we have?" Aaron stood up and walked over to me, he reached over to the stereo and put something on "Just wait."
A few moments later Three Little Birds by Bob Marley started playing, Aaron burst out laughing and I slapped him softly on the arm "That's for the dancing after wards!"Aaron grabbed a hold of my hand and started to dance "We’ll play whatever you want to walk down the aisle too. If you want a band, we'll hire a band. If you want a harp, we'll hire a professional. If you want the traditional music, we’ll get that."
I started to get into the rhythm and danced with him "I'll have to think about it, get back to me." Aaron twirled me around and smiled "We're making good progress here, what's left?" I replied back "Aww, baby. We're not even quarter of the way through! We've got to talk about: decorations, flowers, dresses, suits, the wedding party, the after party, transport, and most importantly, my dress!"
Aaron's face lost all of its color "I'll get another glass of wine then!." I shouted out to him as he went into the kitchen "You might as well bring another bottle! It's going to be a long night..." Aaron came back into the room with a fresh bottle, I took it off him and placed it on the table “Babe, can we have a serious moment about the bachelor and the bachelorrete parties?”
Aaron stared at me and replied almost instantly “Don’t worry, babe. The stripper will be for the lads, not for me. Why would I want a stripper dancing all over me when I already have the perfect girl right here?” I pounced on him “You know me too well, baby. Looking is allowed but no touching for either of us!” Aaron gave me a quick kiss “I’ve already told Mark and Quinn, there’s nothing to worry about. Now lets get planning!”