THE REJECTION

Chapter 3

The minute I step away, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around, and I gasp when I'm engulfed in a hug.

"God, Cess? I didn't know you'd be here!"

"You invited everyone at the office. Of course I'd be here."

"I invited everyone at the office?"

She rolls her eyes.

"Cami, really?"

Ugh. My mother in law apparently gets around. She invited everyone?

"That means Mr Wilson is here?"

"No, Cami. Our boss is not here. He was fired."

"What? Really?"

"The company owner had a meeting with the board of directors yesterday. They reviewed your case, plus all the other girls that Wilson ever made a pass on, and they fired him on basis of gross misconduct."

I almost sag in relief.

"Thank God."

"Yeah, thank God. Predating on unsuspecting employees and trying to blackmail them for sex is so sick. I'm just so happy that you reported him before he framed an excuse to fire you, or worse, rape you. We'll have a safe working environment once more."

"Who is the new CEO? Are they promoting someone?"

"No. They are bringing in a CEO from the Brooklyn branch. I heard that he's ruthless and heartless, but at least he won't try to blackmail all of us into having sex with him."

"We don't know that."

"Ryder has a reputation. Keeping his name clean is his main goal. We will be fine working under him."

"His name is Ryder?"

"Apparently. What's wrong with the name?"

"Nothing. He sounds like an aging man with fake teeth and a beer belly."

Cess bursts out laughing.

"That would be like every CEO I've ever met, so no surprise there. So, your husband. He's quite the eye candy. How did you two meet?"

"It's a long story. Maybe I'll tell you all about it over lunch one of these days."

"How long will you be away on honeymoon?"

"Three days."

"Just three days?"

"Yeah. Brent has an empire to run and I have a job to get back to."

She smirks.

"I bet you'll have a busy three days."

"I wouldn't put my money on it. Look, I have to get back before my husband and my best friend start a fight."

"Sweet Clay would never hurt a fly. I'll see at the office in three days then. And congratulations."

I kiss her on the cheek before I head back to Clay and Brent. Clay is talking harshly, his index finger poking dangerously on Brent's chest, and Brent himself is just raising an eyebrow as he stares at him.

When I get to them, Clay turns to look at me.

"You're making a mistake!" He hisses before he turns on his heel and walks away.

"Clay!"

Brent captures my hand.

"Don't follow him. He's in a mood."

"What did he tell you?"

He scoffs.

"A lot. I barely heard half of it."

"He's just concerned about me."

"Is he?"

"He's my best friend."

"Is nerd best friend still a thing?"

"Clay is not a nerd."

"Yeah, that explains the nerd glasses and his weird choice of words. Is he in love with you?"

"Are those the type of questions you should be asking on our wedding day?"

He snorts.

"I don't want this marriage to be over before it even starts, so I'll stop. We need to leave."

"I have to talk to my Mom first."

"I'm coming with you, then we'll go and talk to mine. I bet she has quite the speech for us."

My Mom laughs with tears in her eyes, and she hugs me until Noah literally pulls me away. She's feeling guilty that I'm getting married promptly, but my reassurances go a long way in calming her down.

She places her hands on Brent's shoulders with a sigh.

"Take care of my little girl. For me, please."

He nods eagerly.

"I will. I promise."

Sam is nowhere to be seen. I can easily tell why. Krystal is so out of his league, so he's doing everything he can to impress her.

Noah makes a disgusted face, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand when I peck him, and that makes me roll my eyes. Just the other day I was changing his soggy diapers. He's turning eighteen in a week, exactly two months before he graduates from high school, and he tries too hard to be a cool kid. Apparently, hanging out with his mom and his sister makes him everything but that.

"Cami? Where are you going?" Our last born, Brandon, asks me when I squat before him to adjust his tux.

"Away. I'll be back soon."

"Mom said you won't be back. You got married to this guy here, and you're choosing him over me?"

'Hey, sweety, I'm not choosing anyone over you. I'd never do that to you."

"But you are. You got married to him."

 "This guy is nice. "

He glances at Brent before he shakes his head.

"I really don't think so."

"Hey, Buddy? Watch it." Brent smiles at him as he squats beside me. "I'm nice."

"You're taking my sister away from us."

"I know it's such a bummer but you have other siblings. You'll be fine."

"I don't have another sister, and brothers are assholes."

"Brandon!! LANGUAGE!!" Mom yells at him.

I don't mind him cussing. He's twelve, almost thirteen. He's grown as far I'm concerned. He'll be in highschool a year from now and he'll learn all the bad words eventually.

"Tell you what." Brent tells him as he reaches into his pocket for his wallet. "I'll buy you the latest video game if you let me leave with your sister. Deal?"

He shakes his head.

"One game won't do it."

Brent blows out his breath.

"Two then?'"

"Three, and a set of comic books."

"That's blackmail."

Brandon laughs.

"I know."

I leave them to their bargain and I head to Clay, who is seated all alone. He turns to look at me as I approach and he quickly looks away.

"You okay?"

He screws his nose.

"I'm fine. So, Fiji?"

"Yeah. Sounds annoying."

"But why? It's a nice place."

"You've been there?"

"No. Not to sound stalkerish at all but I googled. It's just your type of thing. You're going to love it."

"Maybe we can go there for your birthday later this year. We can take your family and mine."

He glances at Brent before he shakes his head.

"You'll have to tug your husband along."

"Does he bother you that much?"

"Not really. I just feel like you're making a mistake. I don't want to see you broken."

"I've been heartbroken before and I survived."

"It was a relationship, not a marriage. Any way, I'm not trying to stand in your way. Just go to Fiji and be happy. Promise me that you'll have fun."

"I promise."

He smiles.

"That's my girl."

"Clay, I need you to promise me that we'll still be friends when I come back."

"I promise. I'll be right here."

I sigh as I hug him. I close my eyes when he wraps his arms around me, trying by all means to feel anything romantic for him; like my heart skipping a beat or a spark igniting in there somewhere.

There's none.

He's family, always and forever.

"I love you. Thanks for always being there for me."

He smiles sadly.

"Anything for you, Cami. Have fun, and enjoy your marriage."

"Will you tell me what you said to Brent back there?"

He shakes his head.

"Just a few words of wisdom against playing with your heart."

I laugh despite myself.

"You're such a cutie. I have no idea what I would ever do without you."

He grins before he plants a kiss on my forehead.

By the time I part with my family, tears are balancing in my eyes.

**

Brent places a hand on the small of my back as we head to the spot where his parents are seated. If I imagined them to be anything like mine, then I couldn't be more mistaken.

His Mom appears to be way younger than she should be because of the expertly applied make-up, and his father is clad in a designer suit and golden cufflinks.

Pure gold.

Everything about them is over the top and exaggerated as hell, and there are enough diamonds and rubies on his Mom to open a small jewellery store.

Still, I would choose my parents over his anytime.

"You two look so good together." His Mom smiles at me as she fusses over her son, adjusting his tie after fixing his neat collar. "Welcome to the family, love. I can't wait to have grandkids."

My mouth drops open as I look at Brent. He gives me the 'just ignore her' look as he absently reaches for my hand. If he's holding my hand for his parent's benefit, then I choose to ignore it. I lace my fingers with his, savouring the little flutter in my heart.

"Honey, do you need anything before your honeymoon?" His Mom asks me as she turns all her attention to me. She touches my hair and my face, something that I really detest, but I let her do it with a forced smile.

"Something like..."

She laughs.

"Oh, you know, the usual. A massage, a Brazilian wax; it leaves down there all smooth and fresh..."

"She's kidding." Brent forces a smile when he sees the horror in my face.

"No, I'm not." His Mom counters. "I'm just trying to make your honeymoon a little less....ghetto. She'll just get her legs shaved and..."

My mouth hangs open.

"MOM!" Brent yells. "Stop it. NOW!"

"Did I say something wrong?"

"You're scaring her. Just stop."

"But I'm..."

"No! Don't say such things. It's not okay."

His Mom turns to me with a frown.

"Did I say something wrong?"

I just shake my head before I turn to Brent.

"Maybe we should go."

"Yeah, totally." He takes my hand, and we leave after he sends a glare his mother's way. "I'm so sorry. My mom is a bit insensitive."

"A bit?"

"Don't mind her."

"Please tell me that I won't be seeing her often."

"No, you won't. I don't live in their house."

"Thank God."

"But.."

I turn to look at him.

"But what?"

"The part about grandkids... She wasn't joking."

"What?"

"She wants babies. And soon."

"Soon? How soon?"

He closes his eyes and blows out his breath.

"Nine months from today."