6 years ago
"Lemon cake? Seriously? Who makes a wedding cake out of lemons?"
"I heard the groom likes it like that."
Alexis was silently savoring the lemon cake as it has always been her favorite. To get to enjoy it in an unexpected dull event made her feel a little better and then the conversation which took place between two guests in the after party made her heart sink.
Seriously? Groom's favorite? Who are they joking about?
At least, the Stefan Ashford she knew from her college was into anything but lemon cakes. Must be the bride's idea, Alexis assumed.
"And you really are something else," Rebecca almost yelled at her, coming out of nowhere.
"What did I do again, Beck?"
"Really? You're asking me? Who told you to attend the damn wedding," Rebecca's voice lowered as she spelled 'wedding'.
"Comeon, your brother is the one who sent me the invitation!" Alexis's voice chimed with filtered excitement.
"And so, you decided to come here? Like, did you ever think about how you made me promise not to speak a single word about my brother in front of you for the rest of your life and then showing up here as if it's the most normal thing out of everything! I'm so confused, Alex."
Alexis sighed and gently put her hands on Rebecca's shoulder. "It's fine and it's all in the past. I think I needed to do this today to let the situation settle into my brain. You know how crazy my brain is, don't you?"
"And is it even helping?" Rebecca questioned as her squinted eyes examined Alexis.
"Yes, 100%".
Lie.
It wasn't working at all. The only thing keeping her bare faced was the lemon cakes. It tasted amazing, just like she thought her wedding cake would taste like.
Alexis cut another piece of the cake into her plate and sat on the bar. She never tried drinking but she did need an orange juice to go along with this sweet-sour lemon cake. They served her the juice in the whiskey glass. Quite elegant, huh?
"Alex."
Alexis's shoulders stiffened, knowing very well the source of the voice, emotions jotting down and coiling inside her brain.
"Congratulations! Everything is just perfect here," she smiled as she always knew how to put on a show of social smile perfectly.
Blue eyes flickered with countless emotions, instantly hardening the gaze upon her.
What? Did she look awful? She didn't know. She didn't have time to put effort in her clothing today. It wasn't that bad for a one year later kind of encounter, was it?
She picked her favorite color, a cobalt green dress that reached just before her knee, a full sleeve with deep neckline, her go-to style. Of course, she wasn't going to look miserable but didn't have the energy to put too much effort into her looks too. While the man in front of her looked the most handsome in the whole crowd.
Well, she wasn't complaining, it was his day, his wedding. He has the full right to look the best among everything.
"You don't mean it, do you?" He spoke, hardening his tone just like his eyes.
Scary.
Alexis squinted her eyes in confusion. "Why won't I? Come on, it's your wedding, Stefan. And I'm really happy for you."
Alexis almost had her voice hitched, but she successfully kept her voice neutral until she delivered her reply.
"Why did you show up?"
"Because you invited me?" Her brows almost touched her hairline.
"I didn't. I didn't know Venessa was your friend. She was the one who sent all the invitations through mail."
"I know, I know. Whether it's you or her, it's the same, isn't it? I wouldn't want to miss this," she tried to keep her soft smile on her lips.
Stefan just stared, maybe in a bit too lingering way. His deep blue eyes, white tuxedo, slight tan peeking his exposed skin on his neck and hands - everything was just a combination of prince charming. He was indeed a born charmer. Everyone in college liked him not just for his looks but his aloof, introvert and mysterious personality, fitting perfectly in that 'prince' title. Girls were crazy about him, and Alexis was sure it's still the same for the women around him now that he is handling his father's company.
"You shouldn't have come," Stefan's voice deepened as he stepped closer towards Alexis, maybe not so close but close enough to make her uncomfortable.
"And why is that?" This time Venessa spoke.
Both Alexis and Stefan didn't realise Venessa was standing behind them, maybe already witnessing half of the shitshow. Alexis sighed almost audibly. She just wanted to enjoy a freaking lemon cake, and now it's not even possible because of the main characters of the event.
Stefan didn't reply, just stood there after carefully taking a step back and standing beside Venessa. They somehow didn't look like married couple but more two business partners on their way to finish their business. Still weirdly compatible and attractive looking couple in business world. This felt so disturbing and yet it made Alexis's heart ache. All this drama just to congratulate the people she does not desire to see ever again after today, how funny.
"Congratulations, Venessa," this her voice chimed with genuine softness.
"Thank you so much for coming today, Alex. I didn't know you knew Stefan," Venessa smiled innocently, or maybe tried to smile as if she didn't know anything. But Alexis felt it was all a facade. She is a woman and she knows how women are so good at hiding their bare emotions.
"He was our college senior. Graduated 2 years ago I think?" Alexis played on the drama, glancing at Stefan with that fake confusion she played on her eyes. She deserves an Oscar at this point.
"Oh my, now that I think about it, you go to Stefan's university. When are you graduating, Alex?"
"Less than a year."
"That's great, what's your plan after that?"
It was a simple conversation, but still Alexis felt she was being dragged around for a clownery show. She has known Venessa since she was 15. They were online long distance gaming friends. Although neither of them talked about their life much on gaming sessions, they knew this and that about their life on a decent level. Having this kind of conversation wasn't their forté. And she wasn't also interested in having these career oriented conversations in front of Stefan. NOT AT ALL.
Suddenly a call interrupted the cursed conversation and Venessa had to step out to receive it. But that didn't help Alexis at all, as Venessa's just-married husband's piercing gaze was burning her even in the chilly comfortable weather of November.
"Excuse me…", Alexis's attempt to run away remained unfinished as Stefan came back to where he was standing a few minutes ago.
"Looks like you are loving the lemon cakes a bit too much," Stefan smirked a little which didn't reach his eyes. Well, she forgot when was the last time she saw him smile genuinely anyway.
"I love pastries."
"I know that. But you liked lemon cakes more and…"
"Stefan."
Alexis stepped backward, almost touching the bar counter in that process. "You're crossing the line."
Alexis's eyes hardened this time. She almost forgot the person standing in front of her was someone she didn't know. Claiming that she knew him and while reminiscing the past him will be the most delusional thing to do right now.
"And you crossed the line by showing up here."
"And why is that?" A man was sitting at the bar for quite some time now, and spoke in between them. Alexis could feel the presence of the man beside her all this time but somehow her mind subconsciously ignored that part despite knowing that man must have seen all the drama that went on here. She felt a bit embarrassed, because she knew her habit of not looking around that didn't concern her was getting out of hand.
Stefan's breath went heavy. He didn't like being interrupted in conversations much. He directed his eyes towards the man in the question, very irritated, "who you must be now?"
Alexis then finally examined the man. Dark hair, pale brown eyes, chiseled jawline, black shirt sleeves tugged in displaying two strong hands ending inside the pocket of white slacks. Perfectly tailored outfit with an expensive watch glimmering lightly on his wrist.
Wealthy, sophisticated and charming.
These three words described him well. He had almost the same height as Stefan. Although Stefan was already 6 feet, this guy was definitely more than 6 by one or two inches. Her slippers felt miserable standing in the middle of these two tall men.
"Arthur Davenport. Alexis Lockwood's plus one for today. Nice to meet you," the man in the question named Arthur extended his hands towards Stefan.