Chapter 26: The Wedding

Brandon Cornwall's POV

I hissed at my work when I stood up from the chair that I have accompanied when I was coming to the office. It was Friday and I think I cannot think a damn thing when that scene was playing in front of my eyes.

On the floor of my office to be exact.

Barbara in my arms as I was kissing her worries away. We laughed and we talked and we eat after we have burned our calories. Then we fucked again.

Not fuck, making love. With Barbara, it has been making love.

I was rubbing my face when I felt my boner was coming inside like a bullet train. I cannot control my yearning for a certain brown-haired woman. I rubbed my face again when I saw Sabrina was coming inside the office. I hid as I took my seat again and I was looking at her.

"So?" I asked her as she was eyeing me up and down. She put the papers that I have submitted to the scientific community and I was about to get the result today. I don't know why I was so nervous but it all depended on this paper. My future and my career path.

"They accepted it and they say they wanted you to continue your research even more deeply. And they also wanted someone that was contributing to the paper as well," she said as I was looking at her. The gleam in her eyes said everything.

"Who?" I confirmed with her before she pointed at the name.

Barbara Brown.

Of course, who else? I should not be surprised but my lips were smiling when I saw the name. I think this marriage was not done after all.

"Do you know where she is?" I asked Sabrina as she was nodding at me before she gave me an invitation to a wedding.

Amber Johnson & Ian Mackovitch invited you to their wedding.

Where: New Jersey, the Garden State.

On Friday at 4 PM.

Meet you there.

I was rubbing my mouth as I saw the invitation. It has been a week since I met her and felt her under my arms. I need her and I wanted her. I don't ever feel like this with every woman that I flirted before.

Christ, I don't even know what was this feeling.

I sighed before I set the wedding invitation aside. I don't think I can get inside the wedding like I owned the place.

"I can't," I said as I was closing my eyes, only her memories in my arms will last me forever.

"Why not?" Sabrina asked me as she was arching her eyebrow at me. I sighed before I was waving the wedding invitation.

"I can't just get inside the private wedding without anyone asking me who I was," I said as I set the invitation aside. Sabrina was amused with me.

"Well, I did get that invitation legally so, it should not be an awkward thing for you to get in," she said before she was walking out of my office. My eyes opened as she said that statement.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked her before narrowing my eyes at her. She chuckled.

"You think I would forget? No, I asked Alex to get you one since your wife will be there," she said as I stood up before I was blinking at her. Sabrina left the office as she closed the door with a soft click.

Barbara will be there. I have to go there.

"Damn it," I said before I hastily took my jacket and my stuff to go home before I was preparing myself to meet Barbara. I was almost out of the room before I went back to the table to get the invitation.

"Can't leave this here. I need you more than anything right now," I mumbled before I closed the door and I went past Sabrina.

"You're in charge while I was gone," I said to Sabrina before I heard she chuckled behind me. She must think I'm a madman but when it comes to Barbara, I was.

Barbara Brown's POV

I was looking at the mirror of my dress. It was not as scandalous as my black dress but it was subtle enough for me to attend a wedding. The lace sleeves were nice as the dress stopped above my knees. It was an orange dress. I looked good in orange.

"Hey, you're ready?" Lea asked me as she was coming from the door. I was looking behind me as I think that my butt was not showing enough.

"Do you think this is good?" I asked Lea as she was staring at me. She eyed me up and down before she smiled at me.

"You look amazing in any dress that you wear, Barb," she said as she was looking at me in the mirror as well. Lea was wearing her bride maid dress since she was not the maid of honor but she will stand at the altar with Amber.

"Thank you for inviting me. I need this," I said as I was turning to look at her. She arched her eyebrows at me.

"Why? Is there something that bothers you?" Lea asked me as she would always be. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to tell her about Brad, the excavation, and my rejected fund for Ph.D. research. I don't even know if I wanted to do it anymore.

"Remember when I went to a conference in the Bay Area and I thought I will be going on the field trip to uncover something new?" I asked her. She nodded as I was taking a deep breath,"

"Well, actually, I—"

"We're ready. Let's go," Emily, Lea and Amber's mum, was greeting us before Lea stood up and I followed her.

"Hold that thought. Tell me after the wedding, okay?" She said as she was squeezing my hands. I smiled at her as I was trying to be strong for myself.

"Sure," I said before we left the room and I was walking to the altar before taking my place in the crowd.

We were waiting and the sun was shining with the evening glow. I think the simple altar was nice and the concept of Garden Wedding was elegant. I can see that Amber was walking down with Riley, their dad, as I was admiring her ivory wedding dress that hugged her curves perfectly.

"Isn't she beautiful?" One of the guests asked and I was hearing their comments. They agreed that Amber was glowing and I can see that her groom, Ian, was smiling and tears were straining his cheeks.

The wedding march was perfect and they were saying their vows to each other. I felt like their happy ending was like a fairy tale. If I can say for myself as well. I laughed inwardly as I know my happy ending was over.

When the divorce papers will be in my mailbox.

After the simple and intimate ceremony, we have moved inside the ballroom of the hotel that they have booked for their wedding reception. I was sitting at the single table (again, they think I'm single) and I was clapping when Lea was giving a speech for her sister.

"When I was a child, I always wanted a baby brother," Lea started before we laughed at her notion. I can see that she was not having stage fright that I know she had one. But I think she was more comfortable in her skin now.

"But now, I was thankful that you were my sister. You made me laugh and have so much fun when our parents were not around and when you told me about Ian, I can see it in your eyes that you have found the man of your life," she added as I can sense that my tears were straining my eyes.

"And I will wish that your journey ahead with Ian will be fun and memorable for the rest of your life. I love you, sis. cheers," Lea said before Amber hugged her, and Lea was looking at me. I mouthed 'Good Job!' Before picking up my champagne as well.

"Toast," I shouted at her as the tears were filling the air as I was drowning my champagne before I saw someone. It was someone that I did not expect.

Brandon Cornwall.

How can he be here? This was a private ceremony and I don't think that he will be here. I scowled before I put my champagne down and I moved to greet him as he was moving into the balcony of the ballroom.

I took another glass of champagne before I went out to the balcony as well. I saw that Brad was leaning against the railing and I think I drew a sharp breath. He was a vision with his lean, toned body and narrowed hips. I should be happy that he was mine but then we did not marry for love.

"Fancy seeing you here," I said as I was leaning against the railing as well. He was staring in the horizon as he sipped on his wine.

"Do you think if we ever had a wedding ceremony, it will be like this?" He asked all of a sudden. I was taken back but I laughed bitterly.

"Well, it was not to dream but I think it would be grander than this, given you're the only son that your parents have," I replied.

"And you're the only daughter of your parents. They should have one grander than this as well," he said before he sipped on his wine. I sighed as I was tired of his game.

"What are you doing here? I don't know that you know Amber or Ian for that reason," I said as I was turning to look at him. He smiled as he leaned and whispered to me,

"I don't but that will not stop me from coming to get to you," he said as I can feel the blush was on my face. I cleared my throat before I was shifting away from him.

"So, the real reason, if you please?" I asked as I was staring at him, trying to be tough but only God's knowledge that I was a jelly inside me.

"The paper has been approved and I was advised to get in-depth of the mineral information," he said.

"Oh. So you're here to come and gloat at me then?" I asked as I was gripping my champagne glass even more.

"No, I come here to persuade you to go the excavation site with me once more since the scientific community wants your expertise in the matter," Brad said as his warm caramel eyes were settling on me and I was stilled for a moment.

So, Brandon Cornwall was trying to beg me to go with him.