The Wedding

Chapter 16: Friendship, Pride, and Love

These three are good foundations for a happy wedding and marriage. As we will live forever with this very special person, we shall preserve friendship and love while putting the dignity and honor of the family name we bring on top of many things.

Love may fade in marriage and swift to friendship. Pride, though, should never change. They all should remain in a marriage to make it firm.  I didn't mean that other aspects are not important. These are just the things I'd like to discuss in this chapter.

However, I was not in the position to have them all right now. My ultimate goals, to make Desmond bend his knee, admit his cunning scheme, and ask for forgiveness, were far from friendship, pride, and love. Yet, I still needed to make him confess.

Thus, the following day came. The day I decided to execute my plan, earlier than I planned for I wouldn't let Quinn be close to him any longer. Quinn had to see his true colors. By doing this, it would prevent him from taking advantage of her. Quinn should stay away from this man and call off the engagement immediately once and for all.

I contacted Lintang and wished make no contact with Hendra. He might have the idea but it was me who executed it, so, if they wanted to fire someone, it should be me and not Hendra. Besides, Hendra was more into his personal problem than mine.

Truly it was because of his secret that I withdrew him from the 'team'. The secret I found this morning when I took the lift to go to my room.

I heard Firda and a woman's conversation when we were taking the lift. I was behind them and they didn't recognize me because the lift was full. They were chatting about something else before their chats caught my attention.

"... I was shocked when I knew it was Hendra! I mean, you know, he's not the type of having blind date. He's more to this silent and shy person. But, consider I was lucky. Our mothers set the date and he came, so, that's great," said Firda full of enthusiasm.

"You should be happy. Take this chance and see him more often," said the other woman.

I could hear they giggled and smiled brightly.

"Yes, you're right. But you know the most interesting part from yesterday?"

I could see how the other employees from our company listened to their chat but pretended not interested in it. I leaned on the lift wall, trying to convince myself that the next part should not about what I was afraid of.

"I saw Desmond and Danica too!" There it was. "They were like arguing. It was quite loud so I noticed them. Hendra didn't say a thing but the argument went pretty hot and I'm sure he was also shocked seeing those two. You know, they are kinda like enemies. It was like... I got the impression that Danica was trying to explain to her friend that Desmond was a bad guy," I could feel the judgment in her tone. I looked at the floor, tried to hide myself. "I knew there could be more than just one story between them. You know what...?"

"Know what?"

"I think they dated before."

That's it and Hendra was out from the team. It would be only me and Lintang cause... because I don't wanna risk myself if more people know, especially when he was close to a gossiper.

My plan was first calling Desmond to my room and confronted him about Quinn. But then, after I called Desmond, the real Quinn came to my office. I got a call from the front desk that a woman named Quinn wanted to see me. So, I said she could see me at my room. I think it was better to face them both together. Hopefully by doing so, Lintang would have longer time to do his job.

I opened the door to someone who knocked. It was Quinn as I expected. She was wearing blue cyan veil and a long blue flower pattern dress. She looked gorgeous and elegant, different from the Quinn I used to know.