The Wedding That Never Was

Rings 12 - Made her feel small

Rings 12 - Made her feel small

Angelo tossed his cigarette butt on the trash can beside him. He usually didn't smoke but there were days when he needed one and this night, he was too stressed and one cigarette would hardly kill him. 

Interesting what you could learn when you are hiding in a dark alley, smoking. His eyes followed the movement of the car and when it was finally out of his sight, he turned to look at the front of the building. 

Chuck Price was still standing there with his eyes on the car that just left. Angelo knew that this date was a disaster from the start. He could have prevented it but he didn't. Because it wasn't his business. 

No matter how much he wanted to prevent his secretary from going he couldn't. He didn't even know why he didn't want her to go. He just knew that it was a mistake. 

He walked toward Chuck Price. He didn't like Chuck, he was a bad influence on his little brother. He introduced Stephen to underground gambling. Chuck Price was the type of an Upper East Side rich kid who would never grow up. His trust would allow him to live off the rest of his life gallivanting around the world. Stephen was not the same, his trust would allow him some time to travel the world but not his entire life like Chuck. 

However, both of them needed to grow up. Chuck was unwilling to do so. Stephen, he didn't know. He wasn't especially close with Stephen. The age gap prevented them to bond. He was close with Alex but Alex was gone. 

He realized that he needed to get to know his brother better. Especially now. And since he was good friends with Emma then maybe he needed to help her little brother too. Like, give some grown up advice. God knew this kid needed it. 

So he stepped out of the shadow and went toward Chuck. "Jennifer Matthias didn't grow up rich, Chuck." 

Napatingin sa kanya si Chuck at tinignan siya nito ng masama, "I know that. I know her story." 

"Do you?" pagtatanong niya dito, "Because if you knew that then why the hell did you bring her here?"

Suminghap si Chuck, "I don't know. This is all I have ever known, Angelo."

And that was a bit sad even for Angelo. 

"You had a girlfriend in high school, I remember." 

Tumawa si Chuck ng marahan. "That was too long ago. I don't even remember her anymore." 

He knew that was a lie. He knew a man who could not move on. And this boy standing in front of him was a man who could not forget. "Don't use Jennifer as your rebound girl, Chuck. She deserves better." and he started to walk away. 

Chuck scoffed, "Are you concern because she's the little sister of your lost love?"

He stopped on his tracks. Chuck knew. How? He was just a kid. His affair with Cassandra was a well kept secret, the ton gossiped about it but they never proved it. Only few knew. Even Emma didn't know it. 

"Anya is chatty when she's had a few drinks."

Of course, Anya. She knew the affair and maybe with her status as the closest friend of Cassandra now, she knew the whole story. 

"Jennifer doesn't know, Chuck. If James finds out that you told her about it, he'll ruin your family." Because he knew James. James didn't want anyone finding out about the affair. He didn't want Jennifer's image of her perfect sister be ruined. That was what he knew. He wasn't privy to the lives of the Carmichaels. 

"Whatever." Chuck flipped him off and went inside the club again. 

Angelo decided Chuck didn't need a babysitter so he left. He'd go to Bryony's, after all, he missed her. He should spend time with his girlfriend instead of babysitting two young adults who were old enough to make their own decisions.