27.0%
Chapter 46
with a longing look, Cecil watched as Gwyneth Mctice walked away from us, but the older woman seemed so offended at the rude interruption that Cecil couldn’t call to her
Ela whispered something into her partner’s ear, and he chuckled richly and shook his head in response Cecil didn’t like that because her teeth gritted, and she turned her attention to Ela and the man Coryneth had just called Mr. Martinez, but before she could speak, I did.
“Ms. Garcia, it’s so nice to have you here, I am glad you honoured the invitation,” I said, holding a smile on my face in hopes of diffusing the tension that had already built,
I’d never seen Cecil so frustrated since we got together, and it was best to make sure things didn’t escalate.
“The pleasure is mine. This is a lovely event,” she answered.
It wasn’t even in the top ten among the lovely events I have attended, but I didn’t say anything to counter. “Oh, you’re so nice,” I said instead.
“Oliver, please meet Fermin Martinez, my boyfriend.” She introduced the man beside her and then
1 turned to Fermín. “Fermin, meet my client, Oliver Plane, and his fiancée, Cecil Reid.”
I stretched my hand to Fermín and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Martínez.”
He took it in for a firm shake, and a smile came onto his face. “The pleasure is mine; please call me Fermín. I don’t want to feel older than I already am, Mr Plane.” He spoke with a hoarse voice and a slick Spanish accent.
I smiled back, feeling a sense of ease around Fermín despite him being Imela’s boyfriend. “Alright, then, Fermín, but you would have to return the favour and just call me Oliver.”
“Fine then, I’ll call you Oliver, and pardon me, my English is not the best,” he answered, and we withdrew
our hands.
I shook my head and assured him, “Your English is good enough.”
“How do you know Gwyneth McGee?” Cecil asked in a demanding, not–so–friendly tone, and I realised she
was with me.
If Imela took offence at her tone, she didn’t let it show: “We met at the fashion week in France.” She simply answered, adding, “We’ve met for coffee a few times since then. She saw us here and came to say hello. She was just as surprised as we were to see her.”
She answered, and Cecil’s hand tightened around mine, and I knew she was keeping herself in check so
12.15
Love’s Beautiful Mistake
27.1%
Chapter 46
she wouldn’t act out. Meeting Goryneth was something the ranted and longed for, and our cody did brorle know her better, but Gwyneth didn’t seem to Bar Creil very much after they made innergron
That had ruined her chances and every preparation the had made for good fire impressions the cosm really be hurting.
Fermin laughed. “That old soul has more wit in her than all of us combined Totena no puedo creer que piense que bebi un elixir de inmortalidad ( still can’t believe she thinks I drakan fix of immortalitys“
“Porque te ves muy bien para tu edad (Because you look very good for your age)” india replied, reaching out to stroke Fermin’s face, and he warmed up.
Despite my limited knowledge of Spanish, I could understand their shared affection. Fermin pulled doser to kiss her when Cecil cleared her throat, saving both of us from the awkwardness because the comple had forgotten about us.
“Is there something more you want?” Imela asked, and a frown formed.
“You cannot just shoo us away because you don’t want us around.” Cecil seethes at them.
Imela raised her brow, a little taken back. “You brought yourself, you can take your leave.”
“It is our party,” Cecil shouted, turning a few heads.
56291
Imela gave her a pitiful look and stepped forward, but mischief was in her eyes. “Oh, Cecil, it is not your party. Last time I checked, five Planes are walking this earth, and you are not one of them. You are still a fiancée; know your place and quit embarrassing yourself.”
Cecil’s cheeks burned from anger, and her teeth gritted. “Did she tell you she was married to Oliver four years ago? Did she tell you she whored herself at his brother, and that’s why they divorced?” she asked, turning her attention to Fermín, who stood behind Imela.
He looked surprised and confused to have been dragged into this heated exchange but found his voice. “Well, that’s not the story she told me.”
I took hold of her arm and turned her to face me. “What the hell are you doing?” I demanded.
“She introduced you earlier to him as her business client, not as her ex–husband; you do not find offence at that?” She whisper–yelled at me and yanked her arm away from my grip.
“How is that any of our business?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“Because, like always, she has a lot to hide. God knows what else her new partner doesn’t know about.” She said, “Why do you act as if you have forgotten what she did to you? She might be your business partner now, but it doesn’t erase what she has done or who she really is.”
12:15
Love’s Beautiful Mistake
27.3%
Chapter 46
“Let it go, Cecil,” Oliver warned.
Imela looked very calm and calculated for someone who had just heard everything Cecil had just said. “Do not worry, Cecil. Fermin already knows the truth–the entirety of it–because, unlike you, I do not keep secrets. I also do not see the reason for introducing your fiancée as my ex husband when our affair happened in the past, and we are in the present, looking forward to the future. Unlike you, I am not stuck in the past or defined by it.”
Cecil scoffed in disbelief and turned to her, her usual calmness and grace vanishing with every passing second. “Yet, here you are in the same crowd you left behind. It’s as if you can’t do any better either.”
“I came here to celebrate with the Planes, not to see your face,” Imela stressed, slightly annoyed.
“You work for the Planes; therefore, you answer to me.” Cecil barks, losing all the grace she had.
Imela smiled, but there was no emotion behind it. “You might not want to admit it, and Oliver won’t either, but you’re just a very long rebound. The earlier you accept that the better for you.”
Cecil’s hand shot out to slap Imela, but she caught it and tightened her grip. “Get yourself out of my face while you still can.” She warned and shoved Cecil’s hand back.
Cecil growled and walked away, and I followed behind.
“That was your best friend?” I heard Fermín ask as I walked away.
Imela breathed slowly. “Unfortunately, she was,” Imela replied.
“You just stood there and watched her berate me.” Cecil hissed and pushed open the door that led to the
bathroom stall.
I followed her inside; this was the only place they could have a little privacy away from the eyes of anyone so they could talk. “What was I supposed to do? Lay hands on her. She’s a woman.”
“That monster isn’t a woman,” she seethe, then did a quick breathing exercise.
“You were out of line, Cecil, so many times tonight, and Ela stayed calmer than I would have had a fellow
man approach me the way you did. You owe her an apology, and so do I.” I said, turned away from her, and ran a hand through my hair.
When I thought the night couldn’t get any worse, it showed me it could.
“What is it now? Do you want to defend her? Have you forgiven and forgotten what she did to you? What she and Seth did? Do you love her now?” she demanded.
“Fuck you!” I cussed and turned back to her with furious eyes. “Just who the hell are you right now? Because the Cecil I know is kind and gentle. Who I saw out there wasn’t kind or gentle. She was bitter,
12:16
Love’s Beautiful Mistake
27.4
Chapter 46
angry, and petty and needs to do better.” I stormed out of the restroom. I needed to get some distance and clear my head.
I also needed to apologise to Imela for the drama that Cecil had caused. She was doing us a favour by taking us on as a client; it wasn’t the other way around. But Cecil didn’t know that.
I returned to the hall and made my way over to the spot where I had left Imela and her partner, and there I found her speaking, with Seth holding a friendly look on her face. Whatever she said made him laugh, and he took her hand and shook his head.
Perhaps they spoke about their son, Ocean. Fermín wasn’t close by, and Seth had the most honest look as he stared at her.
I tore my gaze away from them because the pain that had lingered in my heart even after all these years made itself known.
Cecil was right; I shouldn’t forget everything so quickly. Imela might be helping now, but she was the woman who broke my heart and made me look like a fool. She never cared about me. Cecil had been the
only one who stayed true, the only one who cared, and I had to remain loyal to her just as she had been
to me.
I returned to the restroom, and I found Cecil in the same position I left her, but with her eyes closed.
Her lashes fluttered to see me, and tears ran down her face. “I am sorry, Oliver; I saw Imela with Gwyneth, and I couldn’t help it. It felt as if she was taking everything away from me. You’re right, I lost it, and I should have done better. I look at her, and all I see is the woman who betrayed your love and trust. You have every right to be disappointed in me; I am disappointed in myself as well.” She sobbed.
I couldn’t stand to watch her beat herself up this way. I stepped over to her, pulled her to myself, and wrapped my arms around her. “It’s fine; it is fine. Do not beat yourself up; the best of us don’t have our shit together either.”
She hugged me back. “I will apologise, I promise. I am not like that; I am not a bad person.”
“I know; it’s okay.” I kissed her hair and kept my arms around her, giving her all the comfort she needed.
Love’s Beautiful Mistake
