"You will... by the end of this weekend. You will change your opinion of me." He said, his voice was so serious, it made my knees shake.

Chapter Thirteen.

THE MAID OF HONOR AND THE BEST MAN:.

The Maid of Honor has to be unmarried. The Best Man can be a married man, or a bachelor. You can choose from your closest friends, you can choose from your family. But always keep this in mind: Make sure you choose one whose relationship with you runs deep, and goes way back.

We flew business class to Miami. It was a first for me. I always thought business class flights were a waste of money. But Ryder has a lot of money to burn.

He checked us in a suite in a five star resort. When I stepped into the room and realized that there was only one bed, I instantly became nervous.

He must have sensed my discomfort because he looked at me wearily and said, "It's only right that we stay in the same room if we want to make this believable. But I'll stay in the couch, don't worry."

"I can stay in the couch, Ryder." I said. "I'm smaller. I'd be more comfortable sleeping on it."

"I'll be damned if I let a woman take the couch while I sleep comfortably in the bed." He said evenly.

"Okay. Whatever you say." I murmured.

He turned away from me and headed towards the door.

"We have two hours before we meet Janis and Jake. I will come back for you. Meanwhile, you can continue your sleep if you want to."

He stalked out of the room. As much as I hate to admit it, I felt guilty. Ryder's been trying his best to be nice to me. To make the mood lighter. All I did was throw sarcastic remarks his way, and made the morning miserable for him. He was wonderful when I asked him to pretend to be besotted with me. He played his part wonderfully. Maybe I should do the same.

I lied on the luxurious bed. I only had a couple of hours sleep last night and now I'm really sleepy.

I slept for about an hour and a half. I was still alone in the room when I woke up. I took a shower and prepared for the whole masquerade. I decided to do this for Ryder. I'll be everything he needs me to be and then my debt will be paid. I will not owe him anything anymore.

I slipped into a floral printed white sleeveless dress. It was simple and chic. I tied my hair in a bun and left some strands to curl on either sides of my face. I put on powder and lip gloss. Then I put on my favorite perfume.

When I came out of the bathroom, Ryder was already waiting at the balcony.

"Should we go?" I asked behind him.

He turned around. He looked at me for a full minute, until I was blushing to the roots of my hair and then he smiled. He stepped closer towards me. "You're beautiful." I realized that if he was angry when he left me, he had somehow decided not to ruin his plans, as I had decided to do my part in this charade as well as I can.

I smiled. "Wouldn't want your friends to worry about your... taste."

"I'm sure they will be fairly happy."

Ryder took my hand in his and led me out of the suite and into the restaurants on the ground floor.

We approached a table where a beautiful blonde woman and a handsome guy with blond hair are having their lunch. The minute they saw us walking towards them, they froze. They stared at us with shocked expressions on their faces and it was obvious that they could not believe what they were seeing.

I instantly realized who they were. Janis and Jake... Ryder's best friends.

I squeezed Ryder's hand, hoping to get some courage. He looked at me and smiled reassuringly. Then he released my hand and put an arm around my shoulder. He leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"You look beautiful, love." He whispered to me. "You can do this."

I smiled at him. "I will do this, Ryder. For you." I whispered back before we reached Janis and Jake.

He smiled back at me. In his eyes, I can see sincere gratitude. I knew he was happy and somehow, my heart warmed and I knew it was not going to be difficult to pretend to feel affectionate for him.

His friends were still dumbfounded when I was introduced to them.

It took a minute for Jake to recover and longer for Janis.

"I'm sorry." Jake said. "We don't mean to freak you out. It's just that... this is a surprise! Right, honey?"

Jake had to pat Janis lightly on the back to bring her back to Earth.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah. Quite a surprise! We... didn't expect Ryder to have a... guest. You know... he... he usually comes alone." Janis smiled. Then she took a deep breath and leaned forward to give me a hug. "It's lovely to meet you. I hope we didn't freak you out."

"It's okay." I hugged her back and then I smiled at her. "It's actually... good to know that he rarely brings girls to your gatherings."

Ryder chuckled, "Oh, sweetheart! You have nothing to worry about, you were the first!" He stared at me with dancing eyes and I knew that the charade has begun. Ryder is not a stranger to me from now on. He's supposed to be my boyfriend. It's time to resume the play we started in Bryan's and Geena's wedding.

I smiled at Janis and Jake shyly. I knew I was blushing. Ryder put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a kiss on the temple. Then he pulled out a chair for me.

"So, how did you two meet?" Janis asked.

We spun the same tale. I met Ryder through a common friend and he fell in love with me at first sight, as if love at first sight is possible at all. He pursued me but I was careful since I just came out of a serious relationship and so on and so forth.

His friends were amazed but I could tell that Janis was sizing me up. Trying to see if I genuinely liked her friend and not his money. Jake was trying to measure Ryder's reactions to me. Maybe trying to determine if Ryder was not just after the sex.

It was easy to smile and look in love with Ryder. He was sweet and funny. I can almost immediately tell what his punch line was going to be before the words are out of his mouth, and so I find myself giggling ahead of Janis and Jake.

By the end of lunch, I think I almost had Janis convinced that I didn't want Ryder's money. She was surprised that I didn't know all the names of Ryder's businesses and I didn't really show interest. Instead, I was genuinely concerned about how he's going to fit me in his busy life.

Janis was fascinated about what I do. I told her about the concepts I have done for the weddings and she was impressed. I knew from the look on Jake's face that he was going to propose to her soon... give it a year or less. I might have a potential customer here. Although, I don't know if they will hire me if they find out that I was just pretending to be Ryder's girlfriend just so he'll win his wager with them.

We spent the whole afternoon together, all four of us. I discovered that Janis and Jake, although both coming from rich, powerful families are both down to earth. They do not have that heir or heiress syndrome, they don't feel that everybody should bow down to them.

It was easy enough to laugh with them and joke with them. They felt like... normal people, and so did Ryder.

I realized that for the whole afternoon that we are together, I forgot that I didn't know him. He felt like the Ryder I was with at the wedding. I felt like I didn't know he was filthy rich. Like I thought he was just the bartender that I can laugh with and talk to. Like he was not out of my league at all.

We swam in the beach. Ryder had a mischievous grin on his face that I instantly knew he was planning something.

I started running away from him but he was too fast for me. He caught up with me after barely five steps. He carried me in his arms towards the water until we landed with a splash.

I was shrieking. When we emerged from the water together, he was roaring in laughter and I was punching him by the shoulders with a pout on my face.

Then his face descended towards mine and he gave me a thorough kiss on the lips, which I welcomed... and enjoyed.

We played charades. Janis and Jake, who claimed they've been together for almost all of their lives, couldn't get each other's clues.

Ryder and I on the other hand, just had this connection... like we could read each other's minds. He would give me a simple clue, a simple gesture, and the right word would come to my mind.

One time, Ryder acted out a clue. He pointed a finger at himself, and then gestured an imaginary cap being put on his head.

"Bartender?" I guessed.

He nodded. I shouted and jumped for joy. He came to take me in his arms, and lifted me off my feet. I gave a little hop in the air and wrapped both my legs around his waist. We were both laughing, then I leaned forward and gave him a kiss.

We were still laughing when he put me back on my feet.

They decided to kick it up a notch by moving on to phrases.

"Are you sure, guys?" Ryder asked them teasingly. "You can't even get the words 'pancakes' and 'lions'."

We annihilated them. It was like Ryder and I had known each other for a long time and our minds were totally connected.

The last word we did was the most difficult one and Janis and Jake were quite confident that we wouldn't be able to get it.

I stood in front of Ryder and showed my ring finger.

"Ring?" He asked.

I nodded. I pointed at myself and then at him, I made a hugging gesture, and I ran my finger from my eyes down my cheeks.

"A fake diamond ring!" He guessed.

I shrieked and ran to him again. He caught me in his arms and spun me around. He was laughing. I felt like crying, remembering my fake engagement ring for the first time in months. I stared up at Ryder and he was smiling apologetically at me. But I felt like it all happened in another life time.

Ryder leaned forward and kissed me passionately. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. We only stopped kissing when Jake not-so-subtly coughed at us.

Ryder chuckled and kissed my forehead before finally releasing me.

"How long have you guys really known each other?" Janis asked in amazement. "I wouldn't make that one out for a fake diamond ring!"

"Neither would I if it didn't have a story behind it." Ryder said.

"Okay, tell us the story this time." Janis said.

We sat on the benches. Ryder pulled me so I can sit on his lap. He wound his arms around me.

"The very first time I saw her was when she was walking out a jewelry shop." Ryder said. "I was picking up a jewelry for my mother. As I walked into the shop, she ran into me. She wasn't looking at where she was going. Her eyes were... blinded by tears." I leaned my head against Ryder's shoulder as I listened to his story. "We collided with each other and I had to hold her steady to prevent her from falling on her bum...

"But instead of pulling away from me, she held on to me and leaned her cheek on my shoulder and she... cried. She wept in my arms, without looking up to see who I was. It was as if she had received such terrible news and she was desperate for some comfort. When she ran into me, she took her chance. She held on to me. I didn't know why she was crying, but somehow, I felt for her. So I held her for a while. I... provided the comfort that she needed at the time. And she... smelled so good, and felt so soft in my arms, I couldn't help it either."

"Why were you crying?" Janis asked curiously.

I took a deep breath. And then, with courage, I said quietly, "The guy at the jewelry shop told me that my ex-fiance gave me a fake diamond ring."

There was silence. I stared at Janis and Jake and they were looking at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry." Janis said.

I smiled at them. "It's okay now, guys. I'm over it. I'm lucky I ran into Ryder that day. And I'm lucky to find him again shortly after that."

It's true. I was lucky I ran into him that day. I was also lucky that I found him again. At the time when I needed him the most. And it didn't matter whether he was the bartender or the owner of the bar... he was my savior. My knight in shining armor. When I looked into Ryder's eyes, I know he knows that I meant those words too. He gently leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the lips. And then he leaned his head towards mine and breathed in the scent of me.

I sighed. I wanted to cry. I realized that he is the same Ryder that was with me at Bryan and Geena's wedding, back when I thought he was just a mere bartender. Nothing changed except for the fact that I know who he really is now. But other than the rich birthright, he seemed like the same amazing guy who helped me show Bryan and Geena that I was better off without both of them! The same guy who helped me get over my broken engagement with flair. It wasn't until that moment that I realized how much I missed him. Just how much I had wanted to be with him without the pain I feel for Bryan and Geena.

As I leaned into his shoulder, I realized that the time is now. Now, I am completely over Bryan and Geena. I'm still angry at them, but I guess that will not change for a long time. Now, I have Ryder with me again. He's just so sweet and perfect. But I know his life is complicated and I may not be able to keep up with it. And besides, being over your previous relationship doesn't mean you have to jump into a new one immediately.