"Do you really think I'm capable of making your ex-fiance feel like a dwarf?" He asked softly.

I giggled in spite of my tears. "Needless to say, you're a hundred times better-looking than he is. Plus, he's already just an inch taller than me. He's short to begin with."

He chuckled. Then gently, he squeezed my nose.

"Alright. I'll help you out. You name the time and the place."

I looked up at him and searched his face. And somehow his expression was warm and genuine. It seemed that my story moved him and he was helping me out just to... help me out. Not just for the cash.

"You need to rent out a nice suit. I might be wearing something violet in the wedding. Their motif is green. I want to make sure I will stand out."

He laughed. "Alright. I'll be your knight in shining Armani."

"Plus, you need a good cover. Tell them you graduated with honors in an Ivy League school. Doesn't matter where exactly. Just make something up. You invest money here and there. You have a six digit monthly income."

"You really are going to murder your ex, aren't you?"

"I want to make him cry!" I muttered. "As much as I want to save myself from a little humiliation."

He laughed. "Then I won't disappoint you."

I took out the envelope in my bag and wrote my name and contact number on it.

"This is... a sign of good faith. You'll get the rest after the party." I said, handing him the envelope.

He stared at it for a while and then he took it. But he didn't open it to see what was inside.

"How will I find you?" I asked him. "What's your full name?"

"I won't be here for the rest of the week. But I'll be back in time for your wedding." He said. He took my hand in his and wrote something at the back of my palm. I stared as he wrote his number gently. Then slowly, he brought my hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. "It's Ryder ... Ryder W-woodson." He whispered.

I knew I was blushing from the kiss he gave me. He saw my expression and he laughed.

"You better get used to it." He whispered. "Your knight in shining Armani will be doing more than that at the wedding."

I swallowed hard and I know I couldn't control my blush anymore.

"Okay. So, I'll get my bill now." I said.

"On the house." He replied.

"No, no. This is separate from our deal."

He shook his head. "I'll just take it out of your deposit."

I stared back at his handsome face and I realized that he was serious.

"Th... Thanks."

"You're welcome, Astrid." He said, saying my name for the first time. I realized I hadn't given it to him but I had written it on the envelope.

"I... better go." I said.

He nodded. "Are you going to be alright? Do you want a ride home?"

I shook my head. "I'll be fine."

He nodded again. "I'll see you next week then."

I'm pretty sure I was still shaking when I got out of the cab in front of Adam's place. In fact, I was still shaking when I entered his house. He was there, having some drinks on his deck.

"So, how did it go?"

"Well, my friends all stood me up."

"So not good?"

I shrugged. "I can't really say. Because... since they left me alone, I got to chat with the bartender. And... oh my God, Adam! He is hhhhooooootttt!!!"

"Boundaries, sweetheart. Boundaries!" He scolded me.

"Alright, I'm sorry. What I'm saying is, this bartender was so pretty. Like he just stepped out of the covers of a magazine. He looked classy and aristocratic and yet when he smiles, it seems like a million fireworks just burst into the room."

"Ash... I get it, okay?" Adam looked at me sternly.

"Right. So, to make the long story short, I ended up telling him that I needed a guy to pretend with me for this wedding. And I ended up asking him if he was up for the job."

"And he was?"

"At first, he wasn't. But then I told him the story of my... fake ring. He must have realized how pathetic I am and... how desperately I needed help. So he agreed."

"And you gave him my check?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry Adam. I didn't bargain anymore. Ten grand."

He shrugged. "You'll get the rest next week. So, you told him he needs a cover?"

I nodded. "I will call him tomorrow when I'm not too tipsy anymore. Just to give him the specifics."

"Great! I can't wait to see the look on Bryan's face."

I smiled at Adam. Then I reached forward and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you, Adam. I don't know what I would do without you."

He smiled back at me and ruffled my hair. "You're welcome."

When I went to bed that night, I was smiling. I remembered Ryder's handsome face and how he looked when he kissed my hand.

With a grin still on my face, I thought, where have I been all these years?

Chapter Five.

BRIDAL CAR:.

The car that carries the Bride and the Groom after the ceremony. Usually adorned with flowers and signage saying "Just Married!"

I picked out a bright lavender outfit that accented my curves, bared my shoulders and exposed my long perfect legs. I was going to tease Bryan... with something he never had. Something that he should have been having now, had he waited.

I used to be a little bit on the conservative side when I was with him. But now, they've stripped me of almost everything so what have I got to lose?

I went to the saloon to color my hair. I tried the multi-colored hairstyle. Blonde, red, reddish brown, dark brown and a few black strands. When the hairdresser was finished, I thought I looked cool and my hair looked stylish. As a benefit, no one could tell what my natural hair color really was.

I'm not going to wear contacts anymore. When I wore my gown, it emphasized the violet hue of my eyes, which according to my friends is just beautiful.

I wore light makeup and I curled the edges of my hair. When I slipped into my glass slippers and went downstairs, Dannie and John just applauded. Even Adam was clearly impressed.

John whistled at me.

"You look fab, sweetheart." Dannie said.

Adam smiled at me. "I'm glad to see you this way. No doubt you will be the most beautiful woman in the ballroom tonight. Bryan won't even know what hit him."

"Thank you, guys!" I said to them.

Apparently, Geena approached Fiona to get an on-site, on-the-day wedding coordinator. I told Nicole to volunteer for the job. It would be nice to have one more ally in the party besides Adam.

I had been coordinating with Ryder most of the week. His cover story is that he graduated with honors at Harvard. He's an entrepreneur. His family owns a couple of restaurant chains in New York. He invests here and there. I asked him to rent a Boxster for the night and a nice Armani suit. I also asked him to rent a ring for the night or buy a fake one that can pass as the real thing. We even agreed to rent a room in the resort to leave no doubt that Ryder and I were for real.

Bryan would be eating his heart out! He knew I never, and I mean never, go for super wealthy guys. He knew I preferred a guy who has more time to work on relationships than meet with his business associates. He knew I wasn't looking for something grand. I wanted a simple but happy life. Quiet and comfortable. And moreover, I would never sleep with a guy outside marriage.

Well, he is in for the shock of his life!

The doorbell rang. Adam went to get it.

I double-checked to make sure that Adam's check is in my purse... Ryder's full payment.

"I look fine?" I asked Dannie nervously.

"You're a goddess!" He assured me and John agreed.

We all waited anxiously for my date to come. I was beginning to wonder what was taking Adam so long. Was he interrogating Ryder already?

Finally, Adam came back into the room and behind him was a breathtaking god dressed in a black silk Armani suit. His raven hair combed smoothly in place. He was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses and for a while I thought he looked familiar. He was no longer wearing a stud on his ear and the guy I am looking at now, is ten times classier than the Ryder I met at the bar. It was almost hard to believe that this was the same guy.

"Hello, Astrid. We meet again." He said.

"Oh my God!" I heard Dannie hyperventilate behind me.

"Hey... Ryder." I tried...hard... to keep my voice steady.

Only Adam seemed not so pleased with my choice and I wondered why. He had a cold expression on his face and somehow I know that he's biting his tongue to keep his thoughts from spilling out loud... which is obviously painful for him.

"Shall we?" Ryder asked.

I nodded. He took my hand in his and gently, he intertwined our fingers. I caught a whiff of his cologne... sweet yet masculine.

Adam raised a brow at me.