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One Night Stand(COMPLETED)

by Caitie

Forewords

One Night Stand
--------------------

It did not mean anything

It was a mistake

It was just for pure pleasure

It was nothing more

Right?

But your image is still in my mind

Your pink seductive lips

Your wicked big eyes

Your perfect round face

No….

No….

I can not stop thinking of you

~*~

Won Bin: Careless about things, and may seem immature from the outside. No stable home nor occupation. Talkative and enjoy being free instead of being tie in of a job. He came from a rich family but because he was rebellious against his father, he was kick out.

Vicki Zhao: She came from a poor family and all of her life, her main goal was money. Money could buy her anything. It could bring her glamour and respects. Beautiful. Seductive. Every men wants her. Every women envy her. Her life seem perfect, she is engaged to the richest man of Taiwan, Leo Koo. But no one know behind that perfect girl, lies a lonely soul.

Other minor cast

Barbie Hsu
Leo Koo

~*~

This would be just a short holiday story. Probably around 10 or less chapters. Sorry for starting a new fanfic before finishing A Perfect Marriage, hope you guys still support me. So if you could, please leave me a comment. hehe

SideNote---this story had been review at http://angelike.net

the link to my other WV story is
http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/caitie02
http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/brokenecho

Caitie

Chapter 1

Lingering Pain

Chapter 1

It was a cold Christmas Eve, and Vicki was tired. She gazed at her reflection from the mirror as she laid on the bed. She touched her neck and then down to her sparkling diamond necklace. It was beautiful, and what made it even more beautiful, was that it was on Vicki. Her big hazel eyes exchanges its beauty. Vicki turned around and saw her boyfriend asleep like always. His snores annoyed her, and his appearance sickened her. Sure he was rich and handsome, but he was only acting like a gentleman around others, however, when he was alone with her, he was just a perverted pig. Vicki quietly got out of bed, and put on her robe. her fair hair dropped down to her chest, as she took the hair tie off. She walked towards the bathroom calmly as always, and then once the door was shut, she push everything from the counter to the ground and then she laughed for she sees her own reflection once again from the mirror.

“Who are you?” she asked her own reflection.

She continued staring at her reflection patiently as if it was going to answer her.

A smile appeared on Vicki face and then she said to her reflection,

“Do you believe in a fairytale?

Does the poor girl always manage to escape from her wicked stepmother?

Will the prince always come to rescue her?

If you do believe…

Then you are just a fool!

And I pity you.”

She then took her bath robe off and looked at herself from top to bottom. She seemed disgusted as if her body didn’t beling to her. She quickly got in the shower, even though the water was not warm yet. She scrubed herself from top the bottom, over and over again, until her skin glowed with red.

The cold water continued running and Vicki stood there still as it ran through her body. she stood there hoping the water would wash away the past, but the bitter memories lingered in her mind. She hated it, but most of all she hated herself, why was she so weak, why couldn’t she defend herself and let someone else walk all over her. Vicki eyes were getting watery, she sniffed and stopped her tears from falling. She was strong and will not allow herself to be seen weak.

Vicki Zhao was never like this, she was once innocent and hopeful of life. But her innocence was destroyed when she was 16 years old. Her parents were not rich, nor poor, just in between. They lived in Taiwan, and she was just like all other little girls. But when her mother passed away when Vicki was only 3 years old, and was left to be sister and mom to her younger brother, Roy; this had changed her whole life. Her father loved them, but because he loved them so much, and he did not want them to grow up with no mother, and so he remarried. He married Barbara Xu, a young beautiful rich woman. Things were going well, and about 1 year later, Barbara had given birth to a girl, whom she named Barbie. Barbara was a great mother to both Roy and Vicki, she seemed so perfect, and Vicki soon accepted her. But when her father got ill when she was 14, Barbara Xu showed her true face. It was the typical evil stepmother that she became, and Vicki only wished that a miracle could happened to her just like in all fairytales, but nevertheless, it did not happened, and only become a nightmare.

Barbie was beautiful, she was 2 years younger than Vicki, and of course she was well taken care of, but Vicki was never jealous of Barbie not even a bit hatred was shown toward her. For Vicki did not care about those things, money to her was nothing but just paper, all she cared about was her father and her brother, Roy. Her father soon passed away, and life got worse for both Vicki and Roy. Roy was weak, and always needed expensive herbs to stay alive, but after his father death, Barbara little by little gave him less and less herbs, soon she gave him nothing.

Vicki, at age 16 was beautiful, and Barbara had to admit she was much more beautiful than her own daughter, Barbie. Even with ugly old clothes and no accessories and makeup, she always shined more than Barbie, making both Barbara and Barbie hate her. One party gathering night, Vicki was like usual, mopping the kitchen floor, while Barbara introduced Barbie, who was only 14 at the time, to young handsome son of her rich friends, a man twice of Vicki’s age, spotted Vicki from far away. Vicki only looked down at the wooden floor fearing. When everyone left, Barbara slowly approached Vicki in her room with an impious smile. She slowly brushed Vicki’s hair as Vicki sat on her glooming desk. She brushed it softly and slowly, and then said, “Do you want your brother to live?”

Vicki only nodded.

“I will buy him the herbs tomorrow.”

Vicki smiled happily and turned around wanting to hug her, but she pushed her away and said, “Don’t thank me too soon, I want you to do me a favor.”

“Anything Madam! Anything, just please save Roy.”

Vicki was shock hearing what Barbara wanted her to do. She wanted her to sleep with a man twice her age! Just for business benefits! Her father would never approve of this, if only he was alive. Vicki struggled for she did not want to see Roy in pain, but at the same time she was frighten.

Vicki finally had to agree when she turned around seeing her weak brother coughing. She was willing to do anything for him, even if it ruined her life.
“Follow me,” Barbara said.

Vicki followed Barbara into the dark hallway, Barbara unlocked the wooden door, and once Vicki got inside she locked it. Vicki sat down on the bed in a cold dark atmosphere. She shivered and moved next to the pillow, where she found a man in his late 30’s with a mustache lying on the bed naked. He touched her hair and then down her neck, and slowly reached for her thighs. Vicki shoved his hand away quickly as it touched her thighs.

“What are you trying to do little girl? There is no way to escape,” he said with a perverted tone.

Vicki didn’t know what he wanted to do to her, for she was too innocent, and did not exactly understand it when Barbara had asked her to sleep with him. She did not like it a bit, his big fingers running through her body.

“Stop,” she cried as he put his rough lips against her smooth neck kissing as if wanting to bite her. But he did not stop, and tears ran down her eyes, as he continued. His kisses were so hard and rough. She squeezed the white bed sheet, for his big body was on top of her. She closed her eyes waiting for him to finish, she wanted it to be fast, and she did not enjoy one minute of it. Tears came down from her eyes to her cheeks as droplets of rain fell upon the roof.

…

…

…

…

…

…

It was finally over, and he left Vicki lying on the bed. He unlocked the door and smiled to Barbara Xu, and shook her hand, “You will be able to invest in my company.”

Red.

Ugly.

Dull color.

The smell.

It was blood.

It stained the white bed sheet.

It stained her life.

It will never vanish.

Nothing could wash it away.

The next morning, Vicki slowly walked toward her room, with little energy. She found her brother sleeping calmly. She sat on his bed, and brushed through his hair with her hands. She smiled, and then she sat there patiently waiting for him to wake up.

Ten minutes passed.

Thirty more.

An hour.

Vicki’s face turned pale, she touched his forehead, it was cold. She then put her ear against his chest.

Nothing.

Not a beat.

His heart had stop.

Vicki was so calm, she did not scream nor did she cried. She just smiled. She kissed his cheeks and then said, “Goodnight bro.”

She walk slowly outside the kitchen, in her torn white grown, she found Barbara Xu pouring wine into her glass.

“Good morning dear, you did not need to be up so early, go ahead, go back and take a nap. I know you had a tiring night,” Barbara said in a fake motherly way.

Vicki smiled in return, and then she approached Barbara, she stood about one feet away from Barbara.

“Thank you, but no thanks, I have something else, more important to do.”

After Barbara finish pouring the wine into the glass, she look up and said, “Oh?”

Suddenly, Barbara dropped down on the wooden floor.

With one hand pointing to Vicki and the other against her stomach.

Vicki had stabbed her.

Blood dripped down.

And Vicki only laughed bitterly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sure rush it, and I hope it makes sense. Sigh. I just want it to be short and not too much complications. Thank you for so much comments! It means so much to me, will you guys continue?

Caitie

Chapter 2

One Night Stand

Warning-this chapter contain sexual content. But this story is not like porn okay, LOL is does not revolved around sex, but yes it is part of the plot.
~*~
Chapter 2

Vicki open the bathroom’s door. She was dress in a tight red blouse accompanied by her black thin sweater with her style torn jeans. Her face was cover in heavy makeup, the pink blush on her chubby cheeks cover her pale’s complexion, her dark black eyeliner cover her swollen eyes, and her red lipsticks cover her natural peachy pink lips. She glanced over seeing her boyfriend, Leo Koo, the soon to inherit the most powerful company is Taiwan sleeping. She took a deep breath, and then exit the door.

Vicki walk toward the hotel’s bar, where she found both men and women eyes glued at her. She only gave a cold smirk and ignored those stares, she knew she was beautiful, and she love the attention. She appeared satisfied with those envious eyes of young women, and those eyes of the men longing for her affection. She had it all, she thought. She was no longer the weak 16 years old girl, she was no longer poor.

Vicki took a seat at a round table. A waiter approached her with a vodka glass, “Your usual” he said eyeing for her to return him with a smile. She took the glass without looking at him directly, and turn back facing the glass window, where she saw rain dripping down. Then, the scene came back to her, as if it was just yesterday.

Vicki had stabbed Barbara, but she remain there still in a calm silence just watching her in pain begging for help, but Vicki did not responded, she only stare at her with abhorrence eyes. She heard Barbie skipping and singing outside. But Vicki did not do anything, she did not care about the consequences. Barbie ran in with a big smile, but as soon as she saw the sight of blood, she screamed. Vicki only response was a cold laughter.

Lights flashes in red, green, and blue.

The neighborhood was awaken by the sounds of the siren.

Men in green.

They came.

And they had took Vicki away.

She did not fight back, nor did she defended herself.

Clinked

Clinked

Clinked

The droplets of rain fell on her hair down to her eyes and her cheeks, and consequently drop on the ground making a calm peaceful sound, yet these sounds had evoke angers and realization of this society.

It did not matter how beaten Vicki appeared, those bruises meant nothing.

It did not matter what her motive was.

I did not matter that she was raped.

No one cared

Fact was, Barbara Xu was rich and powerful.

She could make a bad rumor turn good.

---

A man whisper into another man’s ears as both of them were gazing at the beautiful yet ice cold her holding a glass of wine. Vicki only continued drinking it and did not respond to their stares. Her cold attitude toward them upset one of the man, he could not believed that she did not even took one glance at him. Sure she was beautiful, in those heavy makeup and tight clothing that show off her every curves and cleavage, but who did she think she was? His mind filled with frustrations as she continue drinking ignoring him.

He quietly walk toward her, and words from his friends were still in his ears. “Don’t even brother, this girl come here every night to drink, but never had she accept any man to join her.”

“Then I’ll be her first,” he said.

“Alright, if you could get her into bed, I’ll lend you my new BMW for you to pick up your girlfriend tomorrow.”

“Deal.”

He sure wasn’t doing it just for the his bet, but rather he wanted to prove himself that he could get any girls he wants, and Vicki was no difference. He approached her boldly, and when he saw the side of her face, he concluded that she was sure more beautiful than far away, but her beauty was no different from other girls he met, he thought. She was only beautiful for those powder and clothing she wore, he sigh deeply for he was disappointed to know she was surely no exception from other spoil rich girls. He was like everyone, deceived by what he see. No one know, even Vicki had tried to convinced herself that she was strong as she is by appearance, but it was only an act. The makeup, the clothes, and the jewelries they were all accessories that allow her to be confident and strong. But when she laid in bed late at night, she shivered even though cover in warm blankets, and she cuddle up by herself, for she has no one, no one she trust, no one she loved.

He took a seat next to her, without even asking.

He look up, and the light reflect on her dazzling eyes, and now he was sure that he was wrong. She was different. “Excuse you, but did I invite you.”

“No, you didn’t” he said in a flirtatious way. “But you do not own the bar, nor these seats.”

Vicki could not find the words to defend herself, and so she allow him to sit there, he did not do much but just stare at her while drinking. Soon, she had about six glasses of vodka. The bar was now empty and only Vicki and this stranger remain. Chairs were already stacks up on top of the desk and the waiter was had sneak out to take a nap in the closet.

“Did anyone ever tell you that you have killer eyes?” he said interrupting her as she drink.

She did not seem to be surprised, she knew what he wanted just like all men, he wanted to have her right now, this every moment in this bar.

She smile at him with her seductive full thick lips. There was an urged for him, he wanted to take her at this very second.

“You want me, don’t you” she said as she move closer to him and whispered into his ears.

He seem disappointed with her words, it was too easy he thought. She was just a party girl who any men could have. At this thought, he decided to leave, but when Vicki continued, “But you can’t have me, because, you see…you are not worth it. And certainly you can not please me,” with that she stood up and walk with not much balanced for she was drunk toward the hallway. Since she was drunk, the number of imprinted on the door was unclear to Vicki, and so she center into a wrong room, in which no one was staying.

He had a few drinks, and his felt a little light-headed, as if she had repeated her words for a million time, “You can’t have me….you can’t have me…you can’t have me.” He was upsets, she had turn him down, and she did not even for a bit look at him in the face. And so he follow her into the room.

He found her on the white bed, she had her eyes closed and she was unbuttoning her sweater. He swallow his saliva as he saw Vicki lying there. He felt dizzy as if a hammer was hitting against his head, and so he allowed himself to fall on top of her. He touches her soft light golden brown hair, and then move it away from her face. Vicki could feel the heavy weight on top of her, she slowly open her eyes, and seeing now his face clearly. He was handsome, even more attractive than Leo, his eyes were dark brown covered with bushy eyebrows, unshaven face, and the smell of his colon fit well with his image. He lean toward her and force a kiss upon her pink seductive lips. At this sight, it reminder Vicki of the scene 10 years ago and so using her sharp fingernails she pinch his shoulder and she yelled, “please stop.” But he did not stop, and Vicki surrender. What was the use anyway, it was not like she cared, it was not like this was her first time, what was the use to fight back and gain more scars, therefore she laid back and let him continued. She open her eyes, and stares outside, letting him finish his work, but suddenly he stop. He see her evidently now, for he was finally awaken from the alcohol. Her makeup were now gone, and for some odd reason, seeing her big swollen eyes, it sadden him. She was different, he thought. Usually, no one would refused his kisses, but she did. No one would never hit him as he tried to kiss her. And no one would just look away while he was making love to them.

But she did.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a shameful way as he button up her sweater.

Vicki was shock, no one had never show so much consideration to her.

Not even Leo.

And certainly not the man 10 years ago.

But this stranger did, he seem to cared about her.

He then got out of the bed, and turn around toward the door. The bet was stupid, he thought. He would never do such thing to hurt an innocent person. But suddenly, he felt her soft hand holding him back.

He turn around, seeing her very differently from how he had seen her at the bar. She was no longer the conceited strong girl, she was now just like an innocent angel. And she looked absolutely enchanting without makeup.

“Stay with me,” she said.

She allowed him to put his body against her. He was different from them, he was gentle and kind, he was not rough and demanding. She then allowed him to kiss her, this time is was different from the his first kiss to her, it was rough and it brought back horrible memories, but this time it was affectionate. She return his kiss, and then she unbutton his white striped shirt, his chest was so warm, and she felt so loved against it. No man had ever made her feel this way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOL actually I did not want make this story nasty, and yeah..so I didn't add anymore scene after that. LOL...im guessing we are all mature to know what happened next. LOL comments?

Chapter 3

A Lie

Chapter 3

The next morning, Vicki open her eyes and found her body embrace in his strong muscular chest, she look up seeing his eyes shut, yet his hands were still holding on to her, she felt protected, and loved. Leo would have never behaved this way, in fact he would push her to the side after they had sex, and roll the blanket to his side, leaving Vicki by herself in the cold lonely night. Leo was careless and thoughtless, but at least he was rich and powerful. He could give her anything, with just one simple word from her, even the sparkling stars could be possess. Vicki slowly move his big yet soft hands away so that she could put on her clothes. She look at him, sleeping so peacefully. She smile, a real smile, she was not putting on an act, she was sincerely feeling happy looking at him. She never had such feelings and affection so strong before. And these feelings were for a stranger. Perhaps it was because he was a stranger, that she allowed herself to fall for him and show him her true self, for he will never see her again.

Vicki held a pen in her petite fingers, she did not know what to write, she did not want to hurt him, nor did she wanted him to have any hope. She took in a deep breath and close her eyes, as soon as her eyes open, she seem more bold and confident, she begin writing nonstop, until the there was no more lines on the piece of paper. She place the paper on top of his chest, and then gave him a soft small kiss on his cheeks, she turn around and made her way out of the door, without looking back, for she knew if she did, she would not be able to let go. The door shut tranquilly, Vicki had left.

She had left the first man ever that made her heart beat.

she had left the first man that made her smile.

She had left a true love that she could have had.

She could have been the happiest woman on earth for she had found her soul mate.

But she had chose to leave, knowing the possibilities that lies ahead if she was to stay. But she left abruptly, without a name and without much explanation, but rather just leaving with a lie. She lied to him, and she lied to herself.

Won Bin. That was his name. The man that changed Vicki’s life and perspective. He was still sleeping as Vicki close the door behind her. He seem content as he sleep for he was smiling, and then he move his body forward, waiting to hug the person he believe was still there, only this time, it was just a pillow. He open his eyes slowly and using his hands he rubbed it gently, only to find that she was no longer there. He did not frown nor did he smile, yet his face show a sigh of disappointment, he thought she was different and he really believed as they were making love, it was not just for the fun of it. It was a feeling he never felt before, he was burning inside, his heart was beating at such a rapid beat, there was not just sparks, but rather flames. He never felt so passionate toward such women before.

He found a letter laid on his body, he held it in his hands, but fear to open it. Slowly though, he decided to open it.

“Dear Stranger,
................It was a pleasant time that I had spent with you. But the night was over, and so was our experience. It was fun, but nevertheless we were both drunk, and it was a mistake. I’m sure you feel the same as you wake up finding a stranger lying next to you, so I’ll make it easy, and simply make my way out of your life.”

Those lines were short, yet it was killing Won Bin inside. It was a mistake? He thought. But those eyes and those long lasting kisses that they shared, it was all fake? Was she not feeling the way he did as they made love beneath blanket?

She had asked him to stay.

She wanted him to make love to her.

She was leading him on.

She convinced him that there was this thing call love, that he never believed.

She toy with his heart.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Time passes by, but Won Bin was still staring at the piece of paper.

He was hurt.

He laughed, for he could not believed how much his heart ached emotionally. No one had never made it ached so painfully, but yet this stranger did.

Suddenly, he tear the paper into pieces and threw it in the air. Little pieces fell down, as he put on his clothes.

---

Vicki walk back to her room and found Leo was no longer there. She freshen up and changed. As she wait patiently for Leo, her mind could not stop thinking about last night. She closed her eyes, remember every touches from him, remembering his tender kisses, and most of all remembering how comfort his chest was. She had lied to him, it was not a mistake and she knew it in her heart. But what was the use to tell him that. What was the use to tell him how she felt it. The burning temptation against his body. She could not return his love. She could not possibly let go of her glamour life just for him. What could he offer her? She wanted revenge, and how could he help her? Even if he could, she does not want him to. For he was different, different from those men who just want sex, he show sympathies even without knowing her story, he just seem to be able to know everything. Her loneliness. Her hunger for love. That was what made him different, and to hurt him now, was better than to hurt him later.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered to the air.

She heard the card sliding, the doorknob turn, and it was sure enough, Leo Koo.

“Where have you been!” he said in a soft warning tone as he ran over and hug her tightly.

But probably too tightly, his big rough hands holding her waist not wanting to let go. Vicki felt as if he was trying to kill her, why could he not be as so soft and calm as the man last night.

Vicki open her mouth wanting to explain, but then she decided not to. Sure she could have lied to him, but there was no difference, she knew Leo would eventually pretend that everything was going fine, for he could not risk losing her. He then move his hand toward the zipper of her black dress. She knew it right away that he wanted her again. But she was tired, and she had no energy left. But what could she do, say no? She could not, for she was not going to risk it. He undressed her, and Vicki only stood there still like a stone figure. There was nothing. Not a bit passionate feeling she felt as he made love to her. Her eyes were open, just staring outside the window where the birds flied freely in the horizon blue sky. He push her on the bed, he seem to enjoy every bit second of it. He could only see the beauty of Vicki’s feature, but he did not know what lies inside those beautiful big eyes, or rather he did not care. When he makes love to Vicki, he feel proud and manly, for no men could posses such perfection of a beauty as Vicki.

Vicki did not exactly love Leo, but she owe him so much. He had help her escape hell, the home of unwanted teens, where every night they would be lock up and guard. Vicki did not care where she lived, heck, she did not care about dying. There was nothing in life for her to look forward to. She was abused from others teenager drug addict girls, who claimed Vicki had money and wanted to steal them. Vicki of course did not defend herself, in fact she wishes they could beat her to death.

Then one night, while she was sleeping, she heard the gate being unlock. Her eyes were still closed, she felt it again. The same nasty touch. She could not take it any longer. She reach beneath her pillow, where a knife was kept for her roommate had given it to her. She stabbed his manhood. She dropped the knife down, and ran out of the gate, she ran and ran to the field of grass. She climbed the gate, and she was able to get out of the living hell. She saw a car at the speed of light coming toward her, she waited there, wanting it to come and take her life away. But it did not, the man took her in, and gave her a shelter, and from there on, she took the name of Vicki Zhao rather than Wei Wei, for it was too weak and too cute, she wanted a name that stand out in this rich society. His name was Leo, and he had the power to change her life, for he was the only one to give her glamour and without him, she would not be the famous Vicki Zhao, top of the top models in Taiwan. He given her a new life, where she was able to compete and ruin the Xu. Barbara was not dead, that stab did nothing, but made her even richer from insureance and more popular from the press. Vicki was determined to take back everything that Barbara owe her.

---

Won Bin drove in his friend BMW, the newest model, to the airport where he was going to pick up a girl whom he had been dating for the pass month, Barbie Xu. As he drove in the highways, he could feel the wind blowing against his hair, and he remember his friend’s words.

“So how was she?”

“Like all of them.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, nothing special.” He lied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys, sorry for not updating A Perfect Marriage, is just this one is more simple to write and will be short, so APM will be on hold for a week or couple of days. Hope is okay? Is it? Anyways, comments please. Because it means so much to me.

Chapter 4

So Close

Chapter 4

Won Bin was dressed in casual jeans and dress shirt, as he wait for the arrival of Barbie Xu. A girl he met through a one of his typical night out. She had a kind and soft beauty that attracted him. She seem innocent, dressed very elegantly. Barbie Xu dropped her belongings and ran toward Won Bin, the man that she believed was her soul mate. The hug was comforting to Won Bin, she allow him to squeezed her body tightly, for she feel loved and protected against it. He then kisses her soft small lips, sticking his tongue down her throat. She seem to enjoy it, and he thought he did too. He wanted to kiss her more, for kissing her made him forget.

Forget the pain that was killing him inside.

Forget how much his heart hurts.

But the more he kisses her, the more it ached, as if million of ants were biting it, eating little by little pieces of heart.

The more they kisses, the more he could not control his mind. It was bringing him back to her image. The image he long to forget, but yet it was still luring in his mind.

The pink full seductive lips.

The soft golden hair that accompanied well along with her perfect face, in which it brings out the sparks in her dazzling hazel eyes.

Her kissing were nothing as comparison to the girl whom he made love to last night. Barbie’s kisses were not alluring, it was just normal, and had no sparks. And so, he pull her away, realizing that no matter how much he tries, her image could not be wash away easily. He had to he thought, had to find her, and confront her, or he will never be able to live on. This was just en excuse though, and he knew it, but he let himself in believing it. He wanted to see her again for he could not forget her, he wanted to see her again for she left him in awe, he wanted to see her again for…..she was different, and without knowing, he had already fallen for her.

Barbie put her hands into his arms, this time however, it seem different to Barbie. Won Bin mind was set elsewhere, as Barbie walk beside him. His eyes was not giving her the same attention as he used it, Barbie seem a little annoyed. She knew for a fact that Won Bin probably had another woman while she was away, but this time, this woman seem to have a great influence over him.

They drove home in an awkward silence, Barbie look outside from the mirror, viewing the beautiful scenery. Won Bin turn and took a glanced at her, he then said to her, “I’m sorry.”

Barbie had this kind of power, a silent power using her appearance, one would be captured and feel sympathies toward her. She does not have to do much, but just because of her pure and innocent look, one would never allowed themselves to hurt her.

“Is okay, I know you are going through a rough time with your family” Barbie said in a soft voice.

Barbie done it again, she brought the soreness back to Won Bin, he was already deeply hurt from last night, but now as if it was not bad enough, she brought out a wound that he tried to hide, a wound caused by his father.

After Won Bin had taken Barbie home, he drove down the road. He had no directions, and no destinations that he wanted to reach. He just drove toward the endless road, in hoping that he could find something or someone. It was getting late, and the sun was setting, he felt as if he was setting along with it, or rather, he wish he could. He did not want to return home, for he does not want to see the those eyes of people there judging him.

Won Bin had money, and would consider lucky for having to be son of the most influential man in Korea, but no one know how much pain he had to endured. His mother was just a simple woman, a maid. She fell in love with her master, his father, but died giving birth to Won Bin. Won Bin was taken in but remain under the name Won Bin and was no allowed to take the Kim’s last name.

---

It had been a month since the incident that proved to both Vicki and Won Bin that there was this thing called love. While Won Bin had continued on with life, Vicki was getting more famous by the minute. Her names appeared in all of Taiwan magazine, and by now, no one would not know the name Vicki Zhao.

Won Bin eyes were glued to the magazine in which he saw her image. The name Vicki Zhao imprinted large on the cover. He thought he was over her, he thought it was gone, and that those feelings were vanishing away, but the moment he saw her face, he knew it was still there. “God damn!” he said as his eyes peered onto the magazine.

Won bin was dressed in a waiter outfit, with black slack and white shirt along with a bowtie, and sure enough this was his job for the night. Won Bin had no stable jobs, and he would changed jobs often, and thankfully, his friend had asked him to take his position for the night as a waiter.

A man called Won Bin, “Hurry up Won! Guests had arrived!”

Tonight the restaurant was very busy, for a rich man had rent the whole place to celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday. Won Bin dashed outside the kitchen holding a plate of cocktail shrimps.

Won Bin was amazed at the sight of the crowd, he did not know until now that it was not just a simple birthday party but more of a social high class gathering. He took a deep breath, as he saw his own father with a woman in her late thirties beside him. His father saw him, but did not much but continued drinking and talking.

Won Bin seem to not cared that his father saw him, Won Bin was proud of who he is and his job. Suddenly, while he was serving people, he saw Barbie coming in with a woman in her late forties but still had a beauty in which Barbie resembles. Barbie wore a vanilla cream color dress that had a v-cut shaped neck, but was not too revealing. She looked simply enchanting and elegant in it. At the moment Barbie saw Won, she walk toward him with a smile on her face, and eyes followed Barbie as she walked in.

“Won, I did not know you were going to be here.”

“I did not know that you were going to be here as well,”

There it was again, silence, as both of them seem to not have anything to talk about.

Then Barbara Xu walk over to her daughter and whispered, “Come on Barbie, I have to introduce you to my friends.”

Won only smile letting her know that it was okay, and so she walk with her mother away from Won Bin who just continued on with his job. He was actually glad that Barbara had came, for he felt awkward around Barbie.

Barbie Xu was indeed beautiful, and people had surrounded her praising her with words that enchanted her ears. She loved them, and she felt confident hearing them. Barbara seem satisfied as well, when a well known man who worked for Fashion and Beauty said, “Your daughter is very beautiful, you know she would be great on the next cover of our January 2005 issue, she has this…how you say it…refreshing look for the new year.”

Barbie only laugh and said, “You got to be kidding me! And I thought some popular model name, Vicki Zhao had already sign with you guys.”

“Well she had her time, and we don’t just depend on her solely, so yeah are you interested?”

Suddenly, Vicki Zhao appeared at the door, wearing a dazzling black dress that show off her body well. It was backless, and the neck was cut so that her cleavage would reveal. Everyone there, including Barbie herself was staring at the stunning Vicki Zhao that came in taking away all the glamour away to herself. Barbie may be beautiful in her own way, and many would fall for her angelic appearance, but she like many other young girls does not have what Vicki has, a strong face that could not be easily forgotten, and so no matter what, Vicki Zhao had made a name, and she would not be and would not allow anyone to take her glamour way. The man who claim to want Barbie to sign a contract with them had walk away toward Vicki Zhao. Barbie as well approached Vicki Zhao with her mother Barbara. Vicki saw them, and she recognized them right away, how could she forget Barbara Xu, who had the face of a kind mother, yet behind it all was just wicked woman, how could she forget that face of Barbie Xu, who had an angel face that every loved.

“I’m Barbara, and this is my daughter Barbie,” she said as she let her hand out, waiting for Vicki to shake it. But Vicki only stare at them, her eyes were filled with vengeances, and the moment she saw the fire in Vicki eyes, she shivered for it was so frighten and she felt threaten.

“Have I met you somewhere?” Barbara asked in a suspicious tone.

Vicki let out a small grin and said, “Surely not. I’m sorry, but my boyfriend is here,” she said in a cold tone as she walk away from them, but she could still feel the intense eyes staring her.

“She does look familiar, mother. Vicki Zhao…Vicki Zhao…Wei Wei Zhao!” Barbie whispered into her mother eyes with terror.

The room filled with about 100 guests, and 20 waiter and waitress walking around for guests service, but it seem as though in this crowd Vicki and Won Bin was not meant to find each other. While he was serving, she would be surrounded by rich people who only goal was for her to acceptation, and so she had little time to notice that Won was there. And Won was too busy running back and fort with glass of champagne or shrimp. And so, even though in the same room, under the same roof, they were separated and does not realized each other existence.
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Sorry for the boring chapter guys, hopefully is okay though. Oh, I want to inform you guys that I just started a website, a WV fansite. So come and support me.
delusion.fayde.com
Caitie

Chapter 5

Overshadow by Revenge

Chapter 5

Vicki seem to like where she was, holding a glass of expensive wine and be surrounded by people that envy her. She had always wanted this attention, and knowing that the Xu were there and watching her every steps, made her feel even prouder, but deep inside was she actually enjoying her life? Happy that everyone around had their own purpose, and ever move they make, every words they speaks, were all fake. Sure, she was, she loved the admiration, she convinced herself in believing it.

Who would not want to be her?

Being wrapped with diamonds and pearls.

Being in an expensive Versace’s dress, that a worker class person would spent their entire life, and still could not afford it.

Being the woman behind Leo Koo.

She has everything a woman would desires, but who would know behind her smiles, laid a helpless soul, wanting to escape out of this reality. Who would know how much she craved for love, being loved. But vengeances overshadow her mind, and all that was left was fog, unclear of her own will and future. All she know was to ruin them, ruin what had ruin her own life, but to do so, would cost her, her own happiness.

Suddenly the lights were turn off, and the spotlights was on Vicki, who beauty shined from the golden light, and she smile gracefully to Leo, as he walk toward her in his black suit holding a bouquet of red roses as he begin singing in his deep yet soft voice, happy birthday to Vicki.

For a moment or so, Vicki actually felt loved from the man who stood before her, but she knew it was not real, everything he was doing, it was just to make a scene. To let everyone know what a man he is, who was not only rich and powerful, but as well as having a woman such as Vicki by his side. Leo may not loved Vicki in his fullest heart, but he was proud of himself for this beautiful possession. And that was what Vicki meant to him, an antique vase or a priceless painting that was just there, still as a sculpture, and its only meaning in life was to be seen by people, who envy such great possession he own.

He lean over and kissed her soft pink cheeks, then slowly toward her lips. Vicki only closed her eyes, as his lips laid against hers, then those images, it passes her mind once more. She still remember.

She still remember him.

His soft tender kisses.

His big yet soft hands running through her body.

Touching it, inch by inch.

As if he could empathized every feelings she felt.

But then, suddenly as she open her eyes, the presence of Leo and everyone around her flood upon her.

“Happy Birthday,” he whispered in her ears.

Then suddenly, as if fate really wanted to toy with her mind, the familiar face of the man who image still linger her mind appear right before her eyes. He rubbed his eyes as he push the cake cart toward her, it was her again, the woman that he could not forget, the woman that left him with great curiosity.

And the curiosity grew as well as anger when he saw her hands being hold by a man next to her. “No wonder” he thought. It was very much like what she had written in the letter, a mistake to her. For it meant nothing, for every second when they made love, for every kisses that they shared, was nothing. She was already taken and she was already loved, who was he to interfere her life.

He did not took a glance at her, as if she was just another guest in the room, and she pretended that nothing was going on and everything was still the same. But the room atmosphere suddenly changes for both of them. Nervousness and anxiety feelings swept their mind, and suddenly, in this fancy room, populated with more than one hundred people, seem to be so small as if they were the only one in there.

He cut the piece of cake and hand it to her hands, without looking directly in her eyes, for he was afraid of its beauty that it would once more capture his heart.

There hands met, and it was the same soft feelings.

She took it in a cold manner without saying a word or more, and quickly embraced herself in Leo’s arms, leaving Won Bin with anger that evoke in his veins.

Leo whispered to Vicki’s ears, “Sorry Vicki, but I won’t be able to stay long, I have something to handle.”

Vicki felt release as Leo walked away from the room. Leo was not just a lucky man who was born into a rich family. He work his way to where he is now. He was also not just a normal business man like everyone thinks he is, he made his way to this position at all cost, even if it was doing something illegal. At age of 16, he was already selling drugs in a small gang, and by age 20, he became the leader of the gang. Soon later, from a group 10 men turn into hundreds of men working under him.

Vicki turn around seeing that Won Bin was still there, standing, staring at her with his dark brown eyes.

“Do you even remember me?” he asked.

“I’m sorry, we met?” she said as she tried to take her eyes off his, by staring at the dancing flames of the candle light behind him.

His heart hurt, as if arrows were shooting his heart. Such painful feelings. He laughed out loud at the thought of how much his heart hurt. No women had ever had such affects over him. But this time, this woman did, and it was so much more different from all the women he met.

Hearing her words, he realized now that it was just a one night stand, with no meaning, and certainly no love, everything was all fake. Every whispers from her gentle lips saying, “I love you” was just for that one spare moment. She did not mean it.

He was a fool, he thought. To actually wanting to believed that a stranger loved him, and the thought that he loved her so much, killed him inside. He should have believed the letter, … ‘it was a mistake’ the words kept coming to his mind, and her presence in front of his eyes made it even worse. The dress that she wore, the heavy makeup on her face, she was not her anymore, he thought. He did not fell in love with this girl, but rather the girl beneath all these things. But that girl had long disappeared.

“I guess I have mistaken. Mistaken you. You are not her,” he said with disappointments in his eyes.

He was right, Vicki Zhao was not the same from the night he made love with her. That night, she was her true self. That night, she allowed herself to love and be loved, but like everything, it must end and she had to return to be this cold ambitious women with nothing more, but revenge to live for.

With Won’s words, he slowly steps back and just stood there in silent viewing Vicki from top to bottom. Vicki seem to not cared, for she had place the cake down, and in her hand, held a glass of wine, and she kept drinking and drinking, wishing for it to drained her pain away. She could still feel his eyes fixed at her, but she ignored them, “Please go away, stranger. Just take a step out of the door, and don’t look back, move on with your life. I am not worthy of your love,” she said to herself. But Won Bin remain there, he did wanted to walk out, for it was harder than a person would imagine to forget her face, and he could not do it. Somehow, seeing her shadow being cast from the ground made him feel heartrending and bitter, as if he could empathized her pain. There was something about her, something that made him wanting to stay and learn more. With that, he convinced himself once more that she did made love with him compassionately and it was not a mistake, but she was just hiding it, hiding herself through makeup and clothes.

Laughter and chatters filled the room with people dancing and drinking. But the two of them remain where they were. As Vicki continued staring outside of the empty street through the cold glass window, Won Bin watches her body movement. Time swept by very slowly, but Won Bin remain patience just watching her. He wait an answer, he waited for her to talk, he wanted to know why. Why such young and beautiful woman with so much potential and a promising future was so bitter and lonely.

Then, a ring tone interrupted them, “I’ll be there,” Vicki said.

She dashed away outside of the restaurant, Won Bin followed her footsteps.

But her shadow disappeared quickly when she enter a black limousine at the corner.

---

Barbie did not know where she was, it was just darkness that she saw. Her hands were folded and she cuddle against the wall where the purple curtain flew back and fort. She was taken here by the man who claimed that he worked for Fashion and Beauty, and wanted to talk about her contract.

The man left her in this dark room with no lights, but only the moon reflecting the purple curtains. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming behind the door. She squeezes her hands against the curtain and move back. She heard the key being inserted to the door, and then the door open, and in front of her eyes was that man again.

“Please, I beg of you. let me go…what do you want? I could give you anything. Do you want money? My mother will provide you it!”

But the man did not reply to her, and he just laugh at how innocent she appeared. He walk toward her, and then using his wrinkle hands, he touches her soft skins of her hands. His hands continued on to her shoulder, as tears came down her eyes.

“Please stop” she begged.

But it did no use, his hands were now place against her breast, and quickly he tear her outer shirt, leaving her with just a white tank top. She felt the cold breeze against her body, she shivered more as he put his disgusting lips against her breast, kissing it roughly.

Then, suddenly, the door open, just when the man put his hand between her thighs.

Barbie could not see who was at the door, for it was so dark. But she was relief, because the man had stop.

She could only see the shadow of the person at the door, then she saw her taking a seat.

“Who are you? Why did you do this to me!”

“That was not even ten percent of how much pain I endure from your family.”

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Sorry for the lacks of updates lately. I been so busy with school. Sigh this story was suppose to be complete before school start, but oh well, I am sorry. Hope it will end soon. hehehe. anyways comments would make me happy, and update tomorrow. hehe.

Chapter 6

Lost

Chapter 6

Barbie was against the wall sitting there with her torn shirt, hair that was now a mess, and eyes red and swollen from all the tears, as she stare at the shadow in front of her eyes whom she believe was a woman that had caused all of this. The stare was first confused, for she did not understand who would do such things to her, but soon, her eyes seem terrified for somehow she could feel the hated and rage from the shadow toward her.

“Who are you” Barbie finally manage to asked in her terrifying yet soft and innocent tone, as if she did not really know who she was already.

Vicki laughed out loud in a wicked cold tone. You know who exactly I am. So stop with your innocent tone, I’m not the same Wei Wei, you once knew.”

Vicki was right, she was not the same, and she would never let another person walk over her once more. Vicki still remembers those years when they were both young, when she actually considered Barbie as her little sister. Everything, from dolls to dresses, she would without doubts give it all it Barbie, and even though her father always give more attention to Barbie, it never brother Vicki.

She remembers when they were in a theme park, and their father had brought both of them balloons. But when Barbie’s balloon popped, she had to give hers to Barbie, because Barbie would not stop crying. And when she was just sitting in the living room, reading, Barbie was chasing after the puppy. Vicki had asked Barbie to stop but she would not listen to her and kept running, until at last she broke the antique case, but sure enough Vicki was there to take the blame. She did not care about the punishment that she would received but what hurt her the most was that her father did not believed her.

“Vicki, honey, just confess, tell me the truth,” her father asked.

But Vicki only stood there with her big eyes peering into his dull golden eyes, hoping and wishing that he would believe her. But he didn’t who would not be fool by Barbie’s face. The angelic shape that accompanied well with her soft black hair, the perfect little lips, and the small round eyes.

“Why are you so stubborn!” he shouted at her while she remained there in silence. He then asked for the broomstick and witnessing this Barbara could not help but allowed her lips to curved up with a small smirk for she enjoy ever second of Vicki being tortured.

She then said with her fake motherly tone, “Sweetheart is okay, it was just a vase given by my parent as our wedding gift, really, is okay. Don’t be too hard on little Wei.”

Vicki at the time was too innocent and believed that Barbara really did meant everything she said, but now she know and understand everything that Barbara did was just an act.

With Barbara words, Vicki father could not just let Vicki go easily, and so he reached for the broomstick from behind and he put his hand high above, Vicki stared at her father with painful eyes for she was deeply hurt that he really wanted to hurt her. But she was too proud and had too much dignity to admit a crime that she did not committed. Her father shared the same personality’s traits as Vicki, and so he could not just stop now, and so he whipped her body, and the weak Vicki collapsed on the cold ground. Although weak, but she could feel the intense eyes fixed at her from the corner of her eyes, it was sure enough Barbie Xu holding a doll smiling at her, as if what was happening to Vicki was really entertaining.

“Wei Wei? Barbie said as she was now confident that it was really her.

“Don’t call me that! I told you, I am not her anymore. Wei Wei was a stupid girl, who allowed you to take everything away from her. From useless accessories to her beloved father. I had killed Wei Wei, and that girl will forever vanish.”

Barbie move closer to Vicki who sat on a wooden chair. She wanted to see her face, to see how Wei Wei had changed after all these years. The words spoken from Vicki mouth frighten Barbie so much that her body was literal was shaking.

“Sis, what have I done to cause you to hate me so much?” Barbie asked Vicki in a soft sweet tone.

“I told you to stop with the tone. Who do you think I am? To fall for that? You know exactly what you have done. Barbara Xu may be a careless person, who only value herself and her possession, but you, you are different. You were the one behind everything!”

“I did not do anything sister! Do you know how much I cried when you were taken away,” Barbie lied.

Barbie was always good at making a scene, pretending to care, pretending to be kind, pretending to be a good person, but Vicki know to well of her game.

“I don’t need your sympathies, in fact, I am glad for what you and your mother had done. Without you guys, I would always be weak and not realized how powerful money could be.” Vicki said as she light up a cigarette, allowing Barbie to view her complexion. Barbie slightly move backward as she realized the woman in front of her was truly not the same Wei Wei, for she was the famous now the rich and famous Vicki Zhao.

“Finish her off,” Vicki turn around saying it to the man who was half naked and then she stood up and walk toward the door.

As the man walk toward Barbie, Barbie screamed out, “Wei Wei!” but Vicki did not respond. “No I mean Vicki! Please! I beg of you!” But Vicki continued walking not looking back.

Barbie began to cry and scream out loud as the man came even closer to her. The tears annoyed Vicki, and the scene ten years ago haunted her mind. She told herself to just continue walking for Barbie deserves this and what she was doing was not wrong. She had to do this, she thought, for the Roy, and for herself. Wasn’t this what she wanted? To revenge? To make Barbie suffer everything that she had. Although part of her really wanted to just get out of the room and allowed Barbie to get raped, but somewhere perhaps hidden in her heart, did not allowed Vicki to do as she wish..

And so she said, “Quit it,” and the man stopped and put his clothes on and walk toward Vicki.

“But madam, I thought this was what you want?”

“I thought so too.”

Barbie wanted to laugh out loud, for she knew that Vicki was still that same Wei Wei, and she would always be frail, she knew all along that Vicki would not allowed her to be raped.

Barbie then said, “Vicki, I’m really sorry for what mother had done to you, but I assured you, I was never part of it!”

“And I will assure you that this is not the end of it. The only reason I allowed you to not be torn today, is because I want you to savor every second of it, for this was only a beginning,” Vicki said in a wicked tone and then made her way outside.

Barbie eyes watched Vicki walking away, and when the door shut, she squeezes the purple curtains with her bare hand; she squeezes so hard that it ripped and one of her fingernail fell down. She could not believe what had happened to her. No one had ever dared to even touch her skin, and she was not going to let this go. Vicki may act strong and tough, but she was not as scheming as Barbie. And although Vicki made it seem as if it was her game, and that it was her turn to torture the Xu, but Barbie was much tougher than she thought she was.

“Oh, I will savor every second of it. And it is sure just a beginning.” Barbie said in the empty cold room.

Vicki found Leo outside sitting in the limousine waiting for her.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

Vicki did not answer, she just sat there coldly.

Leo then looked at his men, they shook their head.

As the car drove down the dark road, Vicki seems lost, for she did not know what her own purpose in life was now. She thought she lived to for revenge. But now, tonight, it was for sure that she was not capable of revenging. For she did not have the cold heart to make another person suffer what she had. So she question herself for her existence in life, if she did not live to revenge, then what will she live for? Leo? Certainly not, for he was unable to bring her the feeling of love.

“Leo, do you mind dropping me here? I just want to be alone, and walk back to the hotel?”

“Are you sure? It is late Vicki, how about I walk with you?”

“No, please Leo, just let me be by myself.”

“Alright,” he said.

Leo tried, he had always tried all these years to actually captured Vicki’s heart, but every time, he was rejected. And although Vicki could bring him the feeling of satisfaction of owning such beauty, but she was never able to make him loved her in ways he wished he could.

As Vicki walk down the dark endless road, her mind could not stop thinking, she thought about all the horrible memories. She thought about all the fame she had received. She thought about her father, her brother, and then she thought about the two who she thought she hate the most, Barbie and Barbara Xu. But suddenly, her mind was completely empty, as if everything that had happened was not at all important, and the only thing that came to her mind was that stranger’s face.

She realized now, how much she really want to love, just one experience, and it does not matter how long it last, for one day, even for an hour, she just want to be loved again. And all that glory and all that revenge seem to be nothing now.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, she immediately turn around, hoping that it was him. Only, once she turned, she was disappointed.

“Miss, could you please be kind, and lean the old man 8 dollars, for the bus?”

Vicki reached for her purse, but could not find her wallet.

“Uh…”

Then, she saw a familiar face, in which she could not forget, walk toward her and place 8 dollars on the man’s palm, and then turn around facing her with a smile that warm her heart.

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I did not have time to proofread..maybe tommorrow. hehehee boring chapter? eh hope not. comments? hehehe
Caitie

Chapter 7

Taste of Love

Sorry for the confusion toward the end of chapter 6. ^_^ Is actually 3 person, Vicki, the old man, and Won Bin. Basically she thought the man that taped her shoulder was him, but she was disappointed when she turn around, then she kindly tried to find her wallet, but couldn’t. So, Won Bin was who coming toward her give the old man 8 dollars, and then smile at Vicki. Sorry guys!

~*~

Chapter 7

The old man thanked Won Bin and kindly left for even he, an outsider, could feel the strong passionate atmosphere surrounding Won Bin and Vicki Zhao.

Vicki and Won Bin watch the old man walked toward the bus stop, where who they assumed was his wife waiting for him. The man took his partner hand and made their way inside the bus.

Won Bin smile at the sight of the old couple, who although old, but still love each other dearly as if age made no difference, and Vicki who had never show emotions with her physical appearance, smile at the sight of them as well. Even she herself now believed that love does exist among everyone, and that if she would just give him a chance, giving herself a chance at a taste of love then it would complete her life.

“You smiled…” Won Bin said as he turn around seeing her smile for the first time. The way her lips curved up perfectly made his heart pounded harder for now she was even more enchanting than she ever was. And for the first time, she allowed another person to see right through her, that she just not a cold model, who only smile when the camera was on, and that she does posses a kind heart.

Vicki cheeks suddenly turn cherry red, for the first time, she felt embarrassed and flatter by Won Bin, not by his words, but rather the way his eyes looked at her. It made Vicki felt as if she was a little girl and having her first crush.

“Thank you, we met?”

She said it again, but much more different than before, this time she was welcoming him, and not shoving him away.

“Yes, we met before at the party,” Won Bin said not wanting to remind her of the night they shared. Perhaps Vicki does not want to be reminded of that one night, perhaps she was ashamed of it, or perhaps she does not remember him, he thought. But whatever the reason was, he did not mind for all he wants was a fresh start.

“Yes, we have,” she said with her alluring eyes and then she put her hand out, he reach for her hand, and shook it. As their skins met Vicki was for more certain that he was the one. The one that could make her smile, the one that she could lean on, the one that she could love. Won Bin did not know what changed her, but now she was herself, she was not putting on a mask, and pretending to be someone else. She was just a normal girl that just needs a man. And he was determined to be that man, to be the one she could put her shoulder on and just let everything out.

His hand was still holding hers, and he did not want to let go, for he was afraid she would leave him again, just like that night. Suddenly, a mist of wind blew toward them; it was probably the cold wind that gave Vicki a sudden courage, she quickly embraced her body in Won Bin’s strong muscular chest. Her hand holding on to his shoulder tightly and Won Bin held her in his arms warming her body and thus her heart.

“I love you” he whispered to her ears.

It was an abrupt approached, but his words were true.

Heck, it was probably the most honest words ever spoke.

And Vicki somehow believed him.

Perhaps it was the night’s atmosphere that made Vicki stronger and braver and so moving her hand toward his head and then she placing her soft pink lips against his she kissed him passionately.

He returned her kisses.

They were there, under the night’s stars.

Relishing every moment.

Every kisses.

And then she said, “Could you love me tonight, once more?”

“Not just one night, but tomorrow, the next day, the next month, the next year, forever, I will love you forever.”

Vicki was touched, and her love for this stranger grew even stronger. She looked upon his sparkling eyes, so bright, with so much hope and affection toward her. Then the image of Leo, Barbie, and Barbara enter her mind, as if could never be forgotten, they were part of her life, and she could not simple scrubs them away. “No Vicki! Stop thinking about them! Just stop it for once! Just let yourself be selfish for once, and cherish what in front of you!” Vicki heard the voice of Wei Wei, in which she thought, had vanished already, screaming at her.

“How cliché,” Vicki teased Won with a smile.

“It may have been cliché, but I meant every word,” Won said in a serious tone.

He then leaned toward Vicki once more, but this time she stopped his kisses by placing her fingers against his lips.

“Will you hold my hand? And walk me down this endless road?”

Without a word, Won Bin held her hand, and both of them walked slowly toward the light.

They did not know where they were heading, with little direction; they walk on the empty road. They spoke no words, but rather stay in a deep silence, exchanging glance, and cherishing this peaceful moment, in which no one, not a soul could disturbed them, as if only they existed.

They walked through the night, not caring what time was it, and then they finally reach to a beautiful beach, in which the stares seem brighter than ever, for the ocean reflect its beauty. Vicki took her heels off and ran toward the beach. Her bare foot touching the rich golden sands for the first time in years and then she splashes water on her body. Won Bin smile at her as he watched her playing in the water, the smile on her face as the water spurted on her body made her like an innocent child, who would have thought the top model, Vicki Zhao, would have act like this?

“Come on! Come over here” Vicki shouted.

Won Bin walk slowly toward her and with his shoes, jeans, and shirt, got inside the water.

Seeing him so properly dressed in the water made Vicki laugh out loud.

“Hey, is not my fault, I was prepared to go to the beach!” Won shouted.

“Here, let me help you” she said as she came over to him and unbutton his shirt and fold his jeans up to his knee.

As she got up, she found him staring at her with eyes full of emotions.

“Shsh… don’t say anything,” she said.

She kissed him once more, and slowly the two found themselves wanting each other. She slowly took off his shirt, and he placed his hand on her shirt, she lifted her arms up, and he took her blouse off. The two bodies contacted, and under the starry night, on the warm sand, they made love once more. But this time, they were certain that love exist among them.

The next morning, Won Bin awaked from the sounds of singing birds and ocean’s waves. He looked at Vicki who was sleeping calmly and he slowly stroked her long golden hair.

He covered her body with his coat, and then slowly he moved away from her. He placed a paper in which he folded into a crane next to her, and then he took a second glanced at Vicki.

“I do, I do love you. But I’m not sure if you do, or rather, you are not ready” with that, he walked away from the beach.

Vicki woke up within minutes after Won Bin had left.

With the sight of the paper crane next to her, she knew already that he had left.

She did not cry or did she laugh, she was just very at peace.

She did not blame nor did she hate him for leaving her, for she knew she could not bring anything to him.

But at least, she knew that his words were true, at least at the very moment, he meant it.

--

“Good morning, Ms. Zhao” the man at the counter of the hotel greeted.

Vicki Zhao. That was who she was. And although she let herself out of lose that one moment. She still had to wake up from her dream and put on this mask, which allowed people to be deceived.

Vicki enter the elevator as it move higher and higher, and then stopped, just like her life.

She slide the card and then turned the knob.

In front of her eyes, were two people lying on her bed naked. One, who she grew to trust, and had claimed that he loved her so much, and the other was in her dismay, a girl who she despised; He could have chosen any women and it would not matter, for Vicki knew already that love does not exist between them. But to make love to Barbie Xu, was not acceptable. He knew what they did to her. He knew how much pain she endured. But yet, he did not care. Maybe he knew how much pain she went through, and he did at some point pity her. But he was not like Won Bin, Won Bin could empathize her, but Leo couldn’t.

Tears drops down Vicki eyes, she cried for the first time since the last incident.

Those tears were not because he cheated on her, but rather because he betrayed her trust.

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I know there are a lots of mistakes in this one, so sorry, but is 1 am! and i am so tire! and so i will edit tommorrow morning! hehehe

Chapter 8

Follow Your Heart (Complete)

Chapter 8

Over the past years that Vicki had lived with Leo, he always had another woman, and it became clear to Vicki to the point where she would ever so often find lipsticks mark on his body, but it had never upset Vicki. Leo had always respected her, never daring to bring a woman to their bed and never speaking of another woman’s name. Vicki knew how much Leo value her, she thought certainly, he would never hurt her, for how could he possibly hurt her, when he never posses her heart? But this time, it was different, all of those years, from her escape from hell to the uprising as a model; he knew that her only purpose in living was to make the Xu suffer, but now, he lied in bed with Barbie Xu.

The tears came down her eyes, eventually touching her cheeks, and slowly toward her soft lips, she then tasted the bitter tears, and swallowed it. Those tears were filled with resentment, but then it became bitterly heartbreaking, for it was no longer anger that she felt, but rather regret for she had left a love of her life only to return to this.

Vicki quickly washed her tears away from her eyes, and turn to face them. Barbie, who posses such innocence in her eyes, cuddle behind Leo shoulder, with her eyes peering into Vicki’s. Barbie was not afraid, she was only behaving as if she was, and she wanted Vicki to see her being protected by Leo.

Then, Barbie looked down beneath the bed, where a magazine laid on the ground; she purposely lured Vicki eyes into following hers. Vicki spotted the magazine, and she bent down to pick it up.

The cover read –Vicki Zhao, Or Is She? Uncover the secret behind the girl who seem to have it all.

Vicki immediately flipped through the pages. Vicki starred at the words imprinted large and bold. Barbie eyes were fixed at Vicki’s, waiting to see her reaction; she wanted to see Vicki cried once more, she wanted Vicki to break down at this very second. But Vicki did the complete opposite. Her lips curved up, smiling at the pictures and text, and then suddenly she laughed out loud. Barbie and Leo starred at her with confusion, they did not know why she would be so laughing when her secret had been reveal. Now the world will know she is not pure as she appeared, now the world know she had convicted a crime, now the world know that she was Zhao Wei.

“Why are you laughing? Why aren’t you mad that we exposed this? You’re not supposed to be happy!” Barbie shouted.

Leo turned around in surprised, for he never saw this side of Barbie. She was always quiet and never had even raised her voice. Leo had known Barbie for a month or so now, when Vicki had rejected him to stay by herslef, and so he left to the bar by himself. Coincidently though, he found Barbie in a luring black dress drinking a glass of wine at the bar, and in someway Leo found himself interested in her, maybe because of the way she resemble Vicki that lured him to her.
“Why wouldn’t I be? Thank you, Barbie Xu, for reminding me that I am Zhao Wei, but you know what?” Vicki said as she lean her head toward her.

“I am no longer ashamed that I am her, I know I was fragile before, to let you and your mother toy with my life. So was this your way to get back at me? To sleep with this man?” Vicki said as she looked over at Leo.

“Leo, I would never imagine you to be part of her plot.”

“Vicki, if it was to be blame, then it would be your own doing. I had promise you to make your life fill with glamour, and I made it happened. I had promise to revenge for you, and I given you the chance, but you were the one that let her go. But all of this did not matter at all, but what hurt me, was that you betrayed my love and not once, but twice. Did you not think I knew you slept with another man? But I let it go, in hoping that it was just a one night stand, but you, where were you this morning?”

“Love? Betrayed your love? You never loved me, I was nothing more, but a possession!”

“Did you allow me to love you? No! You did not!” Leo said as he raised his voice louder. “You were the one that lead me to another woman. What was I to do, when I was being shoved away from you?”

Leo was right, Vicki was never able to accept Leo’s affection toward her, she tried, they both tried, but there was nothing. Leo met Barbie one night in the bar, not knowing that she was Barbie Xu, but she knew exactly who Leo was, and she knew if she wanted to establish herself in this modeling world, she needed his support. But much after, she found out that he was Vicki’s man, that made her ambitious grew even stronger and so without knowing, Leo was lure into her plotting.

Vicki was speechless, she could not find the words to reply to Leo, she knew she was to blame for his behavior, she knew all along that she didn’t love him, she should have let him know. But she couldn’t because, without him, she would never be able to be who she was today.

She turned around facing Barbie once more, who had already put on her white top. She step forward her, and looked down to her small soft eyes, “It does not matter if I am Zhao Wei or Vicki, we both have one thing in common, that is, we despise you,” Vicki said, and then suddenly using her hand, she pull Barbie’s hair up, lifting her face to look directly at her eyes.

“Leo….” Barbie manages say as one of Vicki’s hands was now placed on her skinny neck.

“I have endured enough Barbie. I could have been a normal girl. I could have gone to high school, just like you, and have friends. I could have had a brother and a father. I could have crushes on boys, I could have had experience what every girl goes through, but you took it all away from me. I thought I could make your life miserable, I thought that revenge was all that I was capable of, but now I know that I wasted my youth for nothing,” Vicki shouted as she squeezes her neck tighter.

Leo who was now dressed, got up the bed witnessing Vicki in rage attempting to strangle Barbie to death.

“Let her go Vicki! You don’t know what you are doing! Don’t do this Vicki!”

“I been weak all my life, to the point where I let the chance to make her life torn slipped away, I won’t let it happen this time. Barbie, you were the cause my Roy’s death, the only person that made my life shine even living with the wicked stepmother and a scheming stepsister.”

“What are you talking about Vicki? Mother was the one who didn’t buy the herb.”

“Yes, but she did brought it in exchange for my one night with that man. Don’t try to fool me Barbie, at morning I saw the herb beneath the cabinet.”

“I…”

“You didn’t allow Roy to take it, you hide it. Even hearing his cough, even seeing his blood. Why? Because you were jealous of me. Jealous that I had and will always shine brighter than you. I guess you had always felt that I am a threat in your life. Didn’t you?”

“Vicki! Drop it right now! Let Barbie go! She did nothing Vicki! Or I will...” Leo said, as he put his hand inside his blazer, and then he pull out a small black gun and pointed it at Vicki.

“I knew you for over ten years now, you knew my story, every little detail, yet now you believe her and taking her side, pointing the gun at me?”

“I don’t want to Vicki, just let her go.”

“If we must, then we will die together,” Vicki said as she turn back and looked at Barbie.

…

…

…

…

BANG.

As the bullet flew in the thin air, the images of the stranger flash through her mind; as if that was the only thing she could remember, that it was the only thing that linger in her mind. The way their body embraces together, the way his heart beat as they made love, the way he kisses her forehead, down to her cheeks, and thus putting his lips against her hers. It was an amazing experience that they shared, and nevertheless, it was more than words could describe. As her body became weaker, and she could no longer stay in balance, she saw beneath her, the paper crane flying out of her pocket.

She then remembered the words from it as she had read it this morning.

“Vicki, I had left you, please don’t take it as if I wanted my payback. I simply do not know if you would be able to return my affection for you. Every time I see you, you are a different person. Sometime you behave coldly, sometime you welcome me. I know from last night, when you let yourself go freely, playing in the water, that a simple girl with hope and dreams exist in you. But I wasn’t sure if I would see her once more when the sun rises. Follow your heart, do not let what surround you not live a life you long for. Simply, follow your heart.”

The End

--- Rather it was a sudden end, perhaps it wasn’t actually an ending but it was rather marking a new beginning ^_^ Don’t worry there will be an epilogue coming soon, which will explain it, if you are confused. I know the ending isn’t that good, sigh. But it will make sense more in the epilogue.

Thank you everyone that been supporting me the whole way, I really hope that you would leave me a LONG comment, since it is the end. Anyways, I also have a fanfic starring the same WV, it is called “In Your Shadow” come and read it, if you haven’t try yet.

http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/caitie02

Also, this is my website of WV, you could request fanfic poster from there ^_^
http://delusion.fayde.com

Chapter 9

Sequel Is POSTED

http://www.winglin.net/fanfic/caitie3/
I decided to not have an epilogue, for I will just basically have it posted as the foreword in the the sequel. Come by ^_^

One stolen night *completed*

by ~sweet

Forewords

Hello guys!
Yes, this is another Vicki fanfic from old sweet! I hope you guys are not already getting tired of seeing my stories graze the board.

I have so many plots bottled up in my mind and decided to tackle this one first :D I think that I might even start another or two more stories so the updates will be a bit rare (this is a warning from the beginning, anybody that have followed my updates know that I am slow ^_^ ). I do hope that you are not going to leave this story for that reason. You can only have the promise that I will finish the story.

Anyways, I stuck my ass to my chair today (03/03/03) to make the poster and bg you see on this story. How do you like it? I had another poster but the more I looked at it, the more I didn't like it. So I started over :P

Like previous stories, I will give you guys a sneak preview ;). Keep in mind though that this is a part from somewhere in the middle of the story and I reserve the right to slightly alter it. But basically, it will be the same event. This is the part of the story that had me want to write this story ^_^

~~~~~~~Preview~~~~~~~

Alec, still panting, lifted his head and looked at Vicki, a look of disbelief clouded his normally bright eyes. She rolled over to her side and pulled the covers to hideher body as best as she could, her eyes never contacting his. What the devil got him to act so out of character and so irresponsibly.

"Vic, I..." he stumbled, searching for the right words to make the situation right but he knew deep down inside that it was not possible. He'd stepped over the line and she would never forgive him, not this time.

He'd promised himself to never get too close to her. He'd accepted the fact that she was someone else's now and that her friendship alone was enought. And now, it looked like he had lost her friendship as well. Well, he really had no one to blame but himself.

"Just go Alec," she finally said as she closed her eyes.

"I don't know what to say."

"Than it's best that you don't say anything at all." She told him crisply, biting down on her lips, still swollen from his embrace.

"I'm really sorry Vic." He never meant to hurt her but it looked like that was the only thing he ever accomplishes where she is concerned. 'When did things begin to go so wrong?' He wondered. 'The day I realised I loved her,' he answered himself.

Chapter 1

Returning daughter

“That was superbly well done!” Mr. Zhao said with a satisfied grin as he leant back against his leather office chair. He looked at Alec proudly and nodded. Even at the age of 58, Marcus Zhao still had a definite charm. His hair, long turned gray, were neatly combed back, not showing a slight sign of baldness. There were deep lines that marked his skin but they stressed his maturity rather than his age. A well-preserved man, most of Sydney called him.

“Thank you Marcus. I did my best!” Alec answered back humbly. Whatever he’d learned, he’d learned from this man. At the age of 22, Alec had been taken in as Marcus Zhao’s protégé. He’d taught him only the finest about art and its values. Through Marcus, he’d learned to enjoy and appreciate art even more. And now at 29, he no longer thought of them as just valued objects that can be bought and sold while dollar signs flashed in both parties’ eyes.

Marcus laughed with good humour at his words. “Yes I know! You always do your best.” Marcus looked at Alec intently and nodded again. “You also have a very good eye,” he complimented, referring to the new masterpiece that was now part of the Zhao collection. An oil from a yet to be unearthed artist which will sell for a large amount in the near future, once the artist has established a name for himself. And both Marcus and Alec had faith in this artist. And their faith has never been misplaced before and the Zhao fortune proved it. Beside, their business required them to make no mistake, or at least none that would be too costly.

Marcus looked at Alec with a smile and nodded again, which caused a slight frown to crease Alec’s otherwise perfect skin. “Is there something on your mind Marcus?” he asked. He’d been Marcus’ right hand for 7 years, and that is long enough for Alec to read his body language.

“How long have you been working for me?” Marcus asked rather than answering the question.

“7 years next month.” Whatever it was that was bothering him, Alec knew that it was of great importance.

“That is a very long time,” Marcus said with a lazy smile. Alec nodded his agreement. “How time passes quickly,” he continued with a sigh. “I’m old now and lack the enthusiasm you youngsters have.” He pinned Alec with a serious look. “I hope you know how indispensable you are to me and to the gallery.” Alec was about to protest but Marcus raised his hand to stop him. “I’ve been thinking of retiring for some time now but dared not to do so until I found someone I trust to take over. And I believe I have found that person.”

Alec was grateful for the trust that Marcus had bestowed on him, a stranger. They weren’t tied by blood but he’d welcomed Alec into the warm circle of his family. “Thank you very much Marcus, but I think that it is still early for you to think of retirement.”

Marcus laughed heartily. “My wife will definitely disagree with you. So I take it that you are willing to takeover?” he teased.

Alec grinned back. “I wouldn’t dare to refuse.” Marcus had made no secret about his wish to hand his family business over to Alec when the time was right. Dynamic Galleries was a prosperous business and had been passed down for three generations but Marcus was willing to pass it to Alec, no stings attached.

“Great!” Marcus exclaimed and walked over to his drink cabinet to pour a drink for the two of them. “This asks for a little celebration, don’t you agree?” he handed Alec a glass and settled back in his chair. “By the way,” he started after taking a sip. “You remember Vicki?”

Vicki? Oh yeah, lil Vic! Alec grinned as he pictured a scrawny little girl that followed him around, even though little was not the right word to describe her. At the age of 15, she’d been rather tall and been what they all called, a tomboy. She always wore her hair short, and to complete her image, a pair of dandy trousers and an oversize t-shirt.

She was a tough one too, Alec remembered ruefully. Picking fights at school and always coming home with bruises…and a smile. She’d loved to brag about how she’d beat the pants of this and that boy. Her eyes always glistered as she explained how the fight had unfolded. Yes, he certainly remembered those eyes; big, dark and so expressive. Very unusual for someone of Chinese lineage.

“How is she doing?” Alec asked. She’d left Sydney 4 years ago to pursue her studies in Canada. He did a little bit of math and realized that she was now 22 years old. He wondered if she outgrew her big desire of being manly.

They’ve been good friends, Alec remembered. She had always looked up to him as her big brother and well, he always thought of her as his little brother. She really left him no choice in that department. Alec grinned at the memory.

“Stop treating me like a weak girl!” she would yell at him when she’d scraped her knee and he was fussing over her. “It doesn’t hurt.” She would say and get up, and try to conceal a wince. She would stand tall and proud and walk home without seeking help. She was a stubborn little one. A trait, Alec presumed, that came from her dad.

She was Marcus’ only child. And even though she’d never lacked of anything, including her parents’ love and approval, she’d felt like she had let her father down by being a girl. He’d learned that on her sixteenth birthday when he’d teased her about becoming an old maid if she didn’t start to make herself look more like the female she was. She’d confided in him and got mad at him too when he showed the slightest sign of pity.

“She’d completed her studies with honours,” Marcus boasted proudly. “Officially a nurse now. I was afraid at first that she might meet a nice and handsome Canadian that will sweep her up her feet and well, she’d want to stay in Canada then wouldn’t she?” Marcus sighed. “Maybe that wouldn’t have been so bad after all. Her married, that is.”

Somehow, Alec just couldn’t picture her as someone’s wife. “She called this morning and announced that her plane was landing today.” Marcus went on.

“I’ll go pick her…” So the daughter was returning. It’ll be nice to meet her again after all these years. Alec remembered laughing uncontrollably when he’d learned that she’d wanted to become a nurse.

“Nursing is for..er..gentle ladies,” he’d told her once the reel of laughter had subdued somewhat. He’d imagined her to be a car mechanic or something. But a nurse? The bubble of laughter was threatening to unleash full force again. She’d told him that only the week before she left and Alec admitted that he’d been rather unkind and he didn’t want her to go away hating him. So he’d apologized later on with a box of chocolate. If there was one thing feminine about her, then it’ll be her love for chocolate. She’d smiled and accepted the chocolate happily and they’ve chatted again like old buddies.

Marcus shook his head. “Thanks Alec but that daughter of mine has not changed. She’d refused to let us know what flight she is taking and said that she wanted to take a cab home.” Marcus frowned. “It’s good to be independent but it her case, I’m afraid it’s more a case of being pig-headed and atrociously stubborn.” He said and shook his head.

Alec had to agree. She was the daughter of a rich man, and yet, Alec could not remember a time when she’d dressed like one. She’d refuse to wear any of the top labels that hung in her closet and never attended any parties her parents threw or were invited too. She’d insisted to be called Vic, which had shocked and appalled her sweet mother.

“It is too masculine a name to call someone like you dear,” she’d exclaimed, her hand at her slender throat.

“But Vicki sounds too…girly,” she’d protested. “And Victoria is too old,” she grimaced. Alec smiled at the memory. She was priceless.

“Rosemary told me to invite you over after work to welcome her.” Rosemary Zhao was Marcus’ wife. “And in honour for her return, we are going to throw a little party this Saturday.” Marcus came around the desk and Alec got on his feet. The older man placed a friendly arm around his shoulder and marched him out of the office. “And too spice things up, I’ll announce my retirement as well as introduce you as the new executive.”

Alec was barely listening to Marcus as his thoughts kept drifting back to his daughter. Meeting her again will definitely prove to be interesting. Beside, they’d been friends for so long but four years was a long time too. She could have changed, and it was those changes that kept him busy and deep in thought on the drive to the Zhao residence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I forgot to tell you guys this in the forwards but I plan to make a sequel to this to tell Jimmy's story :D. I am also a big Jimmy fan so obviously don't want him to be alone. I am not sure as to who the female lead will be...got an idea but I could do with some suggestions ^_^

Also this was sort of a boring first chapter but you need a bit of background info.

Finally, thank you for all the lovely comments. As for what really happened in that preview...you guys will have to stick around till then to find out *evil laugh*

Chapter 2

Bombshell

Rosemary Zhao clasped her hands together nervously and bit on her lower and professionally painted lip. Her husband, Marcus was pacing the floor and looking occasionally at his diamond watch.

"Marcus darlin', would you please sit down. You are giving me a headache." She said and waved her hand in the air in a desperate act.

Alec observed the couple from the rim of his champagne glass. He looked at the mantle clock and mentally chided Vic for putting her parents through such anxiety. She'd been gone for 4 years, not bothering to visit her parents during her holidays, and she also doesn't show up on time. Her flight should have landed hours ago.

"We should have gone to meet her at the airport," Rosemary said sadly.

Alec smiled at the distressed mother. "Don't worry Rosemary," he told her in a soothing voice. "She'd survived 4 years in the Canadian cold. She'd survive a couple hours of flying and driving here."

Rosemary looked at him with gratitude. She looked like a queen, Alec thought for the umpteenth time. A pearl necklace braced her elegant neck and diamonds flashed brilliantly from her fingers. Nature had been gentle on her. She didn't look anywhere near her 51 years of age.

"Thank you Alec. You always knew the right things to say." The sound of a car pulling in reached their ears and Rosemary's smile widened. "Here she is."

Alec placed his glass down and stood up slowly. His stomach felt queasy, like there were a thousand butterflies flying in there. He was nervous! Alec couldn't believe it. He'd fought through business deals without so much as blinking an eye and yet he was feeling nervous at the prospect of meeting an old friend. Get a grip on yourself Su! It's Vic were talking about here.

He squared his shoulders and breathed in some much needed oxygen. It's the champagne, he told himself. He followed Marcus and Rosemary to the main hall and stood there passively, waiting for Vic to make an appearance.

"Victoria!" Rosemary exclaimed finally and moved forward to envelop her daughter in her motherly arms.

Alec finally looked up from where he stood and felt the breath get knocked out from his lungs. He was no longer hearing the conversations. His whole being was focused on the woman that stood at the door. Gone were the short hair, baggy pants and oversized shirts. His eyes made a journey starting from her ankles, her small and very sexy ankles, and razed up a pair of long and shapely legs displayed by a blue skirt to her small waist and generous bust. His eyes stayed momentarily on her lips before meeting her eyes.

"Alec!" she exclaimed and practically danced into his arms. She smelled of fresh roses mixed with the morning dew. She only gave him a quick hug before taking a step back and Alec immediately felt empty and lonely. "You're looking good!" she said and wrinkled her nose at him.

Alec smiled for the first time since seeing her. "And you look beautiful!" He told her fervently. She blushed and Alec engulfed her in another bear hug. "I thought for a while there that you were an imposter."

She laughed and Alec's heart fluttered with joy. Did she always laugh this way? Vic freed herself from him and turned to face everyone. "The reason I didn't want you to come and meet me at the airport is because well, I don't know how to put this but I want you all to meet Jimmy," she finished quickly and happily before moved back to the door and everyone noticed another presence for the first time.

Jimmy, a man in his late twenties, slid his arm around her waist and looked at her lovingly before turning to her parents. "How do you do Mr. Zhao? Mrs. Zhao?" he said charmingly, removing his hand just long enough to shake their hands.

Alec was dumbfounded and the parents of course, were even more dumbstruck. Rosemary murmured something pleasant as she looked at 'Jimmy' adoringly while Marcus assessed him from head to toe.

His looks, Alec thought, could be summed up by two words: pretty boy. Was this the man who is responsible for this major change in his Vic? HIS VIC! Alec could kick himself for the thought. She wasn't his and he better remember that.

Vic tugged pretty boy towards Alec. "This is Alec, an old friend of mine," he heard her say. Pretty boy extended his hand and Alec had no other choice but to take it.

"It's nice to finally meet you Alec. Vicki has told me so much about you," he said pleasantly but Alec didn't feel pleasant. He'd called Vic 'Vicki' and she didn't look offended in the least.

"It's nice to meet you too Jimmy. Unfortunately, Vic hasn't told any of us about you." He said, trying to make the little last bit sound harmless.

Vic blushed. "Guilty as charged," she admitted. Vic was admitting to be at fault. Impressive! "Mom, Dad, Alec." she began and lifted her left hand, displaying an enormous diamond ring. Vic looked out of words and her beau stepped in, putting a hand protectively on her arm.

"Your daughter has given me the honour becoming my wife. I hope that we'll have your blessings." He looked straight at Marcus, refusing to wither his look. Finally, a smile broke over Marcus' lips and he stepped forward to embrace his soon-to-be son-in-law. Rosemary squealed and kissed her daughter before kissing Jimmy affectionately.

"You definitely have our blessings!" Rosemary said exuberantly. "Isn't that right darlin'?"

Marcus nodded his agreement as he looked at his daughter straight in the eyes. "I'm happy for you sweetheart."

"Thank you dad," she said and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. Vic's eyes locked with Alec, and she instantly moved to him. "Alec?" she asked hesitantly. He knew what she was seeking: reassurance that he too, was giving her his blessings. But how is to do that when.and what does it matter. He pasted a smile on his lips and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"What a bombshell to drop on us minutes after stepping through those doors." He teased. "Of course I'll be happy for you Vic.as long as you're happy."

"Thank you Alec," she said, teary eyed. His Vic never cried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello guys,
since today is Vicki's birthday, I just thought that it would be nice to update this story ^_^

Chapter 3

Jimmy's promise

Alec swirled the champagne in his glass and looked across the terrace to where Vic was standing with pretty boy. It’s only been two days since she came back and Alec still didn’t have the chance to talk to her. They’ve exchanged words but the idle chit chat that they had did nothing to appease his mind. If she could just leave pretty boy’s side so he could really talk to her, the way they used to and catch up on things that happened in her life during the past 4 years.

“Hi handsome! You don’t look like you are enjoying yourself. Anything I can do to help?” a seductive voice whispered in his ear. Alec turned to his right and looked into a pair of beautiful eyes. He looked at her for a while longer and finally recognized her.

“Angelica!” he said unexcitingly. “How lovely to see you looking so well.” It was a good thing that he was a natural charmer. In his present mood, he would have offended her otherwise.

“You still haven’t answered my question,” she taunted as she ran her arm leisurely up his arm and letting it rest on his shoulder. Alec was saved from answering her as Vicki and pretty boy advanced towards them.

Vicki smiled brightly and winked at him. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Alec?” she said and turned to Angelica. Alec couldn’t stop from noticing how snuggly Vicki was held by her beau.

“Vicki, Jimmy, this is Angelica Choi. Angelica, this is Vicki Zhao and her fiancé Jimmy…”

“Lin,” he finished for Alec. “Jimmy Lin.”

Angelica’s eyes razed up the full length of Jimmy’s body and her eyes lit with appreciation. “I must say Vicki; if I may call you that?” Vicki smiled her agreement and Angelica continued, “You have great taste in man.”

Vicki laughed. “Yes, I think so too but then, the same could be said for you,” she said and looked at Alec.

“Oh I do. He’s the one without taste,” she said jokingly and laughed. Marcus Zhao positioned himself on the raised platform and tapped the microphone lightly before calling everyone’s attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention for a moment, I would like to make a couple announcements.” A silence gradually fell over the crowd and everybody turned to their host. “It is with utmost pleasure that I welcome my daughter home after 4 years of studying abroad.” He looked directly at his daughter with all the pride of a father and all the heads turned in the same direction. “She’d made me and her mother very happy when she came home healthy and more beautiful than ever. I am also glad to announce that the handsome gentleman that you see beside her is my future son-in-law, Jimmy Lin. Welcome to Sydney Jimmy and welcome into the family.” The crowd applauded as they happily greeted the news. Marcus raised his hand to call back the attention and to ask for a few more minutes of silence.

“Also, as all of you know, I am the present owner of Dynamic Galleries. And it mustn’t have escaped you that I am also a very old man.” Marcus now switched his attention to Alec. “For the past 7 years, I have received the help of a very talented young man. I thank him for being the best assistant I ever had. His name is Alec Su and it is with great pleasure that I hand him this business that I hold dearly at heart.”

The applause rose once again and Alec joined Marcus on the platform. He shook the man’s hand before giving him an affectionate hug. Alec stood in front of the microscope and looked at the guests. “I just wanted to clarify one point. What ever help I might have been to you Mr. Zhao, it is nothing compared to the help you have given and the chances and opportunities you have presented me. He’d offered me his roof when I was homeless, he gave me a job when I was penniless and gave me his trust when nobody else did. I am eternally grateful to Mr. Zhao for everything he has done and I thank God for allowing me to meet such a great man. I have nothing to give him but my promise of cherishing Dynamic Galleries as much as he does and doing my best to let it prosper and…” he let his sentence trail off as he waited for two men to carry a covered frame on the platform. “This painting,” he finished before giving a determined tug on the white sheet to reveal a beautiful painting of the Zhao’s mansion.

Alec stepped down from the platform once Marcus and his wife’s praises stopped and was almost thrown off balance as Vic leaped into his arms. “Your speech was wonderful Alec. It brought be near tears.” Alec observed her face and saw the tell tale sign of moisture in her eyes. How quickly time flies by, Alec thought. Vic was all grown up now and was spreading her wings. She no longer needed him…

“There’s nothing to cry about Vic,” he told her lightly but Vicki had already switched her attention to the painting. For someone who was not fond of art, she was definitely observing it for a long time. “You painted that!” she exclaimed in total disbelief as she saw his initials on it. Vicki knew that he could paint but always thought he was just an amateur.

Alec grinned at her surprise. “You look shocked Vic.” His eyes were momentarily distracted from her as her fiancé came to stand before his painting. “He seems pretty interested in art,” he told Vic as her beau continued to look at the painting.

Vicki laughed with humour. “Well, he is an artist himself.”

Alec’s eyebrows rose by a fraction from what he just learned. Vic, despite being a descendent of a family that lived for art, bore no interest for it. It was interesting that in the end, Vic would choose to marry an artist.

“Maybe Marcus shouldn’t have been so hasty about handing everything down to me. He could have kept it in the family if he passed it on to you, now that he is by your side.”

“But you are family,” Vicki protested hotly. “You should know by now that we’ve never treated you or thought of you as anything else. I can’t think back to my childhood and not picture you there. You’re like the brother I never had.”

Alec forced himself to smile at her before hugging her lightly. Her words should have warmed his heart but it didn’t. He’d known without a doubt that the Zhao family treated him like one of its members. In fact, there were times when he actually forgot he was a Su. He’d always treated Vic as his sister so why is there a dull ache in his heart from hearing her call him ‘brother’?

“Besides, you know very well that the business would go bankrupt in my hands,” she said pleasantly but very seriously.

Alec looked at Jimmy. “I just thought that since you have an artist with a very sharp eye for beauty by your side, you would actually contemplate to change your mind.”

”How do you know he has an eye for beauty?” Vic asked him perplexed. Alec didn’t even know what he was a minute ago so how did he come to this conclusion so fast?

Alec smiled and looked at her meaningfully. She intercepted his thoughts and elbowed him slightly. Pretty boy joined them and Alec looked at him, waiting for a comment.

“What can I say? It rendered me speechless,” Jimmy said without a problem. “With skills like yours, why aren’t you taking the world my storm?”

Alec just shrugged it off. “Maybe later on, when I’m old and confined to a wheelchair,” he said with a grin. “I heard that you are an artist?” Alec prompted.

“Artist?” he repeated and looked at Vicki with a glint in his eyes. “I guess that is what Vicki considers me but I am actually known as a jewelry designer,” he corrected.

Alec pointed to the beautifully crafted diamond ring that grazed Vic’s third finger. “If that is yours, then you should definitely try to hold a paintbrush.”

“Alec is trying to dump the gallery on you,” Vic added mischievously.

“Goodness, I enjoy looking at paintings but I wouldn’t know the first thing about it. I enjoy my job and have no design for yours. No pun intended,” he added with a childish grin.

Vic smiled proudly and looked at her ring. “Believe me, he knows how to cut a diamond but not how to mix paint. Isn’t it beautiful?”

Jimmy laughed. “Sometimes, I wonder if she fell in love with me or the diamonds,” he joked.

“Not the diamonds,” Marcus said as he and his wife joined them. “I gave her plenty and she still fled to Canada.”

“Well, you’re the one who told me to spread my wings,” she said in her defense. “And you have very good timing dad. I think Alec is trying to shift his responsibilities to Jimmy.”

“His responsibilities where you are conserved are definitely getting shifted here,” he said with humour. “I definitely understand the rush there.” He added with a wink.

“Dad!!”

“Mr. Zhao is only humoring us,” Jimmy said as he placed his arm around her waist. “Beside, I accept this responsibility with open arms.” Jimmy grinned as Vic blushed and crushed her face into his chest to hide her embarrassment.

“Still calling me Mr. Zhao?” Marcus said. “You are a quite stubborn man, son. And I just can’t wait to see how my grandchildren are going to turn out. With you and Vicki as their parents, they’ll turn out to be little monsters!” he said and laughed deeply.

“Marcus!” Rosemary said shockingly. “You can’t call your unborn grandchildren monsters.” She chided.

“Have you forgotten how Vicki was one as a child?” he reminded her lovingly and she smiled.

“I was a sweetheart for your information,” the monster herself replied.

“Of course you were my darlin’,” Rosemary replied. “You were the cutest baby in the whole country.”

“Cutest doesn’t mean sweetest!” Marcus added with a good heart. “We have videos to prove it,” he said and turned to Jimmy. “It’ll be good for you to watch it before you marry her.” Marcus laughed and was joined by the others.

“If I find myself waiting alone at the altar, I’ll have to blame it on you Dad!”

“Don’t worry Vicki, not even a thousand horses could stop me from marrying you on that day!” he said confidently and kissed her lightly to prove his point.

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Sorry again for the super long wait :P
hope this was long enough to please the majority of you
sweet

Chapter 4

Wedding date

Alec pressed his finger on the doorbell and smiled when the ever efficient butler opened the door for him shortly after, a warm and sincere smile lighting up his face.

“Good morning Gerald,” he greeted the older man. Gerald had been working for the Zhao even before Alec came to Sydney from Taiwan. Gerald was approaching his sixties but his swift movements and his lean body fooled others to believe him to be much younger.

“Good morning Mr. Su,” he returned and stepped back to allow Alec to walk inside. “I’m afraid Mr. Zhao isn’t home right now,” he added and Alec smiled.

“That’s alright. I’m actually here to see Vic.” He explained. He didn’t blame Gerald for assuming he was here to see Marcus. After all, it’s been a long time since he’d called around to see Vic. And time wasn’t on his side either. Pretty soon, she’ll have a family of her own and he’ll…

“Miss Zhao hasn’t descended yet. Would you like me to call her?” Gerald broke into his thoughts. And that was for the best Alec decided. His thoughts had a nasty habit of wandering off into the wrong directions these days.

“Alec!” a voice called out happily and saved him the trouble of answering Gerald. He watched her make her way to him and felt his heart swell with an emotion he could not decipher. She looked splendid today in her hip-hugging designer jeans and a sleeveless top that accentuated her small waist and generous bosom. “Come have breakfast with me,” she invited.

“Breakfast?” he cocked an eyebrow and extended his arm for her to look at his watch. “It’s 11:30am. It’s a bit too late for breakfast.”

She smiled sheepishly. “Oh well, have lunch with me then. Since Daddy isn’t here, you might as well keep me company.”

“Not meeting pretty boy somewhere today?” he asked and realized a little bit too late that he’d made a slip. She looked at him and raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow in mockery.

“Is that what you call him? Pretty boy?” she said, on the verge of laughter. “It’s not everyday that you meet someone that is your match in the look department, is it?” she said before she chuckled. “And to answer your question, business called him away today so I’m all alone.”

Alec sighed inwardly his relief at that last piece of information. “Just your luck because I’m free today. So how about I take you somewhere nice to enjoy the sun and a meal?”

“Great, then you can go shopping with me afterwards,” she exclaimed and then laughed when his jaw dropped from displeasure. “I’m only joking Alec,” she said and rolled her eyes. She hooked her arm in his and walked out of the door Gerald kindly held open for them.

Alec watched as Vic lifted her face towards the shimmering sun and filled her lungs with the fresh air. “I’ve forgotten how nice it was here.”

“Glad that you are back?” he asked lightly, still entranced by the sight that she made. She was born to be caressed by the sun, he thought. This is where she belonged, here in Australia, where the rays could give her a tan that made her skin glow healthily.

The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by a grumbling that came from her stomach. She placed her manicured hand over her treacherous stomach and flushed with embarrassment while a deep chuckle rose from Alec’s throat. “Come on. Let’s feed that demanding stomach of yours.”

“You know what?” she said after Alec maneuvered the car out of the grand driveway and into the light traffic. “My stomach only releases that embarrassing noise when I have you for company,” she complained.

“Guess I am luckier than your fiancé then,” he joked help her see the funny side of it. “Besides, be glad that your stomach has the taste of preferring me.”

A smile broke over lips and they laughed together. “So where do you want to go?” he asked her.

“Is the burger and fries still open? The one by the harbour?” she asked him and he spared her a glance. He only took his eyes of the road for a split second but Vicki could see the laughter dancing in his eyes.

“Good old Joe wouldn’t dare to close down when there was always the prospect of having you sit at one of his table again.” Like always, they had trouble finding a parking spot so ended up having to walk a fair bit but none of them complained, even though the sun was almost at its zenith.

“Must be a big difference between here and in Canada right?”

“You’ve been in Canada before, haven’t you?” she asked, pretty sure she was right.

“Yeah but I always went in June, when it gets cold here but warm over there,” he told her with a smile. “I didn’t want to risk getting, what is that word they use?”

“Frost bites?” she provided and Alec smiled. “You big wimp,” she called him jokingly. “It’s actually not so bad.” They reached the little fast food and were promptly seated. Vicki looked around her and was surprised by how well the business was doing.

“Hey Alec, glad to see that you took some time to come eat here again,” a voice she clearly recognized said from behind her. “And you also brought a lady friend with you.” Vicki turned and grinned when recognition dawned on the now fiftyish man. “Dear Lord. Is that really who I think it is?”

Vicki smiled and got up to hug the man. “What can I say Vic, you look gorgeous!”

Vicki blushed. It was alright when a perfect stranger in a bar complimented her on her looks but when it came from people who had known her in her younger and tomboyish days, her cheeks went flaming red. “Well thank you Joe. It’s so nice to see you again and looking so good.”

Joe cocked an eyebrow. “Girl, your accent stinks. But looks like those Canadians taught you to be civilized.” Alec joined in the laughter and Vicki just kept smiling. She’d been teased by these two men too often in the past for it to affect her anymore.

“It is nice to see you back in town Vic. So be my guests today,” he said and looked at the two of them. “My treat.”

“Oh but we couldn’t,” Alec and Vicki both said at the same time but Joe had already walked away from them to go in his kitchen. The man could be so stubborn at times.

Vicki sighed happily and they started talking. Vicki did most of the talking since Alec was full of questions. Asking her how life in Canada was at the beginning, how she’d adapted and if she liked it there.

“Do you intend going back there once you’re married?”

Vicki shrugged. “Jimmy is very understanding. He knew I was homesick even though I thought I hid that pretty well.” Her lips curved into a smile and her eyes become soft and dreamy. “He said he is more than happy to relocate and begin our new life down here.”

“And you’re sure that is isn’t going to feel homesick at some point?”

Vicki smiled. “I’m sure it’s going to happen sooner or later. He has parents and a sister over there. Of course he’d miss them. We’d already discussed the probability of us having two homes, one in both countries. Besides, I would want my children to grow up seeing snow.”

“So you have plans for children already?” Alec asked, not too eager at the thought of her being with child.

“Not right away no. I want to work for a few years before we bring a baby into this world. Maybe it is because of the way I was raised but I want to be home for my children,” she informed him. “No nannies, no frozen dinners. So I will need to take a leave from my post and not go back until the kids are old enough.”

“Looks like you have your whole life mapped out already,” he said with a tight smile. He just didn’t share her enthusiasm.

She beamed another Colgate smile at him. “I do but how about you?”

She’d nicely turned the tables over to him. “Me? I’ve mapped out my life a long time ago.”

“Don’t you want to start a family of your own?” she asked him. Him being an orphan, she knew he craved to belong and despite the fact that the Zhao’s had tried to make him feel that he was one of theirs, the truth is it, wasn’t enough and Vicki knew it. He has so much love bottled up in him and it will not be freed until he finds someone to share his life.

“I’ll have to find the right woman first,” he said lightly but he was in no hurry to find her. If she came across his way then he’d be happy to make some initiatives but he isn’t going to roam the world and chase after a woman he doesn’t even know exist.

“You will,” she told him confidently. What she didn’t think of is, maybe the right woman might already be taken, Alec thought. After all, aren’t all the good girls out there married or on the verge to? Vic was the perfect example.

“Well, you’re life looks promising. The only thing missing is a wedding date.”

“Oh but Alec, I thought you knew. The wedding is scheduled to be in 2 months. On February the 15th.”

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Hello guys
and once again I am sorry for taking so long :)
Had a writers block as well as lots of work. I have everything planned for the climax and all but from now till the wedding, I didn't know what to write about so sorry if it's a bit boring. Bare with me till I reach that part ok?
Also, jsut want to warn you that i am hunting for a part-time job. This will eventually mean less free time so less updates. Hopefully, I won't make you wait too long
Feel free to comment and critise. Open to any kind of harsh words as long as they are constructive :)
Don't know if you guys read the big broo-hahah about a-critic-no-one-likes
well, here is an author that is not afraid of critics. I actually like it. Helps me write better so I am all ears. Tell me what you like, and what you don't like and how you want me to do things. I also love it when ppl try to predict what is going to happen. I like to know how predictable my stories are ^_^

Chapter 5

Is it love?

Alec tapped the end of his pen rhythmically against the knee he had crossed over his other leg and stared out of the window and into space. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on his work ever since he came into his office from the luncheon with Vic.

Something was definitely wrong with him, if he could only find out what. He’d known that she was getting married but with a date set, it’d seemed more real. Alec leaned his head back against his leather chair and replayed the moment in his mind, hoping he hadn’t made a jerk of himself.

His eyes had flown towards her after she’d shared her news. Alec swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat and tried desperately to regain his composure. “Why the 15th?” he asked once he could trust his voice to sound normal. “Wouldn’t the 14th be a better choice since it’s Valentine’s Day?”

Vic smiled sheepishly at him. “That what Jimmy said too but you see, I want my wedding day to be special and I don’t want to share it with couples from across the world.”

Their burgers had arrived and she took her first bite, closing her eyes to savour the taste. “Beside,” she added. “Only singles would attend my wedding if I set it on that date. This is as good as I remember it.” She said, referring to the burger.

Alec had to admit, her explanation made sense. He forced a grin but his eyes didn’t light up with amusement as it would normally have. “You are more of a stuck up for romance than you liked to admit. Especially during your teenager years.”

Vic wiped her mouth with the napkins that were provided with ladylike gestures before smiling at him. “I’ve changed.”

“I’ve noticed.” An awkward silence reigned over their table as they just looked at each other. “So what brought on this change?” he asked to break it. It never used to be this way between them. “Anything to do with Jimmy?” Why is it that he felt like choking whenever he said the man’s name?

Vic smiled again and it was like a punch at Alec’s heart. Looks like he no longer needed to give her chocolate for a smile to come his way, just a name was enough. “Actually no. I met him the day of my makeover. I foolishly told a couple of my friends that I wanted to look more feminine. The words hardly came out of my mouth before they dragged me to a beauty salon. The rest of the day was spent shopping. The weird thing was, I actually liked it.” She smiled and he returned the smile but this time, it reached his eyes.

“Anyways, part of the stuff they convinced me to buy was a pair of stiletto heels. And you know me,” she said and rolled her eyes. “Never worn any heels in my life and they give me the worst ones to try. Afterwards, we went to a small restaurant to celebrate. Jimmy was there that evening and according to my friend, to quote her, he ate me with his eyes all evening.” Vic smiled at the memory. “Well it was also his eyes that captivated me.”

And that, is how she’d met pretty boy. Alec sighed deeply. He’d been told many times by his lady friends that he possessed the most mesmerizing pair of eyes but his eyes had failed to captivate this one woman.

Alec frowned, he is beginning to feel that this rising sentiment that congested his brain half the day and most of the night was jealousy and he didn’t like the thought of that. Didn’t someone once tell him that jealousy and love can in hand in hand??

“Anything I can do to wipe that frown from your face?” a warm voice said from behind. Alec finally registered another reflection on the window and spun his chair around and stood up to greet Marcus.

“Marcus!”

The man in question shook his head. “I noticed a couple more grey hair today but I didn’t changed that much. Don’t give me such a shocked expression young man. You’ll get there one day.” He said and smiled.

“I’m sorry. I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t hear you come in.” Alec stumbled for words.

Marcus seated himself in front of the desk and looked at Alec. “I knocked but you didn’t answer. Your secretary told me that you were in here so I took the liberty of just walking in.”

Alec slumped back on his chair and smiled. “You’re welcome to intrude anytime,” he said with a grin.

“Well, it’s your thoughts that I’d like to intrude in,” Marcus said honestly. “What I heard you and Vicki went out for lunch together today. Had a fight?”

“We’re no longer children. We don’t fight anymore,” Alec said and chuckled.

“An argument then?”

Alec frowned. “No, lunch went on smoothly. What made you think we argued?”

“Well, that frown for one thing. And your mind is not on work,” Marcus pointed to the blank pieces of papers that were on his desk and Alec grimaced.

“Vic told me today that her wedding is going to be in two months.”

“And is there a problem?” Marcus asked lightly, too lightly.

“No, of course not.” He denied hotly. “I just didn’t know.”

Marcus looked at him intently and for the first time, Alec had to shift his look. “For the longest of time, I’ve nurtured the idea, the hope that you and Vicki would turn out to be more than just friends.” He shrugged. “Oh well, I can’t see anything wrong with her final choice. What do you think of Jimmy?”

Alec wasn’t prepared for the question and fumbled for the right thing to say. “Well, it’s what she thinks of him that matters. She’s the one who is going to spend the rest of her life with him, not me.”

“Did I ever tell you that I almost lost Rosemary to another guy?” Alec was certainly interested now. “She was getting married to this guy that although he was like a God in everybody’s eyes, he certainly wasn’t in mine because he had someone that I wanted. Didn’t admit that till it was their wedding day but hell, I woke up that day and ran like a madman to the church to stop the wedding. Turned out that I got the wrong information and went into the wrong church, an empty church. I really thought that the wedding was already over and everybody already left.”

“So what happened?” The wedding must have gone along but in another church and he couldn’t possibly have had the time to go interrupt the wedding now.

“Rosemary decided not to marry the man afterall.” Marcus grinned. “I was lucky to have such a smart lady. If only she’d thought that a bit early. Would have saved me from that wild run.”

Marcus chuckled and reached across the desk to pat him on the shoulder. “Don’t be a fool like me. Not everybody is as lucky you know. And although Vicki is a lot like her mother, she is quite stubborn. Got it from me I guess.”

“But I’m not in love with Vicki,” Alec said and quickly stood up. “I’m just worried about her. What if that guy isn’t all that he appears to me? I don’t know him well enough so I can’t trust him with her future.”

Marcus nodded but there was a telltale sign of smile on his face. “Exactly. But you know yourself and trust yourself right?”

Alec just stared at the old man as he left his office. What ever gave Marcus the idea that he wanted to stop the wedding because he loved Vic? Given, his body sure recognized that she was beautiful but he’d lusted after plenty of women in his days but lust and love aren’t the same thing. Besides, it’s Vic they’re talking about here.

Vicki…

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Hello didn't wait too long this time eh??
well how do you like that? I was tired of the slow progression so jumped ahead and made some feelings show through. And to Sn0wTigressJ0, you'll have to be satisfied with Alec coming to term with his feelings for now ^_^

And Tenshi, after reading your comment I realised that valentines' day was the day b4, didn't know that when I was writing hahaha, but I didn't want to go back and change the dat ein case it got ppl confused so made up a lame excuse for it lol

BaDaZzDeViLgRl and Miyu, this is an AV story, I thought that was clear from the beginning? hehehe just look at the poster, Alec's pic is so much bigger :D

ohh and as for the sequel to this, sweet is bad, didn't finish this yet and I am planning for the next one hehee
altho u guys already knew about that but yeah
here's the deal. I want to try a new couple and I've been seeing Yumiko a lot these days and thought, why not? she's pretty and her name suits my plot very well. Altho, the next one, be warned is going to be more dramatic then this. This story is more about Alec coming to term with his not so brotherly feelings for Vicki and sweet desperately tries to make it somewhat comedic but fails at it :( not so good at that
but the next one would be Jimmy coming to terms with his lost (Vicki) and learning how to love an old friend of his. Yup yup, this love is friendship set on fire applies to both hehehe
gtg now enjoy
Pst: thinking of calling it 'one stolen kiss' *wink*
sweet

Chapter 6

Double Entendre

Over a week has passed since Alec got the visit from Marcus and he hasn’t dared so up at the Zhao residence in case he was to bump into Vic. Not that it would be very likely since from what he heard, she was constantly out with her fiancé or in the company of caterer and wedding planners. Marcus had hired the best team in Sydney to make this wedding the event of the year.

Alec still had to come to term with his feelings. In the past, he’d always promised himself that if the right girl came along, then he wouldn’t dodge fate and deny his love. However, he could tell for sure if she loved Vic because she looked better than any face that grazed the Cover Girl magazine, if her figure was more alluring than that of Marilyn Monroe or if she really loved her.

How does one tell if what they were feeling was love or not? He feels really good and at ease in her company, even back in the days when she still had her braces and baggy pants. He’d looked forward to see her whenever Marcus invited him to their homes and he missed her badly when she was gone. Not that he ever admitted it nor mentioned her name in case someone guessed. But aren’t those the same feelings one would have for their sister??

Alec sighed again. What does it matter? She is getting married in a month and 2 weeks and 3 days. Alec looked around his house and winced at the emptiness that surrounded him. The feeling didn’t come from the lack of ornaments but the lack of souls. He’s turning 30 this May and he’s starting to feel his age get to him. He’s been feeling really lonely and celibacy just didn’t hold as much attraction as it used to. All his friends were realizing that too as one by one, they dropped their confirmed bachelor identity to marry some nice woman and became dads soon after.

Whenever he sees his friends and intercepted the look of tenderness that they sent each other and the way the cry of a baby just filled a house, he felt like his life was missing something vital: love. Alec craved for a family of his own but he hadn’t met the right girl. Or has he? Could the one girl he had seen grow up and spread her wings be the one girl that had stolen his heart? But her heart is given to another man, Alec reminded himself bitterly. She has nothing else for him to steal, to make her his.

Tired of brooding on his own, he decided he needed to go somewhere where there was a lot of commotion. Where better than at the Zhao’s? Besides, he really wanted to see Vic. He picked up his keys on his way out and got into his car. It didn’t take him long to reach their house and as he pulled in the driveway, he could spot activities running in every corner of the house. Gardeners were in every lawn, trimming trees and treating the grass for it to remain its rich green colour. Once he was inside the house, he could see people rushing about, polishing floors and arranging flowers. Alec was breathless just looking at them.

“Where is Vic?” Alec finally asked Gerald.

“She would be in her room with Madam.”

Alec nodded and was still thinking of what he was to do with himself when Marcus walked out of the family room. “Alec,” he called out. “Glad to see you here and you’re right on time.”

“Good evening Marcus. What did I come in time for?” Alec asked as he followed Marcus up the stairways.

“Vicki is trying out several gowns and she says she needs some male opinion. With you here, the ladies can’t outnumber me and say I have no taste,” he said and chuckled. Marcus knocked on Vic’s door and the door was opened for them by Rosemary.

“Oh Alec,” she exclaimed. “How wonderful of you to come today.” The two men stepped into the room and Alec looked around but didn’t see Vic. Then the door leading to the adjoining bathroom opened and Vic stepped out.

The bodice of the gown was simple with minimal pearls sewn on in a flowery pattern and it hugged her slim body perfectly and spaghetti straps with small flowers running the length of it secured it to her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back and tied at the bottom of her nape before the ends was draped over her right shoulder while flowers were fastened on wither side of her head to compliment the dress.

Alec was still gaping at the beautiful frame she made when Marcus’ laughter pierced through his daze. “Looks this dress is definitely good since it is leaving out Alec gaping like an idiot.”

Rosemary joined in the laughter but Vic just blushed. Alec pulled himself together and beamed a smile at the bride-to-be. You’ll kill the whole healthy male population in that gown Vic including the groom so be careful if you choose this dress.”

A smile cracked her lips apart. “Alright, so I’ll just try a couple more to see if there’s one that’s less damaging.” Alec doesn’t know if he loved her but damn, he loved her wits.

The next 3 hours were spent watching Vic go in and out of the bathroom, each time wearing a new and beautiful design but none compared to the first one he saw and he told her so and her parents agreed to.

“To be honest, that one really got my eye which is why I tried it on first.” She smiled apologetically at them. “I just didn’t want to make up by decision without trying the others.”

“Hey, no one is complaining. Beside, you shouldn’t rush into anything.” He said and got up to hug her. “The world is full of alternatives. Sometimes, you have to try other options to know for sure which is the best for you. Just remember that if it’s not right for you, then you can always change your mind.”

Vic looked at her dad with a slanted eyebrow. “Don’t worry Dad, this gown is the best.”

“But there are many other designs you haven’t even bothered to look at.”

Vic smiled and kissed Marcus. “It’s ok Dad. I know you want the best for me but looking at a thousand more gowns isn’t going to make a difference.”

“Are you sure you haven’t seen one better in your younger days and wistfully wished you would wear that dress for your wedding?” Marcus went on.

This time, Vic really frowned. “Don’t you like the dress Dad?”

“Of course I like the dress. Anything would look lovely on you, sweetheart. I just wanted to remind you that you don’t have to make up your mind so fast.”

Vic still looked at her dad with a perplexed look but didn’t say anything. She just nodded and smiled before she changed out to her casual clothes again. While Vic walked away to the bathroom, Alec saw that Marcus was looking at him and he knew what the look meant. It might have escaped Vic but Alec knew about the double entendre in every sentence Marcus just said.

But Vic was so sure the gown was right for her. And he’d agreed to didn’t he?

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Hello guys,
had the afternoon off today so I sat down and wrote this chapter for you ^_^
Aren't I sweet?
To Tenshi, Yeah the sequel is definitely going to be about Jimmy and Yumiko ^_^. Just wanted a fresh couple. And yes Vicki and Alec will be in there because the story will start from the moment Jimmy lands in Canada. Noticed how I wrote everything in the guy's POV? Well, most stories are always from th girls and u never know anything about how the guy feels so I changed it this time. Hehhe, and the sequel is going to be in Jim's POV. The 2 stories will be about the same time. As in, the sequel doesn't pick up from the end of this one but runs at the same time. Jsut the other side of the story that Alec doesn't know ^_^ I hope that ppl who read this story is going to read the next one too :P
And you guys are probly all yelling at me for askign you to read the next when this one is not even going anywhere hehehe
laterz guys hope you enjoyed this chapter

Chapter 7

I do love her

Four days after the dress fittings, Alec received a call from Marcus at his home. Marcus was calling to ask for a favour from him.

“Alec, I’m sorry to call you at such a late hour but Rosemary’s sister had a heart attack and is now in the hospital. We are catching the late flight to New Zealand in an hour.”

“I’m sorry to,” Alec accidentally burped and covered his mouth but the damage was done.

“Are you drunk?” Marcus asked with incredulity. Alec thought he heard Marcus say something to someone in the background but his mind was too meddled for him to catch anything. “Look, I’ll call you as soon as I can and hopefully you’ll be in a condition to understand what I am trying to tell you.”

“You want me…to look after Vic,” Alec stated in an unsteady voice. “But have you… forgotten that she has a…fiancé that can do that now?”

“He’s gone on a business trip. Had to tie a couple loose ends before the wedding, he said. Anyways, I really have to go. And uh Alec?” There was a long pause before he started speaking again. “Never mind. Just take care of Vicki ok?” And he hung up.

Alec stared at the receiver for a long time before he replaced it in the cradle. He settled back on his couch and brought the bottle of beer to his lips again. Alec can’t even begin to remember when he opened the first bottle or even why he did so. Or maybe he had an idea, something to do with Vic. Alec’s lips twisted into a wry cynical smile. Or maybe it has something to do with him realizing that he did indeed love her.

Alec laughed but the sound sounded alien even to himself. He’d been a guest at one of his old friend’s house that afternoon. Nicholas owned a house in the far suburban areas of Sydney and hosted a get together party once every few months for the boys to reunited and catch up on each other’s lives.

Their network of close friends included Edison, Stephen, Nic and himself. They’ve gone to high school and college together and although each have excelled in different fields and moved to new horizons, they’ve remained in close contact with one another.

And at this latest get together, Edison had approached them with a sly smile and announced that he’d met the woman of his dreams and that the wedding was to be in March and handed out red invitation cards.

All 3 men then turned to Alec and grinned sheepishly as they said, “3 down, 1 to go” in unison. Nic had been the first one to get married. And although, at the time, none of his friends knew why he dropped his status of a bachelor until they met the lady in question. She went by the name of Ruby Lin, and is now Mrs. Ruby Tse. A figure and a face to make Aphrodite turn green with envy. She was a model when Nic, a photographer, met her. They’ve fallen in love and married to cut the long fairy tale short and are now parents of two wonderful children born a year apart and the youngest being a little over two months old.

Stephen had been next victim of Mr. Cupid. He’d come face to face with his childhood sweetheart Jamie Ong now turned Fung when some legal web brought her to his office. The fire had rekindled and they are now a happily married couple expecting their first child.

Edison was in the advertising field and fell under the spell of a siren named Amanda Strang. She’d joined his company over a year ago and was the one woman that resisted Edison’s charm and devilish smile. Maybe that was why Edison was so drawn to her.

“You’re really quiet today Al, anything you want to share?” Nic asked as he had settled beside him at the bar.

Alec kept his eyes on his drink as he spoke. “How do you know if what you’re feeling for a woman is love and not lust?” Nic looked at him with a look of amusement but soon looked serious when he saw that his friend was.

“Do you think of her non-stop?” Alec nodded. “Do you want to rip a guy apart if he so much as dared to look at her for too long?” Alec thought of pretty boy and nodded again. “Can you picture junior her and junior you?” Alec smiled. Nic tapped him on the back playfully and laughed. “Welcome to my club.”

“But Nic…”

“You know what is the easiest way to know and I can guarantee you that this works?” Alec looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. “If you are wondering, seriously asking yourself if you love her, then the answer is yes.”

Alec looked at his now empty glass and sighed. “Would I be right to conclude that this woman that has you walking on broken glass is Miss Vicki Zhao?”

Alec’s head jerked towards his friend. “How did you…”

“Calm down mate! The only reason I know is because I know you better than I know myself. You’re not walking around with the message ‘I’m in love with Vic!’ written on your forehead,” he said to reassure his friend but chuckled nonetheless.

“I’ve known you felt more than just brotherly love for Vic the first time you brought her to meet the rest of us. She’d been what, 17 at the time? And despite how she presented herself, I knew she would grow up to be a knockout.” Nic saw the questioning look in Alec’s face and rolled his eyes with exasperation. “I’m a photographer remember? I know when something or someone has the potential.”

“No, I mean, how do you know she IS a knockout?” Alec corrected his friend’s misconception of his quizzical look.

“Oh, well Ruby saw her in one of the magazines. Can’t remember which. Although, to be honest with you, it was the man by her side that really caught Ruby’s eyes.” Nic looked perfectly at ease with that knowledge and Alec understood why. He trusted Ruby.

“Then you must know.”

“That he’s her fiancé?” Nic nodded, “But cheer up Alec. It’s only an engagement. They’re not married yet. You still have time to get her to change her mind.”

“The wedding is in 1 month and 2 weeks.”

Nic whistled. “Well sitting around and brooding isn’t going to help your case. What happened to your fighting spirit? Beside, if I am not wrong, she is not indifferent to you.”

“And you’re basing this on the one meeting you had with her 5 years ago?”

“Trust me, I can’t be wrong on this!”

“OK, even if you were right? How do you suggest I go about halting a wedding that is coming at the speed of light?”

Nic whistled again. “I don’t know about the modern way but in the ancient days, they use to kidnap the bride.”

“And there is a law in this era that would see my ass in jail if I did that,” Alec retorted.

“Alright, how about just objecting to the wedding?” Nic suggested.

“Under what reason?”

“Well, I don’t know.” His eyes roamed the room like it had an answer for them and it did as a light bulb lit up inside his head when he saw a picture of a baby. “Tell them that she is carrying your child.”

Alec started chuckling at the memory. It was a ludicrous idea and he’d told Nic that much that very same afternoon. His friend had raised his hands in surrender and told him to figure out a better plan if he could.

Although, the idea of Vic pregnant with his child sent a warm trickle of warmth down his whole body. He could admit that that he loved that woman. She’d wiggled her way into his heart as a kid and had stayed there without so much as a warning.

Alec gulped down the remaining liquid in his bottle and set it down beside the others that were empty. Alec counted 5 of them and he grimaced. He leaned back in his couch and closed his eyes but visions of Vic flooded his minds and he forced them back open. Exasperated with himself, he grabbed his car keys and headed towards his car.

Soon after, he found himself ringing the door bell to the Zhao’s residence. It was Gerald’s day off therefore the person that greeted him was none other than the woman he craved to see in the flesh.

“Alec?” she called uncertainly when he just kept staring at her. He moved one foot forward but his brain couldn’t direct such a simple move and he found himself falling on Vic. “You’re drunk!” She stretched her neck to look over his head and saw his car. “And you drove all the way here? You stupid fool! You could have killed yourself.”

“Well,” he said with a grin. “A trip to hell would have delayed everything. Too much trouble.” Vicki shook her head and helped him inside the house before pushing the door close with her foot. She took him to one of the spare room and left him on the bed to fetch a cold cloth and make him some coffee. She returned promptly and found him sound asleep.

She looked at him for a while, puzzling over what had gotten him in this state before moving forward to make him more comfortable. She removed his shoes and socks and then his shirt. She knew he had a habit of sleeping without a stitch on so moved to his trousers and removed them too. She moved his 5’6” and 130 lbs body to a more bone friendly position and left the room, closing the door behind her.

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I know that you all know what is going to happen next *grins* if you read the forwards then there is no way you don't know ^_^
This was a long chapter and my fingers are now really tired of typing so bye bye guys :D

Chapter 8

It all started with a kiss

Alec woke up with a start and quickly sat up but his abused body forced him to drop back against the pillow. He forced one eyelid to lift to looked at his surrounding and a frown settled on his forehead. He recognized this room, he’d used this room in the past when he’d stayed in this house. Keeping his eyes open took too much energy and he closed them again. He remembered Nic, then the bottles and he remembered wanting to see Vic and then nothing. He couldn’t remember anything from there. He must have acted on his desire if he was in this house.

His nose detected the smell of rich coffee and he swung his legs over the bed. He sat there for a while until his head stopped swimming and moved to the adjoining bathroom. He easily located a new toothbrush and fresh towels to freshen himself up before he went to join Vic and learned about anything he might have said or done last night. As he was getting ready for a shower, Alec finally realized that he was wearing nothing but his pair of boxers. He tried to push that to the back of his mind and took a quick cold shower. He then returned to the room and found his old clothes and put those on before heading towards the kitchen.

He found Vic sitting on the table, sipping on her coffee while reading a book. Her eyes momentarily shifted towards him when she heard him come in before returning to the novel.

“There’s coffee and fresh croissant,” she said. No good morning, Alec reflected. He ran a hand on the back of his neck as he poured himself a cup and joined her at the table.

“About last night…” he started and Vic dropped her book and looked at him with a murderous look that wasn’t promising. They said that a drunk person acted on their hidden desires. He’d been thinking of Vic pregnant last night, could he have…

“Ok! Let’s talk about last night. What in the name of God were you thinking??” she spat at him, no longer trying to contain her anger. “Not only is drink driving a crime but…” words failed her and she just looked at him vulnerably. “You could have killed yourself,” she said in a softer tone that tore at his heart.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” he said. Or maybe he was thinking too much!

“Obviously,” she retorted, the fire was back in her eyes now. “So do you mind telling me what got you in that state?”

Alec didn’t answer her. Instead he asked her the question that had his mind eating itself since his shower. “Last night, did I do anything that I should know about?”

“Like drink driving isn’t enough. What else did you want to do last night?” she asked him angrily.

Make love to you? Alec thought and could have slapped himself for the thought. “My clothes…”

Vic interrupted him with a laugh. “I’m sorry. Please go on.” She said with a glint in her eyes.

“Vic!” Alec said warningly. He did not find this funny.

“Oh come on Alec. I’m a nurse remember? I do that all the time. It's not like I’ve never seen a man naked before,” she said with exasperation. Was pretty boy included in that statement? Alec wondered. “Besides, it’s not like I removed everything so you need not worry about me seeing all of you.” She grinned and Alec could have wringed her neck.

Alec clasped his hands on the cup and looked around him and was startled to see that it was barely 4 am. “Why are you up so early?” he asked her.

“Well, I was checking on you regularly to make sure you weren’t throwing up and choking yourself to death. And you’ve made me so angry that sleep has evaded me.” She answered in full honesty. “And, you’re as cute as a baby when drunk,” she said playfully and Alec threw a croissant in her direction. She easily caught it and took a bite, her eyes still glinting with amusement. “Not that I am encouraging you to get drunk again.”

“I promise you that I’ll be more careful next time,” he told her sincerely and she accepted his promise. “By the way, when are you starting work?”

“After my honeymoon. I would have wanted to start as soon as I got here but then again, there’s no use for me to go in for a month then take a month’s leave and this wedding business is really keeping me busy. And you still haven’t answered my question.”

“And what question is that?” A phone rang somewhere in the house and Vic excused herself to go answer it.

“Probably Dad,” she told him as she left. “Checking up on me and making sure I was not getting myself in trouble.”

Alec had finished his coffee and even managed to swallow a few croissants and there were still no signs of Vic. He decided to go see her and if it was Marcus, he could talk to him and assure the man to save Vic from dealing with him for too long.

He found her in the living room but something about her body told him something was wrong. He approached her quietly and placed a hand on her shoulder and she jumped, the phone dropping out of her hand. He picked it up and placed it back in the cradle. “What’s wrong? Is it your parents?” She was crying and Alec wanted to wipe her tears and her worries away. He wanted to hold her and protect her from any unhappiness.

She shook her head vigorously. “Then what, Vic? Talk to me.”

“I just called Jimmy at his hotel and…and there’s a woman in his room and…” she broke into tears again and Alec pulled her into his arms. He stroked her hair gently and whispered softly into her ear.

“She could be there for business, or maybe she’s his secretary or one of those service gals.”

Vic shook her head again. “It’s 3 am in Tokyo Alec.”

“Are you sure that there was another woman?”

Vic nodded. “She’s the one that answered the phone.”

“Ha! There, maybe you have the wrong room.”

“I asked for Jimmy and she said he was sleeping and…oh god.” Vic threw her arms around his neck and wept even harder.

“Maybe he was just another Jimmy.”

Vic shook her head. “She spoke Chinese Alec. And I don’t believe in coincidence.”

Alec didn’t know what to say now to comfort her. The evidence was very damning themself and it might be selfish of him but this might…might just be the miracle he was hoping for.

Alec closed his eyes and inhaled her perfume and a part of him was reacting to the closeness of their bodies. Get a hold of yourself Su. You’re no longer a hormone driven teenager, he reminded himself.

“Oh Alec, what am I going to do now?” She sobbed. Alec pulled her slightly away from him and forced her to look at him.

“Hell, it’s not the end of the world Vic. You’re young, you’re beautiful, you’re everything that a guy would want. It’s that bastard’s lost if he decided to let you go.” Vic just looked at him with disbelief and Alec’s eyes were drawn to her quivering lips. “Hell!” he swore before lowering his lips on hers to claim them for a kiss. What he didn’t expect was for her to respond to him and return the kiss with equal passion. “Oh Vic…”

Things got out of hands pretty quick as their clothes were soon nothing but a pile on the floor and their bodies intertwined, flesh against flesh as they made love.

Moments later, Alec, still panting, lifted his head and looked at Vicki, a look of disbelief clouded his normally bright eyes. She rolled over to her side and pulled the covers to hide her body as best as she could, her eyes never contacting his. What the devil got him to act so out of character and so irresponsibly.

“Vic, I...” he stumbled, searching for the right words to make the situation right but he knew deep down inside that it was not possible. He'd stepped over the line and she would never forgive him, not this time.

He'd promised himself to never get too close to her. He'd accepted the fact that she was someone else's now and that her friendship alone was enough. And now, it looked like he had lost her friendship as well. Well, he really had no one to blame but himself.

“Just go Alec,” she finally said as she closed her eyes.

“I don't know what to say.”

“Then it's best that you don't say anything at all.” She told him crisply, biting down on her lips, still swollen from his embrace.

“I'm really sorry Vic.” He’d never meant for what happened to happen. He was only trying to comfort her and nothing else. 'When did things begin to go so wrong?' He wondered. 'The moment I kissed her,' he answered himself.

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Done guys, I bet some of you are realeasing that long held breath now that you know it's not rape. I can now safely admit that I was laughing pretty hard when everyone thought that it was rape. Would I do something that cruel? :D

And for those who are wondering who was the caller and why she called Jimmy at all, then you have to read the sequel because it will only be revealed there :P

bye bye for now ^_^
btw, exams are exactly in a month :( so I will try to update a lot before then because I'll make a disappearing act then

Chapter 9

Silent promise

“It’s been 2 weeks, 2 bloody weeks!!” Alec fumed and threw his champagne glass with its contents to the wall. He’s been waiting for 2 weeks to hear the dissolution of the wedding but to no avail. For all he knew, the wedding was still in a month’s time.

His days were filled with thoughts of Vic and his nights plagued with vision of their last time together. She’d been a virgin, he’d realized as much and a part of him had been overjoyed at the thought while the other, more responsible side of him had wondered what it meant. Had she saved herself for the man she loved and chose to marry? Had he spoiled that for her? Will she forgive him?

But none of that changed the fact that she was now his. Had she chosen to hide what happened from her fiancé? But then, what about Jimmy? Did she ask him about the female presence in his room?

And then, there was this question that had Alec churning in horror. Although he cannot deny that he’d wanted her, she could have stopped him had she so much as said or showed him that. But she hadn’t. Was it her way of getting even with her fiancé?

He no longer wanted to delve into the matter on his own because answers just weren’t going to knock on his door. He got into his car and drove to see her, to get answers he much needed. He hadn’t seen her since that night and well, he wasn’t so sure on how she was going to welcome him.

As he reached the main entrance door, it swung open and Jimmy walked out. The two men were of the same height and stood facing one another, a look of distaste pasted on their handsome faces.

“What are you doing here?” Jimmy asked crisply, his fists clenched.

“I don’t have to answer to you. What I am doing here has nothing to do with you,” Alec retorted and took a step forward just to be physically blocked by Jimmy. “Get out of my way,” Alec hissed.

“It’s my business if you are here to see Vicki.”

“And what do you intend to do about it?”

“She doesn’t want to see you,” Jimmy told him.

“Let her tell me that.” Alec took another step and Jimmy grabbed his collar.

“Listen, you better say away from her or…”

“Or what?” Alec challenged, not perturbed by the threatening tone that Jimmy used and shrugged the man’s arm away.

“Jimmy?” a voice they both recognized called out and soon her face appeared through the crack of the door. She took one swoop of the scene and immediately moved in between the two men.

“Vic,” Alec called her and she turned to him. “We need to talk.” Vic nodded and Jimmy pulled her back to face him.

“It’s ok Jimmy,” she said and smiled at him. “We do need to talk.”

“Fine then, but I’m staying with you.”

Vic placed a hand on his. “It’s ok. I know you have to go and Alec would never do anything to hurt me.” Jimmy didn’t seem convinced and she had to walk him to his car before he accepted to leave. Alec couldn’t tell what they were saying and he really didn’t care as long as the man was out of his sight.

He waited as Vic rejoined him and showed him to the living room, a mistake she realized too late as it brought back memories. She was about to make retreating steps and take them to another room when Alec caught her arm and forced her to look at him.

“I am not ashamed of what happened nor do I regret it,” he told her.

“But I am and I regret it so much,” she told him and Alec clammed his jaws.

“I take it that he knows?” Vic nodded. “And the wedding?”

“Is in a month, as planned.”

Alec smiled cynically. “It must have been easier for him then, not having to beg for your forgiveness.”

Vic flinched at the remark and Alec regretted it. “It was all a big misunderstanding. The person that booked the rooms for him was suppose to book 2 but made a mistake and booked it as Mr. and Mrs. Lin and there was no extra room. They shared room but that was it.”

“And you believe him?” Alec asked with incredulity. “Vic, those kind of things only happen in movies.”

“I believe him Alec.”

“No, you feel that you’ve wronged him so you accept his pathetic excuse and pretend that everything is alright. Well, I’ll tell you what Vic. It’s not because you are cheating yourself.”

“Since when did you become a psychologist?” she snapped back at him. “Look, what happened was a mistake. Jimmy is willing to forget about it and so am I. Why can’t you do the same?” she implored him.

“Do you really want to know why?” he asked her softly. “Because of this,” he said and kissed her. Just as he expected, she melted in his arms but it didn’t last as she soon pushed him away.

“Go away!” she told him angrily.

“Tell me Vic, do you kiss him as ardently?” he taunted her. “Do you honestly believe that you love him now?”

Vic bit on her lower lip, giving Alec the urge to kiss it again but he restrained himself. “What is it that you want from me Alec?”

I want you to marry me. I want you to spend the rest of your life with me. But most of all, I want you to love me back, he said silently. “I don’t know Vic. I just don’t want you to make a mistake by marrying him.”

“But I’ll make a bigger mistake if I listened to you. I’m getting married Alec, whether you want it or not.”

You’ll get married Vic, he promised her silently. But to me!

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HELLO EVERYBODY!!!
How are you all doing? Don't complain about my lack of updates, I've had a busy month with all the assignments and then of course my exam. Had my last one today (on my birthday yuck!!!) and now that everything is out of the way, I sat down to type another chapter for you ^_^. Ain't that sweet of me? Anyways, I have a lot of updating to do (story and website) and create more posters but that won't last for long, starting to work soon. Yup, you got that right, sweet is gonna work YAY!! Now I don't have to go to my mom for money anymore! hehehe I hope you liked this chapter. Have a great summer guys!
PS: I promised my sis to finish this story for her birthday (aug 16) so hopefully I will. Need your encouragement ppl ^_^
bye

Chapter 10

His best weapon

Two days later, Alec was standing in the living room once again, waiting for Vic. He’d been tossing and turning for two nights, thinking of a way to get Vic to change her mind in time to cancel this wedding. And that’s when Nic’s words flashed like a million dollar sign in his mind: ‘Tell them that she is carrying your child’.

The idea had seemed ridiculous at the time but now, as he was seeing it under a different light, it looked like it was his best weapon. Well, she can’t call him a bluff right away. And that is what he was going to do today.

He turned to face the door when he heard it creak open and watched as she walked in. His eyes were riveted to her belly. It’s been two weeks only, there wouldn’t be any signs but he couldn’t help but look. He nurtured this crazy notion that if she was with his child then he would tell in one look. Well that notion just died because he didn’t know.

Alec smiled at her and she smiled back weakly, although she still kept her distance. Alec went to one of the armchairs and waited for her to seat herself as well. “There is no need to worry that I will leap at you Vic.” He told her through gritted teeth. “Although it is tempting, I promise you that I won’t ravage you unless you give me the go.”

Vic sighed with relief. “Have you eaten yet?”

Alec dismissed her question. He wasn’t here to talk about the weather or about his meals. “There’s something I have to tell you, or remind you.”

Vic frowned and started to look unsettled again. She uncrossed and recrossed her legs, and pulled at the hem of her skirt to cover her legs as best she could. “And what is that.”

“That night,” he started and lifted a hand to stop Vic from interrupting him. “I didn’t use any protection.” He looked at her to make sure it the meaning sunk in. “And since it was your first time, I doubt you would be on the pill.”

Vic gasped in horror and a hand rose to cover her mouth. “But I couldn’t be…”

“It’s been 2 weeks only Vic, we can’t tell for sure.” Would pretty boy accept it too if she were pregnant with another’s child? But that was not an option, Alec quickly told himself. If she was carrying his child, then he would make sure that the child grew up under his care and with his name.

“I couldn’t…I mean, it was only once…”

“And once is all it takes,” he reminded her.

Vic instinctively reached for a glass of spirit and realized her carelessness so she put it back. “Oh God,” she finally said. “Why did thing go so wrong for me…” she sobbed.

Her sadness tore at his heart and he began to seriously doubt his actions. Was he being unfair to her? “It doesn’t have to be bad Vic...”

“Oh but it is. It would be so unfair of me to saddle Jimmy with a baby that is not his?” Alec took two steps to her and grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

“Now listen to me Vic and listen carefully because I won’t repeat this. I will not let my child grow up with another man’s name and under another man’s care like I didn’t exist. And I will definitely not let his mother marry any other man than his father.”

“People don’t have to get married these days just because they made a baby,” Vicki protested.

“Well people should. It’s only the right thing,” he retorted.

Vicki abruptly stood up and walked over to the patio doors. “I really don’t understand why we are having this conversation at all. I mean, what are the odds that I am pregnant?” She released a shaky laugh.

“Just remember Vic. If you are carrying my child, then the person at the end of the aisle is going to be me, not Lin.” He stared at her and his eyes moved to her belly again. Please God, let her be pregnant. He looked at her for a while longer before quietly leaving the room.

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Hello
quick? yeah I know and I am so proud of it too heheee.
Thank you to all those of you that wished me a happy birthday ^_^.

And to Reader, if you want to know if Jimmy betrayed her or not, jsut read the sequel heheh (not written yet :P)

To Rain and snow, hehhe, looks like you are the only one here whho is rooting for Vicki and Jimmy lol.

And Tracey, I am working as in *money, boss and no free time* but at least I have the money for shopping :D

thanks for reading and keep coming back ok?
sweet

Chapter 11

Negative

Alec stared out of the window that gave a good view of the harbour but his eyes did not register the scene. His thoughts have been drifting since this morning when he got the call from Vicki asking him to meet her here. He was in no doubt of the topic of today’s conservation. It’s been 2 weeks since he saw her, she must know now whether she was pregnant or not. Alec didn’t dare think of his future if her answer was negative.

He sensed her approaching and stood up to greet her. He looked at her belly again and stared at her straight in the eyes. Her eyes revealed nothing.

“Morning Alec,” she called said.

“Morning. You look really beautiful.” And he was being honest. She wore a yellow sun dress with red flower designs. The hem of the dress was just slightly above her ankles and made her look like a goddess, not a mother to be. She just nodded as an acknowledgment to his comment. A waiter came to get her order and she just asked for a glass of cold water. That, Alec thought, was a good sign.

“You’re drinking water,” he couldn’t help but pointed out.

“I have for the past 2 weeks,” she told him. “I’m sure you figured out the reason why I asked you to meet me today.” He nodded and looked at her, urging her to give him the answer he wanted. “You’ll be relieved to know that…” she bit on her lower lip and Alec tensed. Please let her be pregnant he silently begged for the umpteenth time. “I am not pregnant.”

Alec closed his eyes and felt like cursing. “Are you sure?” She nodded. “Those tests could be inaccurate, you know.”

“I…I had my menstruation this morning,” she told him and her softly spoken words slashed right through his heart.

“Vic…”

“I know that you feel like you owe me Alec,” she interrupted him. “You blame yourself for what happened and you want to make it right by marrying me. But a marriage cannot survive without one element, and that is love.”

“Do you love him?” Alec asked her and sensed her hesitation as her eyes avoided his.

”Yes, yes I do.”

“Liar!”

“I want to be like my parents Alec. I grew up in a house filled with love and I want to give my children the same feeling, the same comfort.”

“You don’t love him,” he told her flatly. “You never have, I know it. I know YOU!”

“And YOU don’t love me!”

Alec was tempted to tell her otherwise but his pride forbid. He knew she would just throw it right back in his face.

“This is getting ridiculous. You were the one that told me I would find my prince one day. I have and I want to marry him.”

“Why do you want to marry him?” he asked her softly. “Because you definitely don’t love him.”

“And what would you know about love? You’ve never loved anybody!” she snapped at him.

“Vic…”

“I really have to go. Jimmy and I have an appointment with an agent to look at a house.” She got up and looked imploringly at Alec. “Remember the day I came back? You said that you’ll be happy, as long as I am. Well I am.”

Alec had no choice but to let her go with a heavy heart. What can he do when she’d told him so clearly that nothing was going to change her mind about getting married? He didn’t even have a pregnancy to keep her by his side. “You said that I know nothing about love,” he directed at the vacant spot before him. “You’re wrong because I do know what it is. I also know that it hurts a lot.”

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Hello guys
finally managed to update ^_^ Aren't u all proud of me? lol
TO Alex Fan: Thanks for pointing out the error I made abotu the chapter title. YOu see, at the time i posted, I started writing the next chapter and got the titles mixed up. Really observant of you ;)
And thank you for all the birthday wishes. I'm 18 now Tiramisu (loved that movie ^_^)
WELCOME GREENI! Thanks for dropping in to read :D And thank you to Tracey for recommending me (your a sweetheart)
And many of you think that Alec only wants her in his bed, well isn't that how it is for a lot of man??? I'm biased here of course (BTW, wonder if I have any male readers lol doubt it)
as my parting comment, let me just say that I am starting the next chapter ^_^
byebye
love ya all

Chapter 12

Wild run

Alec woke up with a pounding head and his groan bounced off the walls, mixed with some other noise and returned to deafen his own ears. He looked around the room and traced the noise back to the TV he had left open all night. He’d fallen asleep in the living room, again! He’d buried himself under work and drowned himself every night in alcohol to forget his sorrow. His hand automatically reached out for the remote control to turn off the television but a title caught his eye and his hand paused in midair.

MARRIAGE OF THE YEAR: HEIR TO THE ZHAO FORTUNE TO MARRY A RISING ARTIST TODAY AT SACRED HEART CHURCH.

Alec’s index pressed hard on the power button and he threw the remote to the nearest wall. The day he’s been dreading has finally arrived at last. After they exchanged their vows today, she would be someone else’s wife. Alec squeezed his eyes shut in the hope he could squeeze the pain away but it remained. Vicki’s smiling face as a little girl, as a teenager and then as a woman flashed like a movie across his eyes.

‘I ALMOST LOST ROSEMARY TO ANOTHER MAN’ Marcus’ voice rang in his ears. ‘DON’T BE A FOOL LIKE ME! DON’T BE A FOOL LIKE ME!’

Alec’s eyes flew to the clock, it was 10:32. He had less than half an hour to get to the church and to stop the wedding. The question remained, did he want to? YES!!! He didn’t hold much hope about her running straight into his arms and saying the words he was dying to hear her say but at least, he would have done all he could to win her.

Making up his mind, he grabbed his keys and shoved his feet in a pair of shoes before heading towards his car. He’d caught his reflection on his way out and grimace. No time to try and look his best.

He’d probably broken every traffic law that existed as he sped towards the church. He glanced at the clock and it read 10:46. His foot then stomped on the accelerator and willed the car to go even faster. The sound of sirens penetrated into his mind and he looked at his rear mirror. Cursing out loud, Alec pulled over.

“Look,” Alec said once the cop approached his window. “I’m in a hurry…”

“I can tell, sir. Now could you please pull out your driver’s license?” The cop asked uninterestingly.

Alec reached for his wallet and was appalled to find that it wasn’t there. Alec cursed again. “Excuse me?” said the cop.

“I forgot my wallet officer.” He was losing his patience. He couldn’t stay here and chat with this cop.

“I’ll have to ask you to step out of the car and…”

“Look, I’ll do anything you ask me to, but just let me go to this wedding first and..” Alec started to implore.

“Wedding huh?” The cop took one quick swipe of his appearance and smirked. “Now please step out of the car.”

Alec got out against his will and slammed the car. “If I don’t get there in time, the woman I love will marry another.” He tried again.

“I don’t blame her,” the officer said. “I suspect you have been drinking so I will need to perform a breathalyzer test on you, sir.”

“Yes, yes I have been drinking,” he admitted. 10 minutes, that’s all he had. The church wasn’t so far, he could get there if he ran fast enough. Making up his mind, he broke into a wild run, with the cop chasing after him. Alec saw that many of the pedestrians and drivers were looking at him with fear in their eyes but he was determined to get there. Just another block…

Alec was breathless by the time he reached the church but he did not rest. He opened the door brusquely and yelled “STOP!!”

He felt his arms being twisted behind his back and fought to release them but they were already handcuffed. “Don’t marry him Vic. DON’T…” He was hit in the knees and dropped down to the ground as the cop’s full weight landed on him. “GET OFF ME YOU…”

A person at the front cleared their throat before speaking, “As I was saying before the interruption, the wedding has been cancelled. Sorry.” Alec managed to twist his head up high enough to see Jimmy walk away, then the words sank in, the wedding was cancelled. A feeling of euphoria filled his entire body and he ceased fighting the cop. The officer sensed his surrender and pulled him to his feet. His partner had arrived too and the two of them walked him to the car. The cop was breathing just as hard as Alec was so he turned to him. “Sorry officer, didn’t want to cause you so much trouble,” he said and grinned.

“Could you wait a moment officers?” a deep voice called from behind them. They turned around and waited for Marcus to reach them. “Could I please know what wrong this young man has committed?”

“Speeding, drink driving, driving without a license, refusal to be detained.”

Marcus shot Alec a look of disapproval. “I’ll follow you to the station and call my lawyer to join us there.”

The cop nodded and marched Alec to the car. Alec wasn’t particularly troubled with what he could be facing. Vic wasn’t married, the wedding was cancelled. But who cancelled it? Where was Vic now? He needed to talk to her. He looked around him and knew that he’ll be in there for quite some time.

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Hello!!!!! GOsh I was so happy today because I got my internet back. DId a switch in net providers so I went without net for like a week! Thank GOd I was working otherwise I would be bored like hell. Anyways, since I was so happy, I updated for you all ^_^.

ANd I know you all wanted to read this IMPORTANT chapter hehehe. Most of you probably wanted a big fight in the church as the 2 guys battle it out huh?? Sorry, didn't give you that lol

I have also realised that my chapter have gotten real short. COuldn't help it somehow :( But I didn't want to drag the chapters just so that they would be longer.

To Alex Fan: If you want to know whether Jimmy betrayed her, then you'll have to read the sequel hehehe

To Angelicious81: The next part? I wanted to start it but here's the problem. I promised my sis to finish this for her birthday so the sequel will have to wait. I don't even know if I'll be able to keep my promise.

To Greeni: I didn't make Alec stop the wedding, are ya going to kill me? Altho the wedding didn't go on so same result. Spare me if you want an ending ;)

To Tiramisu: I remember I time when i was 16 and wanted to be 18. I find that there is no difference. My parents still won't give me that much freedom. And since the chapter is still short, I guess I will get a short comment from you eh? :D

TO the rest of you, thank you for reading and commenting

Chapter 13

Italy

From where he stood, Alec could easily see the solitary figure on the beach. He’d been standing by the tree for almost 3 hours. The sun had started to make its slow descend and yet she still refused to return to the security of her hotel room. He watched as she slowly rose out of the water and his fingers dug deeper into the tree bark he’d been leaning into.

He’d been waiting for her to come to him for the past two months but she never did. Days passed after days and she still did not turn up. That day, after he’d been taken to the police station, he’d been charged and his license had been suspended as well he’d been given a fine. He’d then patiently waited for Vic but soon learned that she’d flown off to Italy, her honeymoon destination despite the wedding cancellation. He’d wanted to go and bring her back to Sydney with him but Marcus had advised him to give her some time and he did. He’d given her two months but she still didn’t show up so here he was, in Italy. And now he regretted very much that long and tormenting wait.

He’d had enough of waiting; he finally decided and started to march down to where she was lying peacefully on the sand. She heard him approach and as her mind registered his identity, her eyes grew bigger and rounder with surprise. He sat down beside her on the sand and remained quiet for a very long moment, looking at the sun’s last warming rays.

“When were you going to tell me?” he asked her in a deadly calm voice. “Or were you planning on not telling me at all?” His tone had hardened as he asked the last question.

“It’s not like I could hide my condition for ever,” she snapped back at him. “Why are you here?”

“You could have if you stayed hidden in Italy,” he responded coldly. “And isn’t it obvious what I am doing here? I’ve come to take you home.”

“For your information Mr. Su, I was NOT hiding. I just needed some time to think without people pounding their idea of what I should do into my mind. I’m no longer a child Alec. I don’t need you or dad to help me jump over every hurdle that life presents me.”

“Well, looks like I will have to jump over this hurdle with you.”

“I don’t need you to,” she told him crossly.

“That’s MY child you’re carrying!,” he finally yelled out. From the moment he’d arrived in this country and set eyes on her slightly rounded belly, something that she could not presently hide since she was wearing a two-piece swimsuit.

“Alec…”

“YOU LIED TO ME THAT DAY!” he continued and did not stop when he saw her flinch. He wanted to hurt her, to hurt her as much as she’d hurt him. “Did you think you could blind everybody off and pretend that this child, MY CHILD belonged to Lin? What happened sweetheart?” he emphasized on the last word. “Did Lin find out? Is that why the wedding was cancelled?” Alec knew that it wasn’t true, he’d learned from Marcus that Vic had been the one to call everything off but his anger had let this roll out.

He caught the shininess in her eyes and regretted his harsh words. She was in no condition after all to be going through this. “I’m sorry Vic, it’s just that…to learn about it this way…it’s...it’s…”

“I understand,” she said softly and looked at him. “And I am sorry for keeping it to myself for so long.” Her hand came to rest on his thigh and he felt his resolution to stay angry at her wash away like the sand.

“I understand that you intend to keep this child?” he asked her uncertainly. Wasn’t it a bit too late to get an abortion? After all, she is 3 months pregnant and Vic would never so something so inhumane.

“Of course, I would never consider something so cruel.”

Alec nodded. “In that case, we’ll have to get married,” he told her matter of factly. Vic was about to interrupt him and he put his hand up to stop her. He knew what was in her mind. “I want to be the baby’s father.”

“YOU ARE! But there is no need for us to get married. Do I have to go through this again with you?”

“I’ve heard you once Vic, and I can remember. But I don’t want to be a weekend dad. I don’t want my child to feel like he or she is torn between her or his mother and father. I want to give my child a full family.”

Alec watched as emotions flashed across her eyes. She knew how much he craved for a family of his own. She knew that he didn’t grow up in a warm and loving family and would never allow any child of his to endure the same hardship.

“Marry me Vic and we’ll bring our children up together. We’ll provide them with the love and security that they need.” Alec was holding on to her hand, urging her to agree.

“But there is no love…”

“Love grows out of respect, of friendship and understanding,” he told her quickly. You’ll learn to love me, Vic. Maybe not as much as I love you but you’ll love me, eventually.

“Alec, this is crazy,” she said on the verge of surrendering.

“We can all do with a bit of craziness in our lives,” he told her lightly, with a smile. “Besides,” he continued laughingly. “I know you so well that I couldn’t possibly do something that would get on your nerve.”

A solemn expression clouded her eyes. “That’s what I am afraid of,” she said. “You know me too well.”

“You’re afraid I am not going to get on your nerve?” he said playfully to lift that faraway look that she was wearing. He knew there was something more to it, but right now, he has to get her to accept his proposal. “So if I agree to get on your nerve, would you agree to marry me?” he grinned childishly.

Vic laughed and finally nodded her head. Alec could feel all the sadness he’d bottle up ever since she came back to Sydney fly away. “You know, I’ve been dying to do this for a long time.” And his lips found hers.

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With these short chapters, I find it easier to update faster ^_^
I requested a poster for the sequel at WEG, lost all inspiration with fanfic posters for some reason so once I get it, I might start a few chapters of that one whenever I get a block for this one.
How about a poll, how many of you think that this next wedding is going to go according to plan?

Chapter 14

The wedding

Alec watched with pride as she walked down the aisle in her father’s arm to reach his side. Her stomach showed no sign of another little being due to her gown. They’ve decided to keep it to themselves for a while longer before telling her parents and friends about it. Once she reached him, he looked through her veil to catch her eyes. She was smiling so he felt slightly better. He was afraid that she would feel trapped into this marriage and he is still afraid it was the case. He was taking a big gamble with God here.

Once they’ve return to Sydney and announced their plan to her parents, a small wedding ceremony had been prepared. Rosemary and Marcus had exchanged a worried look at the sudden change of events but they organized the small wedding ceremony nonetheless. Vic had requested a small ceremony and it had unsettled Alec. But to think about it, it was best to avoid the talk that would be circulating. The only people present were Vic’s parents and his three best friends accompanied by their other half.

They turned to face the father and the ceremony began.

“We are gathered here today to witness the union between the two beautiful souls standing before our eyes, Mr. Alec Tommy Su and Miss Victoria Zhao. The rest of the father’s words were drowned out of his mind by his own thoughts until the father turned to him and asked him:

“Do you Alec Tommy Su, take Victoria Zhao as you faithful wife and promise to love, cherish and honour her until death do you part?”

“I do,” Alec replied in a strong and honest voice.

The same vows were repeated by Vic. Alec didn’t know if he was kidding himself but he didn’t detect any hesitation from Vic and his heart lightened with relief. When the father pronounced them husband and wife and gave him permission to kiss his bride, he lifted her veil and smiled down at her for a moment before bending to meet her lips.

A small reception was held afterwards and despite his will, he had to go with his bride. All three of his friends, with a wife or a fiancée on their arm marched towards him, each with a mischievous grin on their handsome faces.

“You beat me to the alter buddy,” Edison said cheekily as he looked at Vic with appreciation. “Alec always did have a good eye for a beautiful woman. How he knew you were going to turn into a walking Goddess when you were barely 16, I’ll never know but he was right.”

Vic threw him a perplexed look and he just kept smiling.

“You do remember us, don’t you?” Nic asked.

“Of course, not a single woman in her right mind would forget meeting one of you, less all four of you at once.” Everybody laughed and after she was introduced to Edison’s fiancée, the woman left them to do their own private talking.

“So, I heard about the little incident with the police you had,” Stephen said without tack and a charming smirk. “Would have loved to be there at the time!” Edison joined in the laughter and Alec finally managed to smile at the thought of that day.

“So how did you manage to bring her back to your side?” Nic asked. “I assume that she is the one to have cancelled the wedding?” Alec nodded. “You’re not going to tell us are you?”

“You’ll know soon enough. But I don’t want to risk alienating my wife now that I have put a ring on her finger. But let me thank you all for coming here at such a short notice.”

Nic hit him in the stomach playfully. “We’ve always been there for one another. Hell, we moved to this country together.”

“You can’t possibly think that you could get married without us attending!” Stephen echoed.

“Too bad we couldn’t get married all at one go,” Edison said humourously and they all laughed.

Alec looked at his wife and his heart dilated with pride at the thought. Vic was his wife! “Go get her,” Stephen said with a glint of laughter. They laughter followed him as he went to her and whisked her away for the night.

“What were you men talking about to be laughing so hard?” she asked once they got into the car and drove towards his house.

“So you were paying attention to us hmm?” he said with a smile. “Edison was saying what a pity it was that we didn’t meet the woman we loved all at the same time. We did so many things together it would have been memorable to get married on the same day.”

There was a long pause from Vic before she said, “Funny, Amanda said the same thing.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Alec replied as he cut the engine. “No, stay right there,” he told her as she reached for the door. He got out quickly and opened the door for her and helped her out. And when she least expected it, he lifted her off the ground.

“What are you doing?” she asked him in a trembling voice.

“Isn’t it traditional for the groom to carry his bride over the threshold?” he asked her.

“Oh but you don’t have too. I must weigh a ton.”

“What is it with woman and thinking that they are fat? You weigh less than a feather!”

“I gained a lot of weight these past few months,” she told him.

“Well, it’s to be expected,” he replied, looking at her stomach as he put her on her feet. She blushed and looked around his room which had been refurnished and decorated to look like the love nest of a newly-wed couple. He noticed that she looked everywhere but at the bed.

His hand reached up to the zipper of her gown and her eyes filled with uncertainty. “It’s alright,” he told her softly. “I just want to hold you tonight. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to and I need to talk to your obstetrician first before doing anything rash.” He allowed her gown to slip quietly to the floor and took a step back to look at her. His eyes rested longer on her slightly swelled stomach.

She reached for his hand and placed it on her stomach. “The baby is fine, you don’t have to worry.” He nodded and directed her to the bed.

“I’ll go run the tub for you, hmm?”

When he came back, she was sitting in the same position he had left her. He took her hand and walked her to the bathroom. “Do you want me to scrub your back for you?” Vic nodded as she took her bra and panties off. He watched as she gracefully slid into the tub and exposed her back for him.

“You’re not playing fair, you know that right?” she said after a moment.

“How so?” he asked her, totally clueless to what she was talking about.

“Well, you get to see all of me while you’re still clad in your tux.”

Alec smiled to himself. “So what do you want me to do?”

“The tub is big enough for two,” she suggested and Alec laughed as he quickly peeled his clothes off and joined her. “Here, it’s my turn,” she said as she took the soapy sponge and worked on his back. He turned his head back to find her lips and the sponge was soon forgotten.

Alec unplugged the tub and lifted her out of the water. He dried her and himself off before lifting her towards the bed. “You know, I think I could get used to having you lift me everywhere,” Vic said pleasantly.

“Well, enjoy it now that my back is still young enough to do so.” He laid her under the cover and slipped in himself. He pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his chest as his hand massaged her scalp and took out all the pins that were trapping them in place. “Alec..”

“Sshhh,” he said. “Go to sleep.” He could feel her hesitation but didn’t say anymore. He just waited for her breathing to become slow and rhythmic. Now that she was asleep, his thoughts hunted him again. He never asked her why she lied to him that day. She must have known that she was pregnant but lied to him and went on with the previous wedding plans. Why did she change her mind in the end? Did Lin know all along or is he still in the dark? Vic cancelled the wedding, he’d learned that much from Marcus but he still didn’t know why.

Enough, Alec suddenly decided. She was married to him and that’s all that counted. He knew her well enough to know that if she had agreed to marry him then she would be faithful and that she would be his wife in all the ways that counted. She’d been prepared to sleep with him tonight but hed been the one to brush her off.

“I don’t want you to do it out of duty Vic.” He said to the sleeping Vic. “I promise you that I won’t make love to you until the day your heart fully and truly belongs to me.” With the thought in mind, he fell asleep.

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*wink wink* sweet updated again! And this time, it isn't a short chapter!! yay!!
I see that a lot of you thought the wedding wasn't going to happen. Well you all thought wrong! All to those who think Alec only wants her in his bed well, proved you wrong too ^_^.
see ya all next time
bye

Chapter 15

Their first argument

Alec felt her stir beside him and loosened his hold on her so she could stretch. “Good morning Wife,” he greeted her with a smile. He’d had the best sleep in the longest of time and was feeling very happy about it. It probably had to do with having Vic to hold all night.

“Good morning Husband,” she said, playing right along with him and welcomed his kiss. “Where’s my breakfast?”

“I didn’t have the heart to let go of you. I could spend all day holding you and looking at you while you sleep.”

“You mean, you’ve been looking at me sleep,” she said in total horror. “For how long?”

“Well, since the sun rose and don’t worry, you look even more beautiful when you sleep. And I love the way you cuddle up to me,” he teased and was delighted to see her blush.

“I…I didn’t say anything in my sleep?” she asked worriedly and bit on her lower lip.

Alec hooked his index under her chin and lifted her face to his. He wondered what she was scared she’d revealed. Did she fear she’d called Lin’s name out in the middle of the night? “Actually, you didn’t say anything but you did a lot of kissing.” He saw her eyes round with horror and shame and laughed. “Well, to be honest, it was the other way around. I couldn’t resist but kissed you a couple times, especially after you wetted your lips.”

“ALEC!”

“Hey, don’t be shocked. How can I help it when you respond every time?” he laughed but it didn’t reach his eyes. What she didn’t know and what he won’t tell her is that he was scared she’d confused him and Lin in her sleeping state.

“I was asleep,” she sulked.

“But now you’re not,” he said and his lips came down on hers. “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere, somewhere where there will be no one else but us?”

“I should be going to work. I was supposed to start last month. Besides, Daddy told me that you haven’t worked all that much either.”

“You shouldn’t be working in your condition,” he told her.

“I’m pregnant Alec, not ill! Beside, my new obstetrician works there too. It’ll be easier for me when I have an appointment with him and when the time comes for this little guy to come out, I would be in the right place.”

“Alright, you have a good point there. However, I don’t want anybody in doubt of your pregnancy and don’t do anything too hard on you and the baby.”

Vic smiled at him but he could see a sadness in her eyes that puzzled him. She lifted her hand to his cheek. “I would never do anything to hurt the baby.”

“Oh Vic, I know that. But I also know that you like to help others. I just don’t want you to overdo it. When’s your appointment with this doctor?”

“Tomorrow,” she told him. “Right before I am scheduled to work.”

Alec nodded. “I’m coming with you.” Vic nodded slowly. “Now, how about some of that breakfast?” he suggested to lighten up the atmosphere. “You just stay right here and I’ll make it and bring it to you, hmm?”

He poured two bowls of cereals and placed two croissants on a tray with two glasses of milk and made his way back to the room. He noticed that Vic had put on one of his oversized t-shirts. The way she looked now, she reminded him of the old Vic and he couldn’t conceal the smile that formed on his lips.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked him as he put the tray on the bed.

“Nothing,” he tried to say innocently. She eyed him suspiciously.

“Spit it out!” she ordered.

“It just that you remind me of the good old times when you wear my t-shirt.” She looked down at it and smiled.

“It feels good to be wearing one of your shirts again,” she told him honestly.

“Feel free to rummage through my closet again,” he invited her. “And if you don’t like this house, we can always go looking for another one.”

Vic shook her head. “I like it. It reminds me of the time I spend here, getting on your nerve.” She smiled.

“You never got on my nerve.”

“Liar!” she called him.

“Alright, maybe a couple times..” Vic snorted. “Ok, maybe a bit more often but that was because your parents always came here to look for you and I had to confront them. You would come here every time to escape what you referred to as ordeal.”

“I don’t know why they kept trying to take me to those formal events, they were a royal pain in the rear! And I don’t think I’ve ever properly told you how grateful I was of you to help me escape them.” She leaned across and kissed him.

“Where do you want to go today?” he asked her as he broke the kiss and looked at a somewhat confused and disappointed Vic.

“How about if we go for a swim at the beach?” she suggested.

“Are you sure it’s advisable to do so in your condition?” he asked her uncertainly. “I think I will have to go buy a book that lists all the taboos for pregnant women.”

“Alec, as I’ve told you before..”

“I know, pregnancy is not an illness but I’d rather we were careful. I might have a chat with Rosemary sometimes soon.” Alec continued on to himself. “She’ll be more resourceful than a book.”

“Humour me Alec, I won’t be able to look sexy in a suit for much longer,” she pleaded with him. “If it’ll make you feel any better, I won’t swim for long, I’ll just lay in the sun and gain a tan.”

“Are you sure exposition to the sun is not harmful to the baby?”

“Then all women in Australia would give birth to deformed babies! You can’t leave in Australia and not be exposed to the sun. Forget it, I don’t want to go anywhere. I’ll stay right here and then your mind would be at peace about the safety of your unborn child.” She snapped.

“Come on, don’t get mad. You know that I only have your best interests at heart. I don’t want to see you hurt or…”

“Lose the baby.” She finished for him. “I’m a nurse Alec, I’ve taken care of pregnant women before. I know what’s good and what is bad for the baby. If you can’t even trust me to…”

“Hey hey, where are you going with all this talk? Of course I trust you Vic,” he said and lifted her hands to his lips.

“I wonder Alec, if I weren’t pregnant, would you have married me?”

“You would have been married to Lin if it weren’t for this baby,” he said and regretted as soon as the words left his mouth. He forced a smile on his lips and tugged her off the bed. “Come on, get change and we’ll go for that swim you were yearning for.”

She shook her head. “I want to go visit mother.”

“Miss her so soon? We’ve only been married for a day!” his joke did not crack a smile from her. “Alright, you can use the bathroom first he told her.”

Once she locked herself behind the door, Alec dropped his head into his hands. Him and his stupid mouth. Why didn’t she just take her wherever she’d wanted to go? If he’d done that then they would still be on good terms. What would Marcus think when he sees that his daughter came running home crying after just one day as his wife? Well maybe not crying but unhappy nonetheless.

The door opened and he looked up to see her. “I’m really sorry Vic. I didn’t mean to make you unhappy.” He walked up to her with a puppy sad face. He bent down level to her stomach and placed his hand on her stomach. “Hey kid, mommy is bad at daddy. Is there anything you can do to help?” Vic’s laughter reached his ears and he straightened his back. “Does that mean you are no longer mad at me?”

“I’ve never been able to stay mad at you for long,” she said and moved into the circle of his arms.

“Well, it’s a good improvement I must say. I got back on your good side without chocolate. It’ll save me a lot of money in the future.” He grinned at her and bent down to kiss her. “How about we go to your parents’ place for lunch and stay for a while? When the sun is less strong in the late afternoon then I’ll drive you to the beach?”

She frowned slightly. “I meant to ask you last night, why are you driving? I thought your license got suspended?”

“I see that this particular news did reach your ears after all. Don’t worry, it was just for two months. I got it back 4 days ago.” Vic looked relieved. “You didn’t actually think that I would drive you around and risk riding at the back of a police car again, did you?” He laughed. “I’ll just be a minute,” he said and went inside the bathroom humming to himself.

Is Lin always going to come in between him and Vic, Alec wondered. Why did she agree to him if she felt so sad whenever Lin’s name entered their conversation? Did she regret not marrying the man? All these questions then lead him back to one main question; why did she cancel the wedding in the first place?

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Hello everybody!! Back with the lastest chapter! ^_^
Pretty soon, when I get my poster for the sequel, I will start the other one. How does that sound? You'll get the other side of the story, the side between Vicki and Jimmy that I left out of this story. And bubble8, that is where you'll get the answers to your question ^_^

To CherryBlossom, my email is sweet_azngal@hotmail.com
Tiramisu: you're still in school? ay, and I thought everyone was on holz. Good luck on your exams!
TO everyone: thanks for commenting and sweet will try to keep these speedy updates. Running out of time (days are counting till sis' birthday) but I'm not rushing it to a point that my story gets ruined ^_^ Just that I write instead of playing with PhotoShop or instead of watching movies :D
laterz

Chapter 16

One out of three

“So what’s going on?” Marcus asked him.

”What do you mean?” Alec asked, pretending ignorance. He’d barely finished his meal when Marcus had dragged him away from Vic and Rosemary under the pretence of business matters.

Alec took one look at Marcus and sighed. “To be honest with you, I don’t really know what is going on either. I just don’t know how to go about making her forget Lin and…” Alec paused, “how to make her fall in love with me.”

Marcus burst out laughing and Alec shot him daggers with his eyes. “I’m sorry Alec, it’s just that you’ve finally proven to me you aren’t the brightest and that you aren’t overloaded with confidence after all.”

Seeing that he had irritated Alec even more, Marcus held his laughter back. “If there were another person in this world that understood Vicki as much as me and Rosemary, I would have thought that this person would be you.”

“I don’t see where you are trying to get with this,” Alec said impatiently.

“Goodness Alec, I’m trying to help you so stop snapping at me.”

“I’m really sorry Marcus, it’s just…”

“Hey, it’s ok. I understand. I was young once remember?” he laughed softly. “Tell me Alec, why are you so certain that my daughter does not return your love?”

“I would have thought it was evident. Her heart still belongs to another man.”

“She married you didn’t she?” Marcus reasoned. “She would never marry a man unless she loved him, you do know that right?”

Alec remembered hearing her say as much on more than one occasion and he’d taken it for nothing more than wistful thinking from a young girl.

“I don’t understand these celebrities,” she said once as she was flicking through a magazine that had an exclusive on Elizabeth Taylor. “How can they get married and divorced so many times? Take her for example,” she turned the magazine to him and pointed at the picture of a sixty something year old Liz Taylor. “She’d been married 8 times?? How can she possibly marry so many men?”

Alec had just shrugged. He didn’t understand why she married so many men but he certainly understood why so many men were besotted with her. After all, she was a knockout.

“I would never marry a man unless I loved him,” she continued on. “The everlasting kind of love.”

Alec had smirked at her words. He’d thought her very naïve. “And how would you know that it’s love?”

“Easy! If my heart beats out of control every time I set eyes on him, if his kisses make my knees weak and if I just can’t bear the thought of losing him then I will know that I love him.”

A smile lit his somber face as he shook his head lightly at the memory. She’d been 16 at the time, he didn’t blame her for such a reverie but he also couldn’t take those words seriously. Conditions had prevented her from making those words come true.

“There’s more to it Marcus. It isn’t as simple as you think it is.”

“Are you referring to my unborn grandchild perhaps? Don’t look so shocked, son. I might be old but my wits are still about me. Call it a father’s instinct if you must. Nonetheless, that child is not the only thing that binds you to her.”

“I think that you are wrong,” Alec said stubbornly. Vic didn’t love him and he wasn’t going to let Marcus smart talk him into believing otherwise.

“I’ve been wrong on a few occasions, but this isn’t one of them. The two of you are too proud and way too stubborn to see that old and wise people such as myself have the ability to see things that blind yourself too.” Marcus looked at him intently. “Why don’t you try telling her how you feel and see how she responds?”

“Are you sure your wits are still about you Marcus? Vic entered this relationship free of emotions. I would scare her away and…”

“But what if it doesn’t drive her away but closer to you?”

“But what if it doesn’t?” Alec retorted.

“You always struck to me as a daring gambler. Isn’t that what your job is all about? Trusting your instinct on a piece of art and then gambling on its success? Can you not do the same with your life?”

“The problem is, my instincts are not telling me that I have a chance of coming out a winner.”

“YOUR instincts are muddled by your emotions. Which is why I am sitting here talking to you, trying to knock some sense into that brilliant yet not so brilliant at the moment brain of yours.”

“If I can’t trust my instincts, what can I do?” Alec asked, in a total state of confusion.

“Trust mine!” At that moment, the door opened and Rosemary walked in, closely followed by Vic.

“Darlin’,” she called. “Our Vicki has just told me great news. She is pregnant!” Marcus smiled and went to hug his daughter.

“I’m very happy for you sweetheart. You’ll make a wonderful mother.”

“Thank you Daddy,” she said and reached up to kiss him.

“Now, off you go,” he said and slightly pushed then towards the main hall. “You should spend this day alone together. With a baby on the way, these times will become rarer.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want them to know for a while?” Alec asked Vic once they were back on the road.

Vicki shrugged. “They had to know sooner or later. I didn’t want to wait too long and risk having them mad at us.”

Alec nodded. “Still want to go to the beach?”

“Of course! I don’t have my swimsuit underneath for nothing,” she said with a smile. “You didn’t develop a phobia for beaches since I left, did you?”

Alec laughed. “Well, you find out soon enough.”

There were hardly anyone left at the beach and Alec was glad about it. Vic was already jogging towards the water, removing her shirt and shorts at the same time. “The water is wonderful,” she shouted to him.

Alec stripped down to his swimming briefs and soon joined her. “Don’t swim so fast Vic,” he told her.

“Oh come on Alec. You’ve stayed cooped up in an office too long. Your swimming agility is getting lousy!”

“Lousy?” he said and swam top speed to catch up to her. He caught a laughing Vic by the waist and planted her right against his bare chest. “What were you saying about my swimming agility?”

Vic didn’t answer him as her eyes dropped to a certain part of his anatomy that was hidden by the water. Alec mentally cursed his treacherous body. Giving in to the temptation, he kissed her. After all, he said he would make love to her until she loved him, he never said he wouldn’t kiss her. But it might not stop at kissing, an internal voice said. It will, he mentally responded.

He lifted her out of the water, and carried her to a towel he’d placed on the hot sand. He kept kissing her as his hand caressed the soft swell of her stomach. Thank you little one, he thought. Without you, Daddy wouldn’t be with Mommy. Feeling his resistance slip, he ended the kiss before it went too far.

Well, one out of three isn’t that bad he thought. She melted in his arms every time he kissed her. Now he only has to set her heart beating wildly and make her unable to bear the thought of losing him.

“I want to see the sun set,” she told him.

“I’ll go grab a couple blankets,” he said and kissed her lightly before walking back towards the car. He came back with the blankets as well as a few provisions. He sat back down beside her and pulled her into his arms as they watched the slow descend of the sun.

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I am starved! I didn't want to grab a snack until I finished writing this chapter for you guys! THat's how much I am dedicated to you ^_^
hehehe, I've just thought of a wonderful way to bring these two stubborn beings together lol
going to get my snack now bye bye

Chapter 17

Sign or reminder?

Alec looked at Vic undecidedly. She looked splendid in the evening light and she was smiling sweetly at him, encouraging him to speak his mind. “There’s something I need to tell you…”

“You know you can tell me anything Alec.” She smiled at him again and he returned it. His doubts evaporated with the last rays of the sun and he advanced towards her with confidence. He took her hands in his much larger ones and stared at her lovingly.

“I’ve been keeping this to myself for a long time Vic. I don’t even know how to tell you.” Vic did say anything and her eyes implored him to go on. “I love you Vic! I don’t know how or when but I just know that I love you beyond sanity.”

Tears appeared at the corners of eyes but her smile didn’t falter, it widened. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed happily onto his chest. “I’ve been waiting so long for you to tell me those words,” she croaked. “I love you too Alec, I love you so much it hurts.”

Alec smiled and tightened his hold on her. She felt so good…and she was his to hold onto for eternity. “Tell me that you love me again…”

“I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOU!!!!” Alec closed his eyes to bask in his newly found pool of happiness. When he reopened his eyes, he found himself blinded by the light and he squinted. The warm body he had been holding stirred and brought him back to reality. He’d been dreaming. She’d declared her love for him, but in his dream.

Her lashed flickered upwards and she smiled as soon as she saw him. “Morning,” she said lazily. “What time is it?”

“Time to wake up if you want to be on time for your appointment,” he said after he checked his wristwatch.

“Umm…but I like feeling your arms around me like that…” she sulked.

Alec laughed throatily. “Will you rise if I promised you I won’t let anyone cut both my arms off so I can hold you for the rest of our lives?”

“Now that is a lovely promise and one I will hold you too,” she said, her eyes twinkling. She planted a kiss on his cheek before getting to a sitting position. “I missed the sunrise,” she complained.

“It’s the sunset, but in reversed order.” He told her and she laughed.

“That’s the practical side of you talking. But what does your emotional side have to say?”

“I could miss out on life if it meant I could keep on dreaming of you,” he said seriously with a touch of regret that she did not comprehend. “Come on, we have to rush home, shower and then go to the hospital.” He got up and extended his hand to help her get up. He scooped up what they’ve used and got into the car.

As they made their journey home and to the hospital, Alec couldn’t stop but think of his dream. What he would have given for it to be more than just a dream. Was it a sign? He wondered. Would he get the same reaction from Vic if he were to echo what he’d said in his dream? Alec glanced sideway at her and realized that in his dream, she didn’t have a swelled stomach. Alec’s hands gripped harder on the steering wheel. His dream was not a sign, it was a reminder he told himself. She was bonded to him through the child only. And only in his dreams would love bond her to him.

Alec escorted her to her obstetrician’s office and waited impatiently as the doctor conducted a few tests on her that seemed to take forever.

“Is everything ok?” Alec asked as soon as Vic came back from changing into her own clothes. The doctor sat down behind his desk and smiled broadly at them.

“I can see that you will become a very protective father,” the doctor said with a glint of laughter. “The pregnancy is developing at a normal and healthy pace,” he assured Alec who breathed a silent sight of relief. Alec knew that he’d promised not to touch Vic until her heart was his and although he knew it wasn’t likely to be anywhere in the near future, he still needed to ask.

“And there’s no problem with us going back to our…err…normal routine?” he asked the doctor and knew both people present did not miss the meaning of it, Vic blushed like a schoolgirl and the doctor just smiled understandingly.

“I don’t see why it should be a problem however, be gentle. I know that you are a nurse Mrs. Su but don’t hesitate to drop by with questions or worries since you are in the close proximity.”

“Thank you doctor,” Vic said and Alec shook the man’s hand.

“I’ll see you next month then.” They bid their farewell and Alec placed a protective hand on her back to lead her down the hallway.

“You should be on your way too,” she told him.

Alec nodded. “Make sure…”

“That they know I’m pregnant?” Vic rolled her eyes. “Alec, even if I didn’t tell them, I think they would find out on their own anyways,” she said and flattened her shirt against her body to show her slightly protruding stomach.

Alec grinned before covering her mouth with his. “I’ll come pick you up,” he said and waited for her to nod before departing. Once he had himself only as company, his thoughts drifted back to his dream. Maybe it meant that she loved him, baby or no baby. Or maybe the birth of their child will unite them. Or he is seeing too much in something so trivial. Since when did he interpret dreams?

Angry at himself, he drove a bit faster to reach the sanctuary of his office. But his sanctuary contained another presence.

“Hello Marcus.”

“Morning Alec. You know, when I decided to retire, I never thought I would come back here so often. But this is the only place I can come to to talk to you.”

“What’s on your mind?” Alec asked.

“What progresses have you made?” the older man asked.

“Progress in my business or personal life?”

“Well, right now, it looks like they’ve combined,” Marcus told him reproachfully.

“I’m sorry Marcus but…”

”Don’t be sorry son,” Marcus said lightly. “I loved working here but I never let my work take priority to my family. I’m glad you feel the same way. This gallery will survive without you for a while, but I don’t think you will if you keep all that love locked inside you.”

“I just want to wait till Vic develops deeper feelings for me,” Alec told him.

“Looks like you’ll need a hand,” Marcus said matter-of-factly.

Alec frowned and eyed his father-in-law. “What do you plan on doing?”

“I don’t know yet but inspiration will come,” he said with a grin. “Life is all about being artistic!”

“I guess that’s a good thing you don’t have a plan yet,” Alec said with relief.

“And why is that?”

“Then I know you don’t plan on just going to Vic and tell her yourself about my feelings.”

“Ye of little faith! When I put my plan into motion, I intend to do so secretly. You’ll be declaring your love to my daughter and you wouldn’t even know I was behind it,” he said confidently and strode out of the room.

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HELLO!!!
I know you must have all being disppointed when I didn't keep up with my rare speedy updates...I'll I can say is I am really sorry :( Things just caught up to me. Work is so tiring too, killed my brain cells and I couldn't think anymore. Not trying to make up excuses of course ^_^

To tiramisu: where exactly are you from?

To bubble8, I will make sure to post the link to the sequel here for those you are interested it ok? I'm still debating on whether to make the next story just Jimmy's side of it or have Vicki's too.

To Watev@& Angelicious801: confused? you are suppose to be lol only i know if Vicki loves Alec or not but I promise to share that before the story comes to an end ^_^

To Suki: Heya!! long time no see you or heard of you hehehe I guess I have to start my LJ story huh? maybe I'll do it at the same time as my sequel or after (with this many plot in my head, I have to sort them out and decide which one to tackle first. I have the sequel with Jimmy which I will start first since the prequel would be fresh in ppl's mind, and really sad LJ story, a story with Ed/Nic/Ceci with a small futuristic theme, and a Ed/Gill story. See what I mean? My brain works faster than my hands :D)

Anyways, can't promise when the nexy chap will be posted guys. Sorry but I'll try to make it soon ^_^
bye

Chapter 18

Baby names

Alec checked his watch and sighed deeply. There was still half an hour to go before he could pick Vicki up. He looked around and tried to think of something that he could work on meanwhile but everything had been done. He checked his watch again. Well, since he would be waiting, he might as well wait in a place where he could see her. He picked up his jacket and strode out of his office, whistling.

“Mind if I ask where you are going?” Marco, a colleague turned employee of his asked with a grin.

“Driving to the hospital. To pick up my wife,” he continued when Marco raised his eyebrows puzzlingly.

“Ahhh. But let me correct your choice of words because it looks to me like you’ll float there, not drive!” he said and cracked up laughing. “Who would have thought that love could turn you like this?” he teased.

“You should try it,” Alec told him.

“Nah!! I enjoy bachelorhood to much. I’m not going to hold you any longer. I know you’ll much rather be with her. See you tomorrow!”

Alec bid him goodbye and continued to walk. If it was that apparent to Marco that he was in love, then does that mean Vic knew too? Alec sighed. He’s not going to dwell on that matter again. For now, being with her made him happy enough.

He parked in the area reserved for visitors and entered the hospital. After a few enquiries and direction, he finally found himself standing at a door, looking at his wife as she took care of her patient. In this instance, it was a little girl of about eight.

“Why didn’t you eat my knight?” the little girl asked and Alec realized they were playing chess.

“Which one?” Vic asked and Alec grinned. Like she didn’t know! “Oh that one! I didn’t see that. Well, you better move it fast if you don’t want me to get it.”

“Like you would!” she said and rolled her eyes. “You keep letting me win. That’s no fun!”

“You’re winning because you are smart, not because I’m letting you!”

“Liar!” she called her.

“Alright, I admit that I did let you go off a few times but don’t you find it more fun this way though?” she asked.

“Easy for you to say! It’s not like there is anyone that can beat you.”

“Of course there is!” Vic protested.

“Yeah? Who?” she asked curiously.

“My husband,” she answered easily.

“Ohh, does he let you win too?” the little girl asked with a giggle. “You must love him a lot and he must love you very much too.” Alec felt his heart contract painfully when all Vic did was smile weakly at the girl. “I wish I will find a man one day that will love me as much as your husband loves you and,” her eyes fell on him and she smiled. “Is he your husband?” she asked and Vic turned.

She smiled softly as he advanced to her. He brushed her lips lightly with a kiss before turning to the little girl.

“Hello, my name is Jessica but you can call me Jessie,” she said and extended her little hand. “I’m a patient in this hospital.”

Alec was amused by her mature greeting. “Hello. I’m Alec and I’m Vic’s husband.”

“I know you are Nurse Vicki’s husband. I knew when I first looked at you. Don’t be surprised,” she continued. “Nurse Vicki has told me a lot about you.”

“It’s time that you rest Jessie. I’ll see you tomorrow alright?” Vic said quickly. Jessie nodded and wished them a good night. Alec just stood by the bed as Vic tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead.

Looking at her, it made him think of the future, when she would be doing the same thing to their child. A smile curved his lips. He was wondering if they’ll have a little girl or a little guy.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked him.

“Just wondering if we’ll have a boy or a girl.”

“And do you want a boy or a girl?” she asked him. One look at her and he knew she was very serious about the question. He stopped walking and held her by her upper arms.

“I’m not old fashioned Nurse Vicki,” he said. “I would love any child borne from us. Anyways, I can think of more pressing matters to discuss.”

“What is it?” she asked uncertainly.

“Names!! I don’t want to call our baby, ‘baby’ or ‘kid’ all the time.” He helped her into the car and in no time, they’ve reached their house.

“Why don’t you rest while I make us some dinner, umm??” Alec said once they were inside.

“I’ll help,” she volunteered.

“You don’t have too.”

“I want to,” she persisted and he gave in. They spend most of the evening tossing names to each other.

“How about Sebastian for a boy?” Alec suggested as they washed the dishes. “And a middle name…er…Owen. Sebastian Owen, I like that!” He turned to Vic with a bright smile but it evaporated as soon as he saw the big frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“The name!!!”

“You don’t like the name?” he asked with a pout, pretending to be hurt.

“Say his full name,” she told him as she crossed her arms across her bosom.

“Sebastian Owen Su. Sounds good to me,” he said with a shrug.

“Say his initials,” she commanded.

“S.O.S,” a light bulb finally lit in his head. “Ahh, alright, I’ll think of something else.” He ran his hand across his chin a couple times. “How about Phoebe for a girl? Doesn’t it mean something like the bright one in Greek?”

“Yes but her initials are going to be P.S, as in post script!! Honestly Alec, you were the best at ridiculing other’s name. What happened to that special ‘talent’?”

“Transferred it to you I guess.” He scratched his head. “Who would have thought choosing two names would be so hard!”

“Giving up so soon?” she reproached him.

“Giving up for today,” he corrected. “I’d much rather we went to bed anyways. Want to shower while I finish down here?” Vic nodded and was about to leave when she turned to ask him.

“What do you think of Jeremy?” Alec just shrugged and she left him to rinse the last few dishes. Wasn’t Jimmy short for Jeremy, Alec pondered on his own. She still hasn’t forgotten him. He hadn’t expected her to in such a short period of time but to name their child after him…

Alec wiped his hands dry then checked all the locks and windows before closing the light and moving to the bedroom.

Just as he stepped in, Vic came out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around her. He quickly grabbed his nightwear and hurried into the bathroom to take a very cold shower.

‘Love me, love me real soon Vic,’ he silently willed her. ‘I don’t know how long I can go on holding true to my promise.’

Once he collected himself together, he opened the door and stepped into the room. Vic was propped against a few pillows and was reading a book about pregnancy.

“Learned anything from those?” he asked.

“It reminded me that I am a very lucky woman. It says that most women suffer from morning sickness for several weeks. Several being about 10 weeks.”

Alec frowned. “I didn’t notice you being nauseous.”

“That’s because I haven’t. Well, not while I have been with you. Mine only lasted for a week.”

“Remind me to read that book soon, will you?” he said and dropped his head on the pillow while closing his eyes.

A moment later, he heard Vic click off the lamp and slide down the bed. He reached across and pulled her to him. He knew what she was thinking. She was probably wondering why he kept their relationship so platonic, especially now that the doctor had given them the ‘go’. He kissed her lightly and willed her to understand his thoughts. As much as it is going to kill him, he wanted her to love him. He needed her to love him. He tightened his hold on her like he feared she’d slip away from him and then slowly fell into a deep somber sleep.

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Hey Tracey, didn't mean to ignore you ^_^ I just didn't have anything to say, just smiled at your questions because I can't tell you lol by routine, I mean a huband/wife night routine :P I didn't want to say that to explicitely.

And to Suki, you're a N/J fan? eheh, don't share that thou lol I'm still a stuck up for L/J And yeah, too many stories in my head is bad but have no choice ^_^ That's for thinking too much and yet too lazy to write

To Perfect Angel, the plans? Just read next chapter :D

Greeni, wondering if Vicki really loves Alec? Answer next chapter. So don't miss out on it Greeni and QinG

Tiramisu, I was in Singapore for a couple days a few years back due to a plane delay (was on my way to start a new life in Aussie) but it was raining there at the time (it was in Dec). GOod luck with your papers, glad you make the time to come and read anywyas ^_^ And my email address is sweet_azngal@hotmail.com

To everyone, I am concluding this story next chapter. I might even make an epilogue so wrap it up but can't promise. I don't like the number 19, like 20 better (my birthdate lol) so yeah
Sorry for not updating for so long, problem was I rented movies and since i am only allowed to watch during holidays, I had to make good use of it (with working and all *sigh*).
bye bye
update the next chapter real fast ok

Chapter 19

Rush to the hospital

Alec was looking at a few canvases that had been captured on films for him to inspect when his cell phone rang.

“Hello?” he answered distractingly.

“Mr. Su? Alec Su?” Alec confirmed his identity with a rough yes. His cell number was given to his family and close friends only. And although the voice sounded familiar, he was sure he did not know her on a personal level. “I’m Nurse Sandy and I’m calling from the hospital.”

Now she had his full attention. He dropped the photos he was holding and held the receiver more tightly. “Did anything happen to Vic?”

“I’m really sorry, so sorry. No one meant for it to happen. It was an accident…”

“HOW IS VIC?” he yelled into the phone.

“She fell,” the voice said weakly. “I’m afraid she had a miscarriage.”

“What?” This couldn’t be happening. He must have misheard her, he reasoned.

“The baby, the baby is gone…” Alec felt like his whole world, his whole life was crumpling around him.

“Vic…”

“She’s fine,” the nurse hurriedly told him. “Had a nasty fall but she only has a few bruises…”

“Alright, I’ll be right there!” he interrupted her and grabbed for his keys. ‘The baby is gone.’ These words just kept repeating in his head as he drove to the hospital.

He went to reception and asked for her room number. He walked as fast as possible there but once he reached the door, his pace slowed down. Once he reached the door, he couldn’t even bring himself to take the knob.

So there was no longer a baby to keep her by his side but all this time they’ve spend together and their marriage. She could still want to be with him and they could always have another baby…

He took a deep breath and opened the door. He’d wanted to show a concerned face but he failed the moment he saw her. She was smiling when he entered and she even kept smiling for a few seconds after she saw him. He knew that having the baby wasn’t part of her plans but did she have to be this happy about what happened??

Her smile finally faded and he could bring his legs to move again but they led him to the window instead. He stared out into the green lawn that surrounded the back of the hospital for a long time, not daring to look at her, not daring to talk.

He didn’t know if there was anything to talk about anymore. She looked so happy while he was so miserable. Did he have the right to keep her with him so they can both be miserable? He closed his eyes and felt the moisture that slid down his cheek. He didn’t want to lose her but did he have a choice?

“Does it pain you that much?” she finally asked and broke the heavy silence that had reigned over the room.

He didn’t want to talk about his feelings right now. “I’m sorry things had to be this way.”

She didn’t respond immediately and he wanted to turn and see her for signs but he dared not. “I’m not. You must have known from the beginning that I didn’t want this any other way.”

“Then why didn’t you end my misery at the beginning?” he asked her. “Why drag things this far?”

“You’re the one who wanted to get involved in the first place remember? Anyways, the simple answer could be summarized in one word: hope. I was hoping that…hoping that…I don’t know why I even bothered. I should have known that nothing would come out of those.”

“Hopes…yes I had hopes too and I still do.” He finally turned to face her. “I only have one hope left Vic.” He came to sit by her bed.

“I won’t do it Alec. You know that is impossible and besides, it’s too late!” Her eyes implored him to understand.

“It’s not too late! Can’t you even try? For me? For you? FOR US?”

“Are you that cruel?”

“Just give me a chance, a chance to be truly happy.” He asked her.

“At the expense of my own happiness? At the expense of my morals? What about how I feel Alec? Have you ever thought of me at all? About what I want?” She was crying and Alec could imagine those to be daggers shooting straight at him. He took her hand in his and looked at her in the eyes.

“Please Vic…”

“No, I won’t do it Alec. I won’t!!” She turned away and Alec sat on the bed, forcing her to look at him.

“All I am asking is for you to give me a chance to make you happy. With time, I am sure that you will grow to love me. I know that now that the baby is no longer here, there is nothing that ties you to me. Nothing that forces you to stay with me but I am hoping that my love for you is strong enough to keep you by my side.”

Vic finally stopped crying and she looked at him with a lost expression. “What are you saying?”

Alec took a deep breath. “I’m saying that I love you. I LOVE YOU! I love you so much that my life would be void if you left it. I love you to the point of insanity. I love you Vic…please stay with me. Let me love you, let me teach you to love me too.”

Vic threw her hands around his neck and sobbed, throwing him in a vortex of confusion. “Oh you silly, silly man!” she called him and starting pounding on his back.

“Vic…”

“I love you too, you stupid fool!!!”

“Did I hear that right?” he asked, not daring to hope too much.

“Yes, you heard that right. I LOVE YOU and I can’t believe I fell in love with a fool!”

“If this is another dream,” he said. “Then let me never awake.”

“I feel like strangling you,” she told him angrily. “It’s about time you wake up anyways. Scared me half to death. Who told you the baby was gone?”

“Some nurse said…” Vic had placed his hand on her stomach and he could definitely feel the swell of her stomach. “I thought you’d lost the baby and when I walked in and you were smiling, I thought you were happy about the lost.”

“And I thought you were disappointed I didn’t have a miscarriage. And then you said about ending your misery…”

“You thought I was asking you to abort…” He pulled her into his arms and held her very close to him. “I would never ask you to do something that cruel. Marcus was right, I should have told you I loved you a long time ago. It would have saved us both a lot of pain.”

“And I wished I had said something in my sleep,” she said and blushed beautifully.

“Is that why you panicked when I told you I’ve been looking at you sleep?” She nodded. “I just have one more thing to ask you about. Jimmy…”

“Is my deepest regret. No, it’s not what you think,” she quickly told him. “I forced myself to believe I loved him and I actually thought I did. But it wasn’t until I came back and saw you again that I knew I was only kidding myself. Don’t you find that you and Jimmy have a lot in common? When I first saw him, he reminded me of you and that drew me to him. I am ashamed of my past actions and I just hope he could find his own happiness.”

“I can’t say that he will but I know he will understand and he won’t hold it against you.”

“When did you understand him so well?” Vic teased and he just shrugged. Concern clouded his eyes again and he looked at Vic thoroughly. “What’s wrong?”

“The nurse said you had a few bumps and bruises…”

“I only have a twisted ankle, nothing else. And who is this nurse?” she asked.

“Damn if I know. She said her name was Betty? No Sandy. She said she was Nurse Sandy and that you had an accident and that the baby was gone.”

“Now that is weird…I don’t know of a Nurse Sandy…” A frown creased her forehead as she forced herself to think.

“Don’t try, she isn’t a nurse,” Alec told her confidently and grinned. He’d finally remembered where he had heard that voice before. “She’s your father’s previous secretary.”

“Now why would she do something like that?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s just say that Marcus made it his business to see that I confess my love to you.” Vic eyed him suspiciously. “We’ll get him to tell you his side of the story. Right now, I just want to hold you. Too bad this bed isn’t big enough for three.”

“Are you saying that I am fat??” she demanded and hit him lightly.

“Not fat, just beautifully round. There’s a difference.” He slowly and carefully lifted her partially on top of him, making sure he didn’t hurt her ankle and they laid on the narrow bed together, unaware of an old man that had walked in and out again silently.

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I hope I didn't confuse anybody with this chapter :P
I'm going to wrap this story up with an epilogue and then tackle the sequel ^_^
already made the account (www.winglin.net/fanfic/jimyumi)
Poster and bg already up, I tried to copy the style of this one since it's the sequel but I might just make another one later too if I feel up to it ^_^ Haven't posted the forwards jsut yet (+ the preview) will do that at the same time as I post the epilogue :D
see you all then

Chapter 20

Epilogue

“Here, give her to me,” Vic said and Alec handed their little girl to her. “And then you can rejoin your friends down there.”

“I don’t mind waiting here with you,” he told her truthfully. As much as he enjoyed his friends company, they still came second to his family.

Vic smiled lovingly at him. “I know but it’s bad etiquette to leave your guest alone. Beside, if you stay up here too long, they’ll get ideas as to what we are doing.”

“Are you saying my friends won’t believe we are just putting our daughter to sleep?” he asked and came to hug her from behind. He looked down at his daughter and smiled proudly. “She’s beautiful, just like her mother.”

“Alec, I have my reasons for sending you away. This daughter of yours won’t sleep if she sees you. You’re like her box of energy! She gets all excited when you are around.”

Alec chuckled and bent down to give her a kiss and then kissed her mom before leaving them alone. As he reached the living room, a roar of laughter reached his ears.

“You guys wouldn’t be making fun of me, would you?” he asked pleasantly.

“What is there to make fun of?” Edison asked and they all laughed again.

“Alright, share the joke,” Alec told them.

“Mate, we were…”

“We were wondering about your choice of name,” the new Mrs. Chen interrupted.

“Do you find the name funny?” Vic asked from the door, a look of concern on her face. She moved inside the room and came to stand beside Alec.

“She’s asleep already?” he asked her.

“Of course, I told you you are her box of energy. Take the energy away and she falls asleep right away.”

Alec smiled and turned to the others. “She’s got this thing about names. She’s afraid the poor kid is going to be made fun of at school. She turned every name I suggested upside down and inside out to make sure there was nothing to poke fun at. You’ll break your heart if you thought of something.”

“Nothing other than the fact that your baby is like a billboard,” Stephen told him as he tried to swallow his laughter.

“Adah Vivien Su,” Edison said slowly and joined in Stephen’s laughter. “It’s like writing ‘A loves V’ on the bark of the biggest tree.”

“There’s more to it,” Alec told them proudly. “Adah means beautiful addition in Hebrew while Vivien means full of life in latin.” He looked at Vic and smiled. “And I am thinking, didn’t you say Allen meant handsome?” he rubbed his chin like he was in deep thought. “Well Vincent means victorious. Allen Vincent Su…”

All the females present cringed at the sound of the name. “What?” Alec asked.

“You think that is bad?” Vic said as she went to sit down on the loveseat. “He wanted to call our son Sebastian Owen.”

“Has a nice ring to it,” Nic finally said but his words were soon drowned away by the laughter of Edison and Stephen.

“Do you have any idea to what kind of life you would be giving the child with a name like that?” Ruby asked him disbelievingly.

“S.O.S, I need somebody to rescue me,” Edison sang.

“Ohh, that never occurred to me,” Nic said and started laughing as well.

“I think it’s this disability that overtakes you once you become a father,” Edison said confidently.

“I disagree with your conclusion Ed. I’m the living proof of it. And now that we are on the topic. When are you going to join the father club?” Stephen asked mischievously.

“Come on, I just joined the husband club. Besides, I’m happy just playing godfather for now,” he answered with a grin.

“Well,” Nic said. “I’m sorry to have to conclude this night but I have to head home to my kids.”

“And I also, only difference is I only have one kid to go home too,” Stephen said with a grin.

They all turned to Edison. “I have a bed to return to,” he said and Amanda stomped on his foot but Edison clamped his teeth together and did not yelp. “Her way of saying I love you.”

Hugs and kisses were exchanged as they said their farewells. And finally their house was quiet once again.

“Finally I have you all to myself,” Alec said and closed his arms around Vic.

”What do you want to do?” she asked him.

“What they thought we were doing and amused them so much that their laughter kept Adah awake.”

“How many times should I tell you that…”

“Do you want to stand here and argue because I have better plans for us…” he said sweetly.

“And what plan would that be?” Vic asked him and moved closer to him while her fingers played with his shirt buttons.

“Well, it includes carrying you upstairs for one, and then dropping you slowly on the bed and produce an Allen Vincent Su.”

“I never agreed on the name,” she told him but allowed him to lift her up anyways.

“Let’s keep the arguments till after, shall we?” he said and took her to their room.

“I love you,” Vic whispered in his ear.

“And I am about to show you how much I love you,” he said and put her down on the bed softly.

“And I thought you only wanted to produce a son,” she teased him.

“The kid would be a bonus. I don’t mind a few more billboards,” he said with a grin, referring to Stephen’s previous comment.

“Billboards are expensive…”

“I don’t know if I have enough money he said, but I have excess love to give,” he said and kissed her hand. “Is that enough?”

“That’s all I want,” she said and shed a tear of joy. “Thank you for your love.”

“Thank you for loving me back,” Alec said seriously and proceeded to show her how much he loved her and how much he was grateful for her love.

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There it is