Page 11 of Kyle
The ceremony was cold and impersonal. They were married at the manor with only family witnessing the marriage. By the time the two weeks had elapsed, the rumors and speculations had spread far and wide.
Heartthrob Kyle McCreary to tie the knot with Ingrid Ryder. Was it a merger? Surely it could not be love. The groom had recently been involved with violet eyed actress Carly Jennings and even up until a week ago, they were seen dining in one of Kelly Takahashi's exclusive uptown restaurants. One might be led to wonder if the couple were going to pick up right where they left off after the ceremony.
Ingrid read the piece with distaste. It further proved to her that Kyle McCreary was shallow, entitled and nothing more than a spoiled brat.
Now standing before him as they exchanged vows, she had to force herself to appear cool and collected. This man, this stranger was her husband for better or worse. They would be sharing the same accommodations. She had given up her apartment and moved into a six-bedroom suite on Lowery Road, a gift from both grandparents.
It did not appease her to realize that it was one of her very special designs. She would be sharing it with someone she disliked.
As soon as the ceremony was finished and he gave her the obligatory kiss, a mere brush of his lips on hers, she was ready to find somewhere she could be alone. The McCreary's chef had prepared a sumptuous meal, one she was certain would be wasted on her.
Her mother wearing strawberry colored silk was flirting with Jason McCreary and it was plain the poor man was trying to find a way to get rid of her.
"I think your dad needs rescuing." Plucking the champagne from the catering staff, she gave her new husband a deceptively sweetsmile. "Why don't you take her off his hands? After the way you two were behaving, I'm sure she would appreciate picking up where you left off."
His winter blue eyes flared. He was nursing his glass of champagne and brooding. He was married, he thought bitterly. Surely this was the worst day of his damn life.
"Shouldn't you be mingling?" He countered sarcastically. "As the bride, isn't that what one of your duties are?"
Determined not to allow him to get under her skin, she sipped the vintage and did a slow sweeping survey of the Great Hall. Someone had bothered to put up some decorations and the balloons and flowers, dozens of chrysanthemums and baby's breath made a beautiful backdrop. There was a fire glowing in the hearth.
Her father was chatting with Jessica McCreary Sweeny while her husband lounged in a chair, looking bored and out of place.
Matthew had loosened his tie and was on his second glass of scotch. She caught his eyes, and he lifted his glass in a mock toast. He had told her bluntly that as soon as it was prudent, he would be leaving.
The entire thing was a farce. It was Thanksgiving Day, so she could not go to the office. In fact, they had both been told that they were not to be seen there for a week.
"You're newlyweds and will need some time alone." Her grandfather had told her firmly. That was something she had no intention of agreeing to. She had pledged her life to a loveless match and that was as far as she was prepared to go.
"How's the actress? I thought you would have invited her to the ceremony." Her eyes gleamed maliciously. "Or would it have been too much for her to bear?" Leaning forward as if disclosing a secret, she continued. "Please don't let me stop you from going to her tonight. We both know that's what you would prefer."
"Damn right." His lips curled contemptuously as he returned her gaze. "I would prefer to be anywhere else but here."
"The feeling is mutual. If you would excuse me, this bride will be drowning her sorrows with a shot of whiskey."
His eyes glowered as he watched her stroll over to stand next to her brother. Tossing back the drink, he seriously considered leaving. He was about to do just that, when his father, who had managed to get away from Iona, touched his arm lightly.
"Don't be foolish."
"What?"
"Whatever you're planning, think about what you'd be risking. Your grandfather is watching," he added in an undertone. "He has the power to make things very bad for you and that young woman you've been seeing. If nothing else, think about her."
He glanced up, startled by his father's sudden presence. The older man's expression was stern but not unkind, as if he saw something in Kyle that no one else did, or he simply recognized the exhaustion of a man wrestling with choices he never wanted. "This is your wedding day, son. Whatever you're feeling, don't make a scene you'll regret tomorrow." His voice was low, meant only for Kyle, but the warning was clear.
"How the hell are we supposed to live together when we cannot even stand the sight of each other?" The bitterness was heavy in his voice. "She thinks I'm beneath her."
"I'm sure that's not true." Jason felt the weariness invading his very soul. Even though he knew this was just a business arrangement and nothing like his own wedding to Kyle's mother so many years ago, it had brought back memories that seared his soul.
"She has such an exalted opinion of herself." Kyle commented caustically, his gaze tracking over to her. Two things struck him like a blow to his system. The first was the fact that he never noticed that for her size and height, she was a beautiful woman.
He was near enough to notice the dimple peeking out when she laughed at something her brother said. Her complexion was smooth and reminded him of the caramel candy he used to love as a kid. The other thing was the dynamics between brother and sister. It was obvious they loved each other. The two seemed to have excluded everyone else in the room, especially him.
He looked over to where his sister was sitting like a stick in the soft blue cushioned chair, a pinched expression on her face and realized not for the first time they were not close, had never been. And she was terribly unhappy.
Jessica was overlooked. Even as a child, no one had bothered to pay her any mind, except their mother and after her death, she had slid into obscurity. She was part of the company, had some glorified title, but she had no real power. He felt his gut twisting as he continued to stare at her.
She was so different from his bride. Whereas his sister was a shrinking violet, Ingrid was like a charging bull, mowing down everything and everyone in her path. She was fearless and intimidating.
