The Last Option

The next day, as Rebecca looked at the dresses, she thought again that she should have had someone by her side helping her with that, and for a moment she regretted being the way she was, without close friends with whom to share this important moment. Again she thought that she would have liked Bernadette to be there, but precisely because of the way she was now she was angry with her.

Bernard would also buy a suit for the wedding, but unlike Rebecca, he was counting on Phil, whom he arranged to meet at Nathan's tailor's shop. When they met again Phil hugged him effusively. "You did!" Phil told him. "I must confess that for a moment I doubted that you would make it, but now that I see you I must admit that you did it rather quickly. And what will happen now?" Bernard shrugged.

"Whatever has to happen," he told him simply. "I am sure that many things will happen tomorrow, and they will not be good."

"How do you think Louis reacts when he sees you?"

"I'm sure he'll go crazy. But I'm ready for him."

"Do you think Rebecca will try to call off the wedding when she finds out about everything?"

“I'm sure she will try alluding that I conspired to deceive her and commit fraud, but she will have to prove it. You too will be splashed. Are you prepared for what is coming?"

"I'm not worried at all. On the other hand, you have in your favor that you never used a false name. As you said, she will have to prove it."

"For little Nathan I'm willing to fight. I hope you will support me in that too."

"Whatever happens, I'm with you, and you know it."

"Thank you Phil. You already know that you will be my best man at the wedding, right?"

"Nothing would honor me more, Bernard. Sincerely."

"You are definitely a good friend."

"You've already told me that several times! Come, let's get this over with."

They entered Theodore's shop and he already knew what they wanted. He immediately began taking measurements, first Bernard, and then Phil.

"Thank God I have some morning suits ready around here!" Theodore said, referring to Bernard and Phil's last-minute request, which involved wearing a wedding suit for the day. "I just adjust the measurements and that's it."

For her part, Rebecca had a little trouble choosing the right dress. When she finally found one that met her expectations, she set about making herself more beautiful for her special day. For this she went to her usual stylist, whom she had not seen for several years.

Of course, her stylist affectionately complained to her for having disappeared for so long and she, without flinching, asked her for the best and most elaborate hairstyle that her hair could wear. Some of her old acquaintances were there and she didn't miss an opportunity to brag about her wedding with a billionaire like her, and she took the opportunity to invite them along the way.

This is how much of her day passed. By the time the stylist finished her hairstyle, it was late afternoon. She thought that maybe Louis would still be at Southern Hilltop Gold and decided to visit him to update him and tell him in which church the wedding would take place. About the reception after it she couldn't tell him anything since she didn't know where it was. Bernard promised to tell her and the guests where his company's club was before the ceremony began. Seeing her walk into his office, Louis stood up and gave her a long, effusive hug. When they sat down, he looked at her for a few seconds, admiring the hairstyle that had just been done. She looked radiant.

"Who would say? My married cousin! I never thought that would happen. That guy must be pretty special to have gotten you to jump into the water.

"He is, and he is all mine," she said with some arrogance.

"Tell me, who is he? From what little you told me from Dubai, he is also from New York and is also a businessman. What does he do for a living?"

"Why are you interested in knowing these things? You just have to know that he is a billionaire and that he is dedicated to the same thing as the Southern Hilltop Gold." "Really? What is his company's name? I may know it."

"He said his company is called S.F. Goldcorp, and that he almost did business with Nathan before he was murdered."

Louis couldn't remember the name of that company and he frowned skeptically.

"That name doesn't sound familiar to me," he observed with a suspicious attitude. "I don't think I've ever heard it."

"Phil confirmed that he was doing business with Nathan. Just relax."

"Even so, I do not finish convincing myself, forgive me for being distrustful. If you want I can investigate him. Tell me his name."

Hearing that, Rebecca felt offended, because Louis was insinuating that she had been fooled like a child, mistrusting her ability to judge people.

"Are you implying that I'm a silly rich girl? I have known many men who have tried to con me out of my money, and this is not the case. It offends me that you think that way."

"Please, don't think that, I just want to protect you, and protect this company that has cost us so much to have. That's all."

"Well, I don't need you to protect me!"

Outraged, Rebecca got up to leave.

"Rebecca, please."

Before leaving, she turned to see him.

"Just so you know, soon I will be much richer than I am now, and this company much bigger and stronger. And no thanks to you."

Visibly upset, she left the office slamming the door. Louis regretted that she had not told him the name of the man who was now her husband.

That night Rebecca fell asleep thinking about Louis's words. If he was right? She didn't inquire as she should about who her husband was now and his company, she only trusted Phil's word and Bernard's actions that showed her that he could be who he said. She looked at the engagement ring again and thought how expensive it must be. It was from Tiffany's, and not everyone can shop at a store like that. She also looked around the room and thought about the apartment. It wasn't an apartment for people with no money, there was no doubt about that, but no matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing, she could not.

Now she was annoyed by the fact that Louis had managed to unnerve her.

And finally the wedding day had arrived.

Almost all the guests were already in the church. Phil had gone ahead and was also there waiting; he was just as nervous as Bernard, waiting to see what would happen when Louis Randall found out who the groom was. The wedding was scheduled for ten o'clock in the morning and it was almost time. With the exception of a very few guests on Rebecca's side, only the bride and groom were missing. Louis Randall, who had Phil on tenterhooks, had not arrived either. At ten o'clock Bernard arrived and entered the church, waiting for Rebecca to arrive to begin the ceremony. She arrived a moment later dressed as a bride, and as she was about to enter, Louis arrived as well, who stopped her near the entrance door.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"It's good to see you too, Louis. Excuse me, I'm late for my wedding."

"Come," Louis took her arm, resigned. "You have no one else to give you away at the altar."

Rebecca smiled and they continued walking to the entrance. When they entered, they stood for a few seconds in the doorway waiting for everyone to realize that the bride had arrived. The lady at the organ quickly snapped out of it and began to play the wedding march. Rebecca and Louis began to walk down the altar, as Bernard felt his heart begin to beat faster. The audience rose and watched the bride walk down to the altar. Rebecca heard one woman say that she looked beautiful, while another commented that she hadn't been told where the party would be afterwards, if they had planned it. She heard some giggles and comments that she couldn't understand but she ignored them and continued walking with her head held high.

Louis couldn't quite make out the groom at the altar, but the figure looked familiar from a distance. When he was closer, he got a better look at his face, paling on the spot and stopping. Rebecca turned to him, puzzled that he had stopped. "What's the matter, Louis, why did you stop?"

"Is this a joke?" Louis almost shouted, "Is that guy the one you married?"