I'm Guilty, My Beauty[COMPLETED]

Next day, they were busy finalizing for it was almost time for the wedding. A garden wedding was set to start at 3:00 pm. The outdoor reception area was connected to the venue.

A big, round table was set in the middle of the reception garden. There was an elegant 5 tier wedding cake in the middle, surrounded by other pastries and give-away items.

There was a long table for the newlywed couple. Around the wedding cake, the guests would be seated in ten round tables-for-ten covered with red cloths. No flowers but only plates, silverware, and glasses were placed on top. This made the guests looked down on the caterer momentarily.

After the wedding, all the people went to the reception area. As the newlywed couple came in, everyone stood up and saluted them with a big round of applause. Then the waiters and waitresses came in, bringing food after food on every table.

The centerpiece on every table—most of all, for the newlywed—was the inviting and mouth-watering 'Beauty's Chicken Entangled'[1].

It was placed in a stylish chafing dish with the stainless inverted holder for the two chickens to look standing, and a pool of orange sauce simmering under the bird's feet. The dish was sitting on an edible water lily on a platter. The nice addition of the water lily was Chef Jim's idea. Fortunately, the resort had a man-made pond with it. Everyone was delighted to see such a unique design and recipe.

Besides the chickens were the '5-Minute Beef Tenderloin Steaks,' cut into very thin, succulent, shiny-red, tender pieces that were arranged to look like a big red heart over the fan-shaped interlacing lettuce leaves.

"Wow, this beef steak is so tender, like it melts in my mouth. Juicy, too." The bride couldn't help herself but say those words while the shimmering red sauce clung on her lips. Her tongue had no choice but wipe the sauce to clean her lips. This scene invited the groom to steal a kiss from her right away. Now both of their lips were smeared and saucy. They heartily laughed, seeing each other like this.

The people saw the saucy stolen kiss. Clinking glasses were heard afterward, telling the couple to kiss again.

More food came. Ten big 'Chili Garlic Buttery Prawns' were cut into halves. They were arranged to form like number eight, signifying infinity. 'Green Salad' was placed in the holes of the infinity symbol.

A big oval platter was served with steaming 'Seafood Paella' with a big grilled fish head at one end of the plate and the tail at its opposite end. From afar, a yellow Koi was formed.

Then, there were three varieties of sushi that was arranged on top of the other like a pyramid. One kind and one color in every plate. It was really a feast for the eyes.

Ten triangular slices of 'Crunchy Outside, Tender Inside Fish Fillets' were placed diagonally on top of the other, forming a long line with yellow spicy cheese sauce on top.

Every dish described was served on each table. Of course, the whole 'lechon' was also there. It was placed at the side, but this time, it was not the limelight.

After eating, the people thought there was nothing more aside from the cake waiting for the couple to slice. Yet, big cold watermelons shaped into baskets filled with a variety of fruit chunks were served.

Then more servers followed, carrying mini shot glasses with something colorful inside. Each guest got three with three kinds of colors inside.

"What have we got here?" asked a man to a server.

"They're desserts, Sir." He continued to describe each. "Enjoy."

All the guests were in awe and satisfied with such special presentation of food that was not commonly seen in wedding receptions. Special and unique delicacies as how the groom described the whole display.

Seeing this spectacle in front of their very eyes, the newlywed couple was thankful that the freezer broke.

But there were two people who were not happy.

"Cathy, you have to compensate me. I'm physically in pain right now," Luis, the hired guy, almost hissed, talking to the other person with his phone.

"Why would I? You're a man, but that girl caught you on the act. I thought you're a professional?"

"Watch your mouth, or you'll face my wrath. I might visit you anytime… it was just out of carelessness. I never thought that girl would be awake that late."

"Then, that's it. No need to talk."

"By the way, I sabotaged their business, but t'was foiled. I tried to sabotage a wedding." Instead of blood from a busted lip, he tasted bitterness in his mouth.

"What wedding are you talking about? Clarence and that girl got married?"

"Nope, I said business."

"I told you not to touch Clarence, his business as well." The client almost roared. "I only want you to make that girl suffer. You should have attacked when you're sure she's fast asleep or when she's alone."

"How can I go near that girl when your guy kept on holding her as if he's afraid to let go."

"What? That beguiling witch might have hypnotized him."

"Whatever, I don't wanna work with you from now on." He hung up, smiling at the 'good riddance.'

Cathy was so furious and threw the phone on the floor.

At a hideout, one of Luis' men stared at the pile of pork they had. "Boss, what are we going to do with this meat?"

"We won't receive our pay so just sell them but save some for our food. It's really a mess working with that girl."

. . . . .

Clyde and Claire heard of the commotion at the restaurant but chose to be uninvolved. They left the problem solving to the youngsters, expecting a good outcome. The result was more than satisfying. It was the talk of the town for weeks in that small area where the resort was located.

As expected of the explosive success, the news was sent far and wide: through Facebook, Twitter, or any social networking site. News traveling through word of mouth was the most effective. The result, the resort was fully booked with weddings that were scheduled for the rest of the year. Even a golden wedding was in the queue.

. . . . .

The day of the regional trials was approaching fast. Beauty was still accompanying the guys in their missions. She got her pay as well. Of course, Clarence was the one insistent of her staying with him until a week before the day. It was expected of them to be temporarily separated while the trials were ongoing in different regions. Beauty also felt the same way. They would miss each other for being apart for a while.

At this moment, Your Romeo became a not-so-important existence in her life, for she already had her boyfriend to share her heart with. For her, she must give more significance to Clarence: he was her lover while the other was just an anonymous man to whom she was only thankful.

On the other hand, Clarence never dared to write her an email as Your Romeo anymore to make this alias die a normal death—to be forgotten—he thought.

[1] Refer to Chapter 8 to recall how she did the dish referred to as 'Chicken Entangled'.