Lies and Weddings(2)

“Wait, wait, before you pop the bottle open…,” Henry yelled at the bartender as he stood on the banquette. “My friends, I summoned all of you here today under false pretenses. You’re not actually here to witness my historic win at the gaming tables of Macau. You’re here to witness Henry Tong a changed man tonight.”

“Have you finally accepted Jesus as your lord and savior?” Roger cackled.

“No, I’ve found the most precious flower in all the world.” Henry suddenly leapt off the banquette and landed on his knees right before Gabriella. The room went silent as everyone stared at him.

“Gabby, if I…if I had a flower for every time I think of you, I could walk in my garden forever…”

“Stop it, Henry, you’re drunk,” Gabriella said, shaking her head.

“I’m drunk on love. I’m intoxicated by you.” Fumbling into his jacket pocket, he took out a midnight-blue velvet box and presented it to the stunned girl. “Gabriella Soong, I realized tonight that all the money in the world would never make me a happy man unless I can enjoy it with you. I will present your father with every last cent of my winnings tomorrow to show him how serious I am. Will you please make me the happiest man on earth by saying yes?”

Edwin, Brendan, and Roger froze in disbelief at the whole scene. Rosina, her mouth wide open in shock, looked across the room at Mary.

Henry opened the box and Gabriella stared down at the sparkling rock. She held her hands up to her face and her body started to tremble. “Oh, Henry…,” she sighed as her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Is that a yes?” Henry looked up at her pleadingly.

“Yes! Yes!” Gabriella cried as Henry stood up and embraced her tightly.

Jason popped the champagne cork, and everyone in the lounge began clapping and cheering. Standing behind the bar, Jason had the perfect vantage point to witness everything unfolding, and for the rest of his life he would remember it like it happened in slow motion:

George Michael’s “Fastlove” blasting on the sound system.

Henry whirling Gabby around the tight space.

Rosina and Roger whispering tensely over the music.

Mary sitting alone gazing at the tiny bubbles in her champagne glass.

Edwin and Brendan doing sloppy tequila shots with a famous Muay Thai star.

Roger walking over to his sister, Mary, and grabbing her by the shoulders.

Mary shaking her head, sobbing.

Henry and Gabby dancing as Roger rushed over yelling, “Fucking pig!”

Henry jumping onto the banquette as Roger lunged at him in a blind rage.

Henry scrambling backward and toppling over the low glass railing.

Rosina not believing her own eyes as Henry tumbled through space like an Olympic diver in slow motion and landed on a dinner table twenty feet below.

Edwin grabbing Roger as he shouted, “What the hell? What the hell?”

Brendan staring in horror at Henry impaled onto a crystal candelabra.

Gabby screaming as blood pooled around Henry’s body on the immaculate white tablecloth.




Skip Notes

*1 To be precise, an 11.68-carat fancy yellow VVS2 Asscher-cut diamond ring accented by two large kite-shaped diamond side stones.



*2 Designed by Philippe Starck, the original enfant terrible starchitect responsible for such stellar spaces as the original Royalton Hotel in New York, Kong in Paris, and the Delano in South Beach, where I highly recommend the delicious Sunday brunch buffet—especially if somebody else is paying.





THE MAIN PLAYERS



THE EARL

Francis Gresham



Formal Title: The Right Honorable the Earl of Greshamsbury Verbal Address: my lord (formal), Lord Greshamsbury (social) Astrological sign: Cancer




HIS WIFE

Arabella Leung Gresham



Formal Title: The Right Honorable the Countess of Greshamsbury Verbal Address: madam (formal), Lady Greshamsbury (social) Astrological sign: Scorpio




THEIR SON

Rufus Leung Gresham



Formal Title: The Right Honorable the Viscount St. Ives Verbal Address: my lord (formal), Lord St. Ives (social) Known within the family as “Rufus”

Astrological sign: Sagittarius




THEIR ELDER DAUGHTER

Augusta Leung Gresham



Formal Title: Lady Augusta Gresham Verbal Address: Lady Augusta (formal), Lady Augusta (social) Known within the family as “Augie”

Astrological sign: Aries




THEIR YOUNGER DAUGHTER

Beatrice Leung Gresham



Formal Title: Lady Beatrice Gresham Verbal Address: Lady Beatrice (formal), Lady Beatrice (social) Known within the family as “Bea”

Astrological sign: Pisces




THE NEIGHBOR

Thomas Tong



Formal Title: Dr. Thomas Tong Verbal Address: Dr. Tong (formal), Thomas (social) Astrological sign: Gemini




HIS DAUGHTER

Eden Tong



Formal Title: Dr. Eden Tong Verbal Address: Dr. Tong (formal), Eden (social) Astrological sign: Capricorn





I





    Anyone who lives within their means