Take The Chance

Chapter 1

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

TO THE WEDDING OF

H A I L E Y
- and- 
M A T T H E W

05. 01. 17

AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON

IN THE CLARK RESIDENCE BY THE LAKESIDE

RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

"Well, what are you going to do?" Jacob asked Benjamin as he put the invitation down on the table in front of his friend.

Benjamin stared at the envelope and let out a sigh. "I don't know." he said and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

He had just come back from a meeting earlier when a small package, along with a few envelopes, was delivered to him sent by his family. He figured that it was just another ordinary package until he came across a white envelope with a few embellishments. His heart dropped when he realized it was a wedding invitation given to him by his brother and his fiance. 

"Do you have any plans to go to the wedding?"

"I don't know."

"But its your brother's wedding."

"It's not only his wedding."

Jacob crossed his arms and leaned forward slightly. "Bro, you still haven't gotten over that? It's been, what, five years? Everyone's moved on. Hailey has moved on. You should too."

Benjamin looked at his friend with a blank expression. "Certain things like that aren't easy to get-over with. You won't understand, Jake." he said. "You and Penelope's relationship is still as strong as ever since college."

Jacob could only sigh and feel sympathy for his friend. He couldn't blame the guy for feeling the way he felt. What happened to him was quite a story.

He lifted his hand and put it on Benjamin's shoulder, squeezing it slightly as a gesture of reassurance. Benjamin looked up and gave him a grateful look. "I know that if I ask you what's your plan, you'll only say 'I don't know' again so I won't bother asking. Shall I give you a suggestion?" he said.

"Sure. If it helps me in my situation."

"Why don't you go to the wedding with someone?"

"How does that help me?"

"Ever seen the movie, 'The Proposal'?"

Benjamin shook his head.

"In that movie, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds's characters had to pretend to be in a relationship to save her from being deported to Canada for an expired visa. Your situation right now is quite similar to theirs." Jacob explained. "The only difference is that you have to find someone to go with you to the wedding so that you won't look like a complete love-sick guy who still hasn't gotten over the issue that happened 5 years ago."

Benjamin processed his words. "You've got a point... But the whole idea is ludicrous." he told him. "Who the hell woud even agree to such thing? This isn't some kind of fairytale that a solution can just appear out of nowhere."

Jacob pursed his lips in thought of an answer, meanwhile Benjamin sighed and took a sip of his coffee. Jacob looked up and his eyes fell on something. A lightbulb turned on inside his mind.

"Why don't you ask your assistant to help you?"

Benjamin looked at him and followed his gaze to the girl talking to the cashier by the counter. He turned back to Jacob and snickered, giving him a 'Really?' look.

"Are you kidding me? Her? Coming with me to the wedding? Meeting my family wearing... those clothes?" He scoffed. "No thanks."

Jacob gave him a look. "What's wrong with Judy? She's a sweet girl, very funny, and quirky. I think she's the perfect girl for the situation. Plus you won't have to worry about typing your autobiography tonight. She's been your assistant for three years." he said.

"Jacob, you've been my best friend since we were kids. So you know what kind of person my father is. And given myself, the CEO of the family company here in the city, you know what kind of woman my father expects me to be involve with."

"Benjamin, you've been my best friend since we were kids. So I know what kind of person your father is. But what I also know is that you are going to say yes eventually to what I've just said."

Benjamin rolled his eyes and took a sip of his coffee.

"Besides, who would you prefer to be with: your assistant or Becky, the woman that has a weird obsession with perfection?"

Benjamin inwardly cringed at what his friend just told him. He then sighed. "Fine, I'll think about it."