12 - AuroraThe last two years have been amazing. Lady C has sent me all over the world negotiating contracts on my own and finalizing some of our biggest deals. I’m now the Creative Director for the company and the face next to Lady Corleone in the boardroom. Of course Mallory is now our Chief Marketing Officer and the face next to Lady in the press. She is poised to start slowly taking over the company over the next five to ten years. I can’t decide how I feel about that. I think Lady C has realized that Mallory is not going to do well by herself. Mallory isn’t capable, or willing, to learn how to conduct and maintain business outside the bedroom and dinner parties. I notice Lady C has been slowly putting strategic people with special talents in place to help her daughter along. There are several analysts and managers that work together to make the both of them look good and we do it all behind the scenes. I’m not even sure if Mallory knows that she has no real say or decisio
13 - Aurora“We don’t have anything to talk about besides work. All you do is work, so I just work more to fill the time that you are gone. At some point in our time together I thought you would have made me, us, a priority. But clearly greedily climbing your way to the top is your only priority.” He says finally looking me in the eye. All I see is animosity there. “You do not give me the time and attention that I deserve. You should be willing to put your little work hobby aside to focus on your relationship with me and what I need. Instead you are late to dinner because of meetings and have to leave in the middle of the night for ‘trips.’” He air quotes.“Excuse you.” I say hissing low, trying to not make a scene. “You work every bit as much as I do because your father requires it of you, not because of your work ethic. It’s the only way you’ll get back in his good graces after you were let go from the marketing firm. Don’t blame that on me. Does he know that I supported your f
14 - Aurora“Hello sweetheart!” She almost shouts into the phone. “I can’t believe you are already calling me, I bet the ring is HUGE! With the money his family has, it hast to be huge, or maybe a family heirloom. Something vintage and completely unique. I hope you took lots of pictures and looked really surprised. Did you get any strategic pictures with celebrities and well known people in the background? I hope so, they will sell for far more. I should have mentioned that before you went in.” She is talking a hundred miles a minute and she sounds like a lunatic.“Mom..”“You know, I bet if we ask, the restaurant will let us stage pictures so we can get really good quality ones. Your cousin has that friend that does photography, I bet she would do it for us to help get her name out there.”“Mom…”“I am going to need a close up of the ring, with your face in it of course, otherwise Margory won’t believe me.”“MOTHER, STOP!” I shout, stopping in my tracks. The mention of Margory is t
15 - Aurora“Can’t do what? Can we talk? I just want to understand what you’re going through. Maybe I can help.”“No, go away! There’s no way you could understand this. I can’t be forced into anything and they will figure it out soon enough.”Ok, maybe I can keep her talking long enough to get to her. The drop is really far straight down to rock filled water. There’s no surviving, which I assume is her intention, but I can’t just walk away now.“Who are you trying to show that you can’t be forced?” I’m hoping she’ll just answer automatically, too distracted by her emotions.“My parents are trying to force me into an arranged marriage to save their company, but I can’t marry some heartless playboy who’s like my dad’s age. I just turned eighteen, I don’t want to get married now. I was enrolled in school and had plans for myself before all of that serious relationship stuff. Marriage is supposed to be wonderful and beautiful and not some business deal.” She’s rambling.“You are not
16 - AuroraI tell her everything, including my night with Nathan. I kept most of the dirty details to myself, but I feel like I can trust her for some reason. She’s a decade younger than me, but so mature for her age. She’s the first person that has sat and asked me about me, and truly wanted to know, in so long, I don’t even remember the last time I had a conversation like this. That’s a lie. I know the exact day and time I last had a conversation like this. I now regret deleting and blocking his number.“So I stormed out of the restaurant and just drove off. I’m sure that I will see the bill on one of my credit cards tomorrow, the little scrub. The best part is that he and Mallory both think they are with someone who can support them and that they will be able to lead a life of leisure off the other’s money. Neither of them have their own, they both live off of their parents’ hard work. I can’t wait for that bomb to drop. And I know it sounds super mean, but I hope it's somewh
I don't enjoy posting updates like this, I think it breaks up the flow of the book, but this is the set up. My posting schedule for this book is roughly set for Monday through Friday, my time. I am in the USA on the East Coast. I always appreciate constructive feedback. I want my writing to get better every time you read. Gems and chapter interaction also help my work get seen. I do not write for any other reading app, and I know several of my works have been plagiarized and non-authors are making money off my works on other sites or posting free, incomplete versions of my works elsewhere. If you see something, please say something so we can fix it. Authors put a lot of time and effort into their works, they deserve to be compensated for it. This is not a full-time gig for me, but I would like it to become full-time. I can't do that if someone is stealing from me.I appreciate all your support through the years and I would love to know what you want to read about next.
17 - NathanI do my best to stay focused with work, but I have a nagging feeling something is not right and I learned a long time ago to trust my gut instincts. I have had a revolving door of updates and meetings about current projects this morning which is helping, but now that I am sitting here at my desk, alone with my thoughts I feel like I am going to lose my mind. No one I have approached seems to know how my grandfather got this marriage contract past me and everyone seems to be in fear of him more than me for some reason. Another concern. My grandfather is good at keeping things close to the vest, but my uncle gossips worse than a pack of high school girls. If he is involved I usually hear about it. My usual sources for keeping tabs on both men are all staying tight lipped about the identity of my future wife, if they even know. I did manage to get Jessie on my side, but my grandfather must have assumed I would go to Jessie for information. She is only slightly less in the da
18 - AuroraWe get back to my apartment and I show Amelia around. She starts asking a thousand questions. “Wow! You pay for all this by yourself?”“Yes, but I sacrifice a lot too. I don’t have many friends that I still talk to on a regular basis. My boyfriend of three years decided to cheat on me with my boss’ daughter because he thought I spent too much time working and not enough with him. Even though he paid for nothing and really enjoyed the lifestyle that my very inconsiderate job afforded him.” I roll my eyes and she laughs.“Well at least I know that this is still possible.” She waves an arm dramatically around my apartment, which is in Gabriel mode and disgusting by my standards. He hasn’t been back to get his stuff in the hours that I have been gone. I wonder if he thinks I will do it for him, if he decides to not show up, like the servant he seems to believe I am. I’m tempted to recruit Amelia to help me bag it all and toss it out by the dumpsters. I shake my head of the
26 AuroraWe stepped up to the limo and Nathan handed me in helping me with my dress. Mia looks completely confused when we all pile in together.Once we are all comfortable and acquainted we use the 30 minute drive to get each other caught up on my break up with Gabriel, how Mia and I met and the plan Mia and I came up with to get her out of getting married.“So how are we going to play this out when we get there?” Brandon asks. “I don’t feel like your grandfather cares either way, really. He just wanted you to get married and have a kid in a hurry.” He looks at Nathan. “I think he liked the idea of having someone young to mentor and guide a bit, but that was probably an added benefit for him pairing you to someone as young as Mia. No offense Mia.” He adds as an afterthought.“We expected some kind of drama no matter what. I should be the only one to walk down the aisle, my veil was designed to obscure quite a bit and hopefully all of the focus will be on me until I get to you all
25 - NathanWhen the photographer tells us she has all that she needs Aurora pulls away from me quickly not making eye contact. Maybe the moment I thought we shared was just for me. She focuses on the photographers camera when she speaks next. “How do we want to do this, because I’m sure your grandfather is going to have a lot to say and so will Mia’s mother.” She grimaces, finally looking up at me. “I know it was risky to make her my bridesmaid, but right now she needs to be protected from all of this. She needs to be near me until it all blows over.”“Wait, she’s here?! Now you know someone is going to try and force her and I to marry right?” I run my fingers through my hair as my heart drops again and this time it isn’t a good feeling. My grandfather with try and force the situation to his benefit, which is Mia as my wife. He wants to control her, that much is a given with this situation.“I thought you had a mind of your own and could choose for yourself?” She bites back, she’s ea
24 - Nathan“What the hell?” The question ghosts out of my mouth. I am frozen in shock and my heart dropped into my stomach, but not in a bad way. I have been looking for her for 2 years and I find her looking like a knockout in this wedding dress and no one else in sight. “Is this a joke?”“Are you supposed to be getting married today?” She asks in a calm business-like voice. I nod, still confused. “Do you know who you were supposed to marry?” Her sassy tone irritates me. She’s not happy to see me the same way I am to see her. I lock in my feelings. Clearly, our time together was not as memorable to her as it was to me.I take a deep breath and shake my head. “My grandfather arranged this whole thing. The only thing he mentioned was that she would be eighteen, and I know you are definitely not eighteen. Care to explain?” I let my cool business negotiation voice take over. She’s a part of this and nothing makes sense. My instinct is to trust no one.“I didn’t think it was right for
23 - NathanI am getting ready with Brandon and Sam. We have done everything together, including taking over family businesses and sending Brandon down the aisle a few years ago.Sam is a little salty because he can’t go and meet my mystery bride, but he’s faking his enthusiasm well. I was told my bride made a stipulation that I could only bring one groomsman to the first look and like the adults that we are, they played rock, paper, scissors for the honor. When I found out that the one person rule applied to everyone, including her parents and my grandfather and uncle, I was happy. My bride at least has shown a sense of intelligence. I’m not sure if we have met and the first time should not be at the end of the aisle. It crossed my mind that Sullivan is keeping her identity a secret because it’s likely that I do know her and don’t like her. But this last minute request tells me otherwise. No girl attached to my grandfather would care about meeting me first, and most certainly would
22 - Aurora“What if he knows what I look like, then sees you and he calls the whole thing off and shuts down my family’s whole operation?” Mia asks. She has been asking some version of this question since her dad took the amendments back to the groom’s family and we haven’t heard a thing from anyone. I think it has helped having her panic, because I have had to remain calm to keep talking her off the crazy train. I love that her worry isn’t for herself, but her family and their employees. She is so mature for her age.“Remember, we asked to meet him beforehand so we could have a moment. Your mom thought that was the greatest idea.”“Yeah, she was hoping to get reveal pictures, right up until you told her she couldn’t be there, along with everyone else who wants to meddle.” Her eyes lit up at the memory. She called her parents on a video call and I stayed just off screen. We were hoping to find out about the contract changes, but with no answers. I came up with the meet idea on the
21 - Aurora“We need to tell my dad.”“What? Why? Isn’t the idea to not tell your parents until it’s too late for them to stop anything?” We sit on my couch with laptops and papers spread all over my living room.“Yeah, but that is more for my mom’s sake. She doesn’t really understand what is going on, or at least that is what she is pretending to do. She is really good at sticking her head in the sand, only resurfacing when the problem has been handled.” She rolls her eyes at me. “She’s not a bad person, just lazy by design. Her and my dad were matched up kind of like what they are doing to me. They are lucky though and I think they eventually fell in love, or something like it. But, my dad needs to know in case sh*t hits the fan and we need help. You also asked to see the marriage contracts. He ocan get those for us, be our go-between.”“I mean, if you’re sure. I just don’t want this to turn into a battle or for him to try and change your mind.”“He won’t say anything, because it’s a
20 - AuroraAmelia smiles and looks as nervous as she probably really is as we wander among the open racks. She’s running her hands over the different soft fabrics.“Are you sure you've never done this before? How did you know what to ask for?” Amelia asks over her shoulder.“I have been here a couple times with friends. I never drink here. First of all the champagne is nota great brand and will leave you with a raging headache. And some of the more shady attendants try to get wealthy women a little drunk so they just keep adding things to their orders. It’s actually a really good marketing tool. The problem is, these types of clients come in often and change their minds so many times that not many of the upsells stick. If attendants thought through the upsell and maybe went for less items that might cost a bit more…” I shrug, “and fit what the bride really wants, the sale is more likely to stick.”“You should do trainings for them and really become a consultant. You are amazing
19 - Nathan“Nathan! How can you be so rude? She was my guest in my home…”“I’m going to stop you right there.” I hold my hand up and pausing my retreat. “At some point in the last few years, you and Preston have forgotten that you are guests here. Eleanor left the house and the business and everything to me. My grandmother, your wife, left it all to me. She may have loved you and cared about your well-being, but she sure as sh*t didn’t trust you to maintain her legacy. You have been provided for and yet you still live here, with me, on my dime. It is time you remember that. I don’t know what you and Preston are up to, but you need to settle down.” I growl the threat and walk away.I talk to the kitchen staff and move to my wing of the house. Here I don’t have to worry about anyone but me. I let my grandfather stay in the master he shared with my grandmother and renovated the wing opposite, and furthest away from him. When my uncle and cousin ‘needed’ to move home to be closer to the
18 - AuroraWe get back to my apartment and I show Amelia around. She starts asking a thousand questions. “Wow! You pay for all this by yourself?”“Yes, but I sacrifice a lot too. I don’t have many friends that I still talk to on a regular basis. My boyfriend of three years decided to cheat on me with my boss’ daughter because he thought I spent too much time working and not enough with him. Even though he paid for nothing and really enjoyed the lifestyle that my very inconsiderate job afforded him.” I roll my eyes and she laughs.“Well at least I know that this is still possible.” She waves an arm dramatically around my apartment, which is in Gabriel mode and disgusting by my standards. He hasn’t been back to get his stuff in the hours that I have been gone. I wonder if he thinks I will do it for him, if he decides to not show up, like the servant he seems to believe I am. I’m tempted to recruit Amelia to help me bag it all and toss it out by the dumpsters. I shake my head of the