Cathy laughs, “Isn’t he? Zella is going to faint when she sees him.”
Bobby’s face constricts as he pats his pants pockets furiously. “Oh, my god! Do I need to give her a Xanax?”
I laugh at him and put my arm around his shoulders, leading him back up the stairs. “No, sir. She won’t need a pill.”
Inside the rear foyer, the smell of the church hits me, and the seriousness of the occasion settles like a blanket. I’m about to marry my soulmate. I turn to Bobby and offer him my hand. He takes it, and his grip is firm and honest. “Thank you for handling this for us.”
He pumps my hand. “It has been my pleasure.”
Then the door into the chamber opens, and he’s distracted by it. He points to a different door and says, “You wait in there. My assistant will come to get you when it’s time. Cathy, come with me.”
I watch them walk through the door into the chamber and catch a glimpse of the military cadets, who are the ushers for the ceremony. I take a deep breath, turn on my heel, and follow his command.
Once inside, though, I pace. I’m not one to sit. I’m a man of action, and I’m ready to wed my princess. I stare out the window and see Tiara arriving. I watch her as she exits her vehicle and walks to the front of the church.
So far, our plan has fallen in place perfectly. Rapunzel was right. As soon as I sent the text, Tiara jumped all over it. I met with her the next day in my dad’s old office. Nothing remained of his. She had completely redecorated it.
It wasn’t hard to convince her I was humbled and wanted to return to the fold. I explained how being a SEAL had taught me discipline and respect for the chain of command, and she ate that shit up.
She asked me questions about my and Rapunzel’s relationship. I explained that I had come back to the city on leave two years ago to see her and Cathy, but I didn’t have time after I met Rapunzel. She was trapped in an elevator, so I rescued her, and we’ve had a long-distance romance since.
On this trip home, I planned to propose to Rapunzel. She had become distant, and I thought she might have found another man. But once I realized she was Zella, I knew I had an opportunity to return to the company and combine the companies. I told her it was destiny. She bought it hook, line, and sinker.
For the last two weeks, I’ve spent my days infiltrating the company and my nights penetrating my princess. I smirk at my description. Both have given me intense pleasure.
In less than an hour, I will wed an amazing woman, and fulfill the stipulation of the trust fund. In less than four hours, we will leave for Fiji on our honeymoon. And in less than five hours, a petition will be filed with the court to have Tiara’s conservatorship dismissed. By the time we return to take over and settle down, Tiara will have a substantial settlement as her ‘reward’ and be officially dethroned.
Zella
I stare at myself in the mirror in the vestibule of the cathedral. Bobby looks over my shoulder and says, “You look like a true princess, Zella!”
I smooth the lace over the white silk and smile at him. “For the first time in my life, Bobby, I feel like one too.”
For the hundredth time, he rattles off the ceremony’s timeline.
“The romantic classical music is playing as the guests arrive.
The guests are being escorted to their seats by the cadets at the academy.
Your sisters and their families will be seated on the front row, next to Cathy and The Wicked Queen.”
He chuckles, “It’s simply amazing how her attitude changed when the tabloids labeled her that after her outburst at the auction.”
I smirk, “It was a welcome 180, wasn’t it?”
“Yes! She was such an evil bitch to everyone before. Perhaps, it was the pressure of running such a huge company alone. I’m sure it was extremely stressful after Mr. Dugan died, being thrust into that position. Anyway, your handsome hero seems very capable of taking the reins of the company. Let’s just hope The Wicked Queen continues to be cordial after your wedding.”
“Oh,” I smile at him, “I’m sure she will. Once we are married, she will learn exactly how effective my handsome hero is at running the company.”
He spins me around to face him and adjusts the crown of fresh pink roses that sits on my head as he continues recounting the ceremony’s timeline.
“Once the family is seated, the priest will take his position.
The groom will enter and await his bride.
The wedding march will play.
You will glide gracefully down the aisle.
