The priest announces, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. d’Artagnan Dugan.”
The crowd cheers and claps while we kiss, and when he finally releases me, he takes my hand and escorts me down the aisle.
Chapter 26
d’Artagnan
Ihave never been as high on adrenaline-fueled by love as I am right now. I look at my beautiful wife and thank my lucky stars my life has led me to this point. We rush out of the cathedral and down the stairs to the waiting limousine. The overflow crowd of people who didn't make it inside toss birdseed in the air to christen our union with their blessing.
I open the door for Rapunzel, and she gathers her gown and slides inside, then I follow and close the door.
"Congratulations!" Mr. Hall says as the limousine pulls away from the church. "You did it!"
I turn to Rapunzel, grab her face between my hands, and plant a wet kiss on her perfect mouth. "Thank you for your trust in me. Thank you for falling in love with me."
Her eyes shine her happiness, and she says, "Thank you for saving me, and thank you for falling in love with me."
Mr. Hall chuckles and says, "I assume those are the vows you meant to exchange?"
I put my arm around my princess and tell him, "Yes, sir. You are correct."
He takes a briefcase off the floor, opens it, retrieves the legal documents, closes it, lays them on top, and hands the mobile desk to me. Then he pulls an ink pen from his pocket and offers it, saying, "Sign both documents, sir, and your future and your father's financial empire is yours."
I take the pen and scratch my signature on the first document, which is the trust fund.
Rapunzel asks as she leans over to see the document. "Financial empire?"
I grin at her and nod as I replace the top document with the second one and sign the petition to file with the court to have Tiara's conservatorship dismissed, then I hand the attaché back to Mr. Hall. He opens it, puts both documents inside, snaps a picture of them on his phone, and closes it. He taps the window that separates the driver, and as the driver comes to a stop, he tells us. "Hitting send, so there is proof it has been recorded."
He slides to the door and waits for the vehicle to stop. I lean forward on the seat, extend my hand, and he shakes it. "Thank you for being a loyal friend."
"You're welcome. Lead your company as your father did with honesty and integrity."
"I will."
Then he opens the door, and right before he steps out onto the street, he says, "Your parents would be proud of you."
Zella
When we are alone, I ask him again, “Financial empire?”
He chuckles as he puts his arm back around me and pulls me to snuggle up tight again him. “Yes, financial empire with a b.”
“Oh, my god! We just pulled off the sting of a lifetime!”
He laughs out loud, “Yes, we did.”
“I guess I should have realized the value, but it never crossed my mind.”
“You are perfection, and I’m so happy you are mine.” He lifts my face to his and plants another wet kiss on my lips. “Mr. Hall will wait until we are in the air heading to Fiji before he files the papers with the courts. By the time we return from our honeymoon, Tiara will have been dethroned and ousted from the company.”
“Aren’t you afraid she will retaliate in some way?”
He laughs, “Negative. I took care of that last week.”
I cut my eyes at him. “What did you do?”
He gives me that devil-may-care smirk and says, “I hired her a gigolo.”
