Now I know why Harlow Madison doesn’t want to live miserably ever after with this bloke.
I glance over his shoulder where photographers andvideographers have been carefully positioned to document the love and beauty of the day.
Instead, they’re getting drama and angst.
If he insists we do it this way, I’ll deliver. It’s not my fault this guy is an arsehat.
“If you want to do this here, fine by me.” I grip his hand that’s wrinkling my custom suit. His eyes flare when I squeeze the bones in his hand until he finally lets go. I pull the folded stationery from my breast pocket and hand it to him. “From Ms. Madison.”
Albert stares at it a beat before tearing it from my fingers. His expression hardens with every word as his eyes shift side to side over the paper.
“Where is my daughter?” Janie demands.
Fiona clearly doesn’t give a shit about Harlow and instead turns to me. “What kind of operation are you running? Get Harlow out here now so we can get on with this. Everyone is watching!”
“Fuck,” Albert bites out and pushes the note to Janie. “I’ll go to her. Whatever this is, I’ll fix it.”
He starts to push around me, but I put a hand to his chest. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
He frowns up at me. “You can’t keep me from my bride. We’re getting married today.”
I tip my head to the note Janie is reading as her complexion pales. “It doesn’t look that way, mate.”
“Don’tmateme, asshole. Harlow is mine. You can’t stop me from seeing her.”
I lean in and lower my tone. “Here’s the thing,mate, I can, and I will. I take the security of my guests seriously. If Ms. Madison changes her mind and wants to see you, you’ll know. When I left her in her suite, she gave me specific instructions not to allow you in.”
“I’ll go to her.” Janie’s words come out in a rush as she turns to Albert. “Let me talk some sense into her.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do?” Albert growls.
“Entertain your guests.” I dig in my pocket for the diamonds and turn to Fiona. “Harlow requested I return these to you.”
Fiona gasps.
Albert fumes. “This is a fucking nightmare.”
“I agree. But when in doubt, drink up.” I slap him on the shoulder and turn to walk back down the grand-as-fuck aisle created just for the happy couple. My smile swells when I announce, “Champagne for everyone.”
CHAPTER FOUR
HOLD MY CHAMPAGNE
Harlow
Guests are drinking champagne, huddled, and gossiping.
Not that I know what they’re saying. I can see them doing the first two, and since I’m a woman, I’m positive they’re doing the last. If I were invited to the wedding of the year and the bride didn’t show, that’s what I’d be doing.
Albert marched off out of sight with his family tight on his heels right after he read my note. I’m desperately counting on Devon Donnelly to keep the whole Humphries clan far away from me.
I have four missed calls from Janie and countless texts demanding to know what’s wrong.
The shrill peal of the suite phone cuts through the silence. I tear my attention from the spectacle I created and move through the space to see who will be first to demand that I change my mind.
It’s the front desk. I’ll take that any day over a Humphries for the rest of my life. “Hello?”
“Oh!” a woman I do not recognize greets me in surprise. “You’re there!”
