“Nah, not with Brianna Castillo. She is called the Diva bride and in the past three months, she has canceled ten wedding venues. She likes one and the next moment, she cancels when she finds something out of order with it. So now, I have to hook her.”
“Hmmph,” Maxwell scoffed, “All I hear is snooty, snooty and more snooty. What is so special about this Diva bride?”
Emma threw her head back and laughed, “Oh Gramps... Well, she is the heiress to Castillo Distribution and her fiancé is part of the Roswell family.”
“The winemakers,” Gramps said thoughtfully.
“Exactly, and their wedding is bound to be elite and the talk of Texas. And that only means publicity for us. And publicity means business. Do you catch my drift, Gramps?”
He smiled and he nodded. “Yes I do. So how do you plan to hook this Diva?”
“I’ve thought hard about this, you know. She has rejected top-notch venues over and over, so what would be so special about us? So I’ve decided that I’m just going to help her realize the truth, which is that she does not know what she wants.”
“Really?” her grandfather asked.
“Uh huh. She is a diva. She has always gotten everything she wants and I bet you that she has stopped appreciating the little things and now when it really matters, she does not know what she wants. So, I’m going to help her understand this and help her make a choice.”
It was Maxwell’s turn to throw his head back and laugh. Emma smiled and she stood up. She grabbed her tote bag and kissed her grandfather’s cheek.
“See you later, Gramps!”
“See you too, my dear!” he waved after her.
Emma smiled as she climbed her horse which was waiting for her, watered and fed. A stable boy brought her over every morning. She walked the horse down a path that led to thestables. The ranch was very large, spanning acres and she loved riding everywhere. She arrived at the ranch just in time and headed to her lessons.
Shortly before eleven, Emma cantered off to the main building. She was expecting Brianna Castillo by eleven-thirty and she knew if she stayed back one more minute, she would get carried away and end up being late. And she did not need a soothsayer to tell her that being late was not the best foot to start out with a diva. That would probably be like saying, 'I do not want to host your wedding'. She was smarter than that.
She arrived at the main building and after handing her horse to a bellboy, she headed to her office. She had barely sat when there was a knock at the door. Her head flew up and she said, “Come in.”
“Hi boss, sorry to disturb you. I know you have a meeting soon but this will not take long.” It was the activities organizer, Rhea.
“Sure Rhea, what do you need?”
“I just wanted to get your confirmation about the tour. Are you up for being a tour guide next week? I’m just trying to get the schedule set.”
Once every month, they did tours on the ranch. Emma tapped a finger on the edge of the table as she thought. Finally she nodded and said, “Sure, put me down for it.”
“Great, thanks Emma. And did I say you look great today?”
“Thanks,” Emma smiled as she walked out. She looked down at herself. She was wearing a green top that made her eyes pop, a black vest and black riding pants. She flicked a straystrand of hair away from her face. Just then, her phone beeped. She picked it up and smiled when she saw the caller.
“Were you thinking of me?” the familiar voice asked with cheer.
“You weren't even the last thing on my mind, Carrie,” Emma teased.
“Hey!” her friend said and Emma imagined her pouting. “So, how are you doing, bestie? How are Max and Mia? And Gramps and Maria, and of course, the ranch, the business that keeps you too busy to take a break for a weekend and come over here?”
Emma smiled and she leaned back in her chair. So many invites that she had turned down from Carrie and her friend was not pleased, “We are doing well, my friend. How are you all over there? What are you up to these days, Carrie?”
“Well, quite a lot, but you would know if you come over every so often.”
“So, are we going to keep up this back and forth or should we discuss something solid?”
“Humph, fine. I just wanted to check on you, silly.”
“Well, I miss you too,” Emma said. She looked at her time and saw it was almost time for her meeting, “Uh… my friend, I have to go. I actually have a meeting now. Can we talk later?”
“Fine, fine, go and get on with your work, that’s all you know anyway.”
