Though we are busy. Guest accommodations alone can be a nightmare for a wedding with three hundred-plus in attendance who are all traveling in from around the world. The festivities leading up to the ceremony can often be more chaotic than on the day itself. At least the ballroom accommodates that number and higher. And we pull in waitstaff from the top agency in downtown LA, or DTLA to us locals.
But because our restaurant and bar don’t hold those numbers, Lenora and I do our best to cater and coddle and redirect guests to nearby dining spots with solid ratings. They’re just under Chef Douchebag’s level, but they still cultivate wonderful fine dining experiences.
I really ought to stop calling Moreau Kellin’s moniker in my head. I’m afraid the insult will fly out of my mouth one of these days.
Lenora cocks her head at my reply knowingly.
My phone vibrates, and I check the screen.
Sorry, late business dinner. I’ll just sleep in my own room tonight.
My heart deflates in my chest. I bet Lenora can hear the air wheezing out of me.
She places a hand on my arm. “Hey, whatever he wrote in that text, I bet he means it. He’s a big-ass mogul. The man needs to pay the rent, too, boss. Lord knows you wouldn’t be into him if he weren’t successful.”
She has a point, but she doesn’t know how awkward we left things this morning. And I’m still not sure how I feel about the fact that he’s been maybe-spying on me.
Could that have anything to do with his “late business dinner”?
I massage my throbbing head. I don’t even remember the last time I peed, and I skipped lunch entirely. We haven’t hadthe time to really discuss anything aside from pre-wedding shenanigans, and I honestly don’t want to start.
Time to pivot. “Hey, what did my brother want? I saw him corner you earlier.”
“He asked if I saw one of his security guards. I told him I don’t have time to keep track of his employees, and if he needs to find them quickly, he should consider microchipping them. And I also didn’t even know what he was talking about. He said, ‘You know, Shout. The bald one with the neck tat.’ And I’m all, ‘Doesn’t that describe all of them?’”
Despite my mood, I laugh, covering my mouth with my palm.
“Maybe they’re all created in the same underground lab, using brains from birds.” Lenora giggles at her own joke.
“I think they buy them at the mob surplus outlet off Figeroa.” My phone vibrates on the counter.
“I’m sure that’s your boy.” Lenora nudges my side. “Probably realizing he can’t go twelve more hours without you.”
I flip the device over. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, no, what?”
Sighing, I slide the phone to her.
Lenora reads the message aloud. “You missed family dinner every Friday in October.Be here in one hour.Not a request.Dad.” She shudders. “Geesh, what normal parent signs a text to their own child? He’s such a weirdo.”
“Normal being the key word, Lenora.” In my Miu Mius, I’m only a couple inches shy of six feet, and I swear that text shaved off a good five inches. My shoulders are so heavy. “I…can’t do it. He knows better. He knows I’ve got this wedding.”
“You can. Unless you’re trying to piss him off.” Lenora pauses to direct a party of four to the elevators. “The rooms are ninety-eight percent booked.”
I check the system and find that she’s right.
“Go, Maeve. I’ve got this. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I grab my purse from the back office, rework my hair into an even tighter ponytail, and set off. “You’re the best.”
She pretends to preen. “I know.”
All I can think about during the drive is Kellin.
And how exhausted I am. Not because of the wedding. That’s the typical spring through fall rush. Weddings are what we do best.
I’m just so tired of feeling like I have no control over my life and career.
