Anne-Sophie was there to help her bring her vision to life, and together they walked the couple through the bridal suite, plus the adjoining rooms for bridesmaids, and then through the separate quarters for the groom and groomsmen downstairs. She had color boards on display, where she gave them examplesof how the walls would look once they were painted, and to set the vibe for the overall flow of the house. Gigi constructed sample floral arrangements, and all the framed photographs waiting to be hung belonged to Adrienne.
All in all, the meeting was going rather smoothly.
It didn’t matter if Brock was late. She hadn’t really expected him to show up after the bonfire, anyway. She knew he was busy, that his mind was preoccupied with other things, not only her. Yaya was more important.
But she was grateful she wasn’t alone. Having Anne-Sophie there helped make it slightly less awkward. Granted, she and Rodrigo talked beforehand, but his new fiancée was smart, good-natured, and incredibly kind. All the things Juliette was not expecting. All of which was compounded by the fact that she was startlingly beautiful. Oh, Juliette had seen pictures of Charity before, but in real life the woman was breathtaking.
Straight platinum-blonde hair hung to her waist. She was wispy and thin but walked with the grace of a goddess. Her eyes were wide, her lips were frosted with shimmery pink gloss, and her skin looked as though she’d just stepped off a hot Miami beach. She was painfully intimidating, but Juliette continued to smile, doing her part to sell the beach house as a wedding venue.
“So, Charity.” Juliette led them to the kitchen, which, once complete, would be large enough for an entire staff. “As you can see, we will have plenty of space for any catering organizations you might choose, though in the future we plan on bringing in a team to work the weddings.”
“I think it’s splendid.” Charity tossed her waterfall of satin hair over one shoulder. “It has everything I want. Everything and more.”
Juliette’s confidence soared. “I’m so glad to hear it.”
“Charity, darling.” The bride’s mother sidled forward and snapped pictures of everything on her cell phone. “We shouldplan a trip to come back down and check the progress after you get back from New York.”
“Yes. That’s a wonderful idea.” Charity looked at Juliette for confirmation. “Would that be alright with you?”
“Of course.” Juliette made a note of their intent in her planner. “Are you going to New York on a trip?”
“Oh no, I’ve lived there for the past three years.”
Juliette’s heart sank, tumbling into the empty pit of her chest. Rodrigo shuffled his feet, appearing mildly interested in the floor. Three years. Charity had lived in New York for three whole years. All those business trips, all those extra meetings in the city hadn’t been for work at all. Rodrigo had gone to see Charity instead. The proof was in the Tiffany solitaire glinting off her ring finger.
Juliette forced a smile so tight that her jaw started to ache. “I see. As in, New York City?” She struggled to keep her voice casual.
Rodrigo cleared his throat, and he at least had the decency to look slightly ashamed. His hands were tucked into his pockets like a disciplined schoolboy, and his gaze was more than apologetic.
“Yes.” Charity handed her a business card embossed with her name and personal contact information. “I’ve been working on starting my own clothing line. Nothing couture, more streetwear. Casual. I’m actually looking for influencers and models to represent my brand, if you know anyone?”
“My sister, Vivianne, has quite a large following on social media.” Juliette accepted the business card and tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans, grateful when Anne-Sophie gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sure she’d love to work with you.”
“Oh, that’s perfect!” Charity’s face lit up with excitement. “I’d love for her to contact me.”
“Juliette, I must say…” Rodrigo’s future mother-in-law glanced around the beach house. “I am quite impressed. You’re exceptionally knowledgeable.”
“I agree.” Charity was practically glowing, and her eyes glittered, filled with all the imaginings and magic of planning a wedding. “What you’re doing here, it’s seriously fantastic.”
“Very entrepreneurial,” Rodrigo mused, and Anne-Sophie cut him down with a death-like glare.
An hour or so later, they went over some basic paperwork, settled on a date, and then the contract was signed, finalizing everything Juliette, Brock, and Anders had been working toward. It was actually happening. The beach house was going to become a wedding venue, and their very first bride would be Charity Rhodes, one of the most popular and well-connected socialites on the East Coast.
“I’m going to tell everyone I know about this place.” She tossed her silky straight hair over one shoulder again and winked at Juliette. “But not until after I’m married here first, of course.”
“Of course.” Juliette beamed her brightest smile. “We’re looking forward to it.”
They said goodbye, and Juliette was secretly grateful when Rodrigo walked out the door first. If he had lingered, the tension would have been suffocating.
Anne-Sophie threw her arms around her. “You did amazing, Jules. You handled him like a pro.”
“We met up yesterday.”
Her sister stepped back. “You what?”
“It was completely by chance. Though maybe not totally, because he admitted he was hoping to run into me. I had my hands full with the pottery I ordered from Erin, and we bumped into each other as I was leaving her shop.” Juliette spread herarms wide, pressing her lips together. “He asked me to grab a coffee with him. I said yes.”
“And?” Anne-Sophie prodded.
