Chapter Twenty-Eight
Grace
–Huxley: Madison knows what she’s doing. Let her handle everything, and you just relax. Go get a facial or massage or whatever a bride-to-be does to make herself feel happy and beautiful.
A facial? Or a massage?If Huxley were here right now, I’d strangle him. I texted him that his infernal assistant was impossible, andthis is what he texts back?
I can’t decide if he’s being patronizing or actually believes that Madison shits golden chocolate unicorns. Regardless, it’s painfully obvious that I’m not going to get any help from him in keeping her in her place.
Since I have to wrap up the projections for the upcoming fundraiser by the end of the day, I shift my attention back to the spreadsheet on my computer. Fuming at an absentee fiancé isn’t going to help.
Elizabeth walks in an hour later than usual with Tolyan in tow. I start to smile and say hello, then freeze. Andreas is with them.
He’s in a bespoke three-piece suit, looking as imposing as ever. I haven’t spoken to him since the disastrous dinner. He’s probably seen Nelson’s bruised face. Or maybe not, given how busy he is.
Andreas walks over to my desk. “Can we talk for a moment?” he says, his voice modulated and smooth.
I point at myself in shock. “Me?”
His high forehead creases and he nods curtly.
“I guess…?” I bite my lip. “Um. Do you want to go to a conference room?” Maybe this is a sensitive matter. Like somebody hiring him to sue me, although his time seems too valuable to be wasted on informing me of this in person.
He checks his watch. “No need.” His keen eyes roam over my face. “I had breakfast with Elizabeth to discuss some legal matters and wanted to come up here to see how you’re doing.”
Should’ve known he was too busy to come here just to see me in person. “I’m doing…um…great?”
Andreas frowns. “It shouldn’t be a question.”
“I’m doing great,” I state again, making sure to keep my voice level. “Unambiguously so.”
“And the wedding? It’s getting done?”
Ah.Now I see. He’s trying to get me to reconcile with Nelson. Appearances matter. Andreas will totally want Nelson to walk me down the aisle at the ceremony because that’s the “proper” thing to do. “Yes. It’s going fantastic,” I lie. I’m afraid if I tell him how much I can’t stand Madison, he might volunteer Karie to help me. “You don’t have to worry about anything,” I add. “Huxley’s paying for it.”
The furrows between his eyebrows deepen. “Why? It should be your family.”
“Huxley volunteered. Guess it’s part and parcel of true love.” I paste on a smile.
“Ridiculous.” Andreas’s tone is almost scoffing. “Have the bills sent to my accountant. The family will do its duty.”
“Of course.” I don’t bother to argue. I’m not going to win, not against somebody like Andreas. Once he sets his mind on something, he doesn’t change.
“Good. I have to get going, but if you need anything, you know how to reach me.”
I nod and add more wattage to my smile. He doesn’t mean I should reachhim. He means his assistant. “Have a great day. It was nice seeing you.”
He leaves without a response. My phone buzzes with an alert.
Barely suppressed annoyance shivers through me as I glare at Madison’s latest text, heavily hinting for me to agree to the color scheme. I’d rather have a courthouse wedding than this. Huxley is in advertising, so maybe he is seeing some superior aesthetic to the color scheme he wants, but do we have to have a monochromatic ceremony? If he wants black and white, he could just ask the photographers to make him a set of black-and-white photos.
–Me: I’m not really sure about the white chrysanthemums. Pink roses and peonies are prettier.
–Madison: Chrysanthemums are the flowers of the emperor.
–Me: What emperor?
–Madison: Of Japan.
