The ceremony is held on a wide green field. It’s just the Huxleys and some friends. Nobody from Lareina’s side of the family comes, but then, “attending a wedding” is not a valid excuse to leave prison. But she’s probably happier without them anyway. And it avoids a potential murder, because Ares might just kill them if he ran into them.
“Here Comes the Bride” soars in the air. Lareina appears in a stunning white gown. Although the ceremony was hastily arranged, you’d never be able to tell. There are beautiful orchids, lilies, jasmines, tulips and other flowers I can’t begin to name, along with a live band and fantastic catering.
Lareina’s backless dress is something straight out of a fairytale. Hundreds of diamantes sparkle, and the bodice is sewn with countless little pearls. Ares spared no expense to ensure his wife would get a dream wedding, the kindbefitting a queen.
Josh and I stand as Ares’s groomsmen. My phone continues to buzz. Probably more photos from Jude, who’s trying desperately to get my attention—and reaction. How pathetic can he be?
But how pathetic areyou, thinking about something that only happened in your dream? You’re wondering if she spread her legs and plunged her fingers into her pussy in front of Jude…
A ball of acid burns in my gut. My heart says it’s jealousy, but I refuse to accept that. Why should I get jealous? I don’t feel anything for her.
Too late. You got hard.
God, I hate arguing with myself.
After the vows are exchanged and Ares and Lareina march out to Mendelssohn while rose petals rain down on the couple, Josh pulls out his phone, then stiffens and glares at it. “What?” He turns to me. “Marriage? Are youcrazy?”
I do my best to look confused. “What?”
“Stina!”
I make a big deal out of frowning and scratching my head. “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
He stares at me in disbelief. “The girl from yesterday! You told her to buy a ring because I wanted to propose!”
“Oh,her. Yeah. You sent her to me, so I just returned the favor.” I give him a what-did-you-expect shrug.
“You were supposed to act like you’d never met her before—”
I snort. “Didn’t have to act. I neverhadmet her. But I thought you might want to get something going with her, since you didn’t outright reject her.”
“I did, but she burst into tears.”
My jaw drops. “So you sent her tome?”
“I was trying to help you. I was about to tell you that before you cut me off.”
“Help me?” I fold my arms and wait. “This ought to be good.”
“Yes! You’ve been uptight and irritable for weeks now. Ever since Fiona visited your office.”
It takes considerable willpower not to clench my teeth. However, any reaction would be admitting he’s right, and I’ll be damned if—
“So you could’ve just released your built-up pressure with Stina, and voilà, back to normal.”
I sigh. “I’m not uptight and irritable, and I certainly don’t have any ‘built-up pressure.’”
“You made an intern cry.” He says it with the triumphant finality of a lawyer unveiling his best exhibit, the kind that will destroy the opposing counsel’s entire case.
“He fucked up!”
“But making him cry?”
“Hey, if he can’t handle constructive feedback, it’s on him. Huxley & Webber isn’t some kindergarten.”
Josh puts a hand on my shoulder. “Bryce, you need to get laid. That’s my ‘constructive feedback’ foryou.”
“I don’t want sex.”
