1. Chapter 1 #2
Courtney's smile falters. She glances at me, uncertain, then hastily places her laptop down on Silverine's desk. The sleek device remains open, its screen facing Seraphina and myself. A small indicator light near the camera lens blinks briefly, catching my eye for just a second.
"Thank you, Courtney," I say gently. "Could you call the glassblower about the platinum adjustment?"
She nods quickly. "Of course."
With one more nervous glance at Seraphina, she hurries out, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Seraphina watches the door for a moment, then turns to me. Without a word, she reaches into her purse and pulls out a small velvet box.
She places the box in my hands. It's heavier than it looks, the velvet worn soft with age. I open it slowly, already suspecting what might be inside.
The tiara nestles in cream silk. Emeralds the size of robin's eggs are set in a platinum band that curves and twists like living vines. Dragon motifs are etched between the stones, so detailed I can see each scale. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“Is this what I think it is?” My voice is small and squeaky like a mouse.
"The Draak matriarchal crown," Seraphina says, her voice softer now, almost reverent. "Worn by generations of our clan’s matriarchs on their wedding day. I will not take my vows without it."
I swallow hard. "It's… exquisite."
"It's priceless," she corrects. "Both in value and in meaning. Which is why I needed you to see it."
"My grandmother is passing it to me and it’s my responsibility to safeguard it for the next generations of Draak as well.
" A flash of vulnerability crosses Seraphina's face, so brief I almost miss it.
"Trust is the mortar between the stones of a dragon clan. At least, that’s what my grandmother always says.
So, I am trusting you with the knowledge that the tiara is here, in Windfall Manor, until the ceremony. "
"I thank you for your trust, Seraphina." My voice dies and my head spins. I know that dragons are a closed-off community and weary of outsiders, especially when it comes to their wealth and status. It means a lot that she shows me this.
“I’m trusting you with a lot, Julia.” Seraphina’s violet gaze burns right through me. “Choosing who I place my trust in is a test of my ability to lead.”
When all I do is open and close my mouth like a fish out of water, Seraphina nods, like somehow I’ve accepted.
“Come.”
She moves behind Silverine's large mahogany desk, her fingertips tracing along the intricate carving on its topmost drawer.
With a soft click, a concealed shelf built into the cabinetry swings open to reveal the small digital safe embedded seamlessly into the cabinet's back panel.
Seraphina punches in a quick sequence of numbers and the safe door opens smoothly. She carefully places the tiara inside.
“Windfall Manor is full of secrets,” she murmurs. “No one else knows about this safe except my grandmother, myself, and now you.”
Seraphina's eyes bore into mine with fierce intensity. Then she closes the safe and turns around to face me.
“You are now part of this clan.”
With that, she sweeps from the room, leaving behind the scent of smoke and expensive perfume.
I stare at the place where the concealed safe is hidden. My hands shake slightly as I brace myself on the rich mahogany desk .
The weight of this responsibility settles heavy on my shoulders. The Draak wedding isn't just another event; it's the cornerstone of my new beginning. If I succeed, Ever After & Co. will be established among the elite as one of the best event planning companies on the East Coast.
If I fail…
I won’t recover. Not professionally. Not personally.
Vera Castell saw to that. My old boss blamed me for her mistake. Fired me in front of the entire Winter Gala committee. My name was a punch line for six months. A whisper of “Isn’t she the one who—?”
I rebuilt myself from nothing. I crawled back up.
And now a dragon heiress just handed me the weight of her entire clan’s legacy in a velvet box and told me not to drop it.
I won’t.
Even if my hands are shaking.
Even if my heart feels like it’s stuck between my ribs.
Courtney taps lightly on the door, easing it halfway open to peek inside.
“Is it safe to come back?”
“Yes, hurricane Seraphina has passed,” I say, attempting humor.
She giggles softly, stepping inside with a relieved smile. Her eyes dart around the room, landing on her laptop still resting on Silverine's desk.
“Oh, I almost forgot this,” she mumbles, swiftly retrieving the device and folding it shut.
The camera indicator flashes once more before the screen goes dark, but I dismiss the flicker as just another tech quirk.
I’m glad Seraphina didn’t notice it, though.
It took me six months to gain the dragon’s trust. I don’t want something as insignificant as a forgotten camera light on to ruin it.
Courtney clutches the laptop firmly against her chest, cheeks flushed again.
“The glassblower says platinum will increase the cost by forty percent.”
"Approve it." I pull out my binder, flip to the blue section, and shake my head. “I have to call the linen company. Their shipment has been delayed.”
She nods, then hesitates. "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine," I say automatically. Then, seeing her genuine concern, I soften. "Thanks, Courtney. Really."
She smiles, a little brighter now, and disappears down the hall.
Outside, the ocean reflects the fading sun. Wind brushes against the old glass.
After she leaves, I sink into the chair by the window, binder still open.
My fingers press into the edge of the page until they ache.
Light has fallen to low embers, turning the glass into a mirror that reflects my tired face back at me.
Outside, the rose garden is visible only as dark shapes against the darker sky.
After another steadying breath, I pull my binder close, running my fingers over the embossed logo of Ever After & Co.
Ten days until the wedding. Ten days to manage a troll chef and coordinate security for two dragon families and a hundred celebrity guests, each with their own little extra demands.
And then days to source an impossibly rare blue orchid.
“You’ve survived worse,” I whisper. “This is just a case of Bridezilla.”
Then I glance at the hidden safe again.
“A dragon Bridezilla.”