Chapter 11 – Allegra
11
ALLEGRA
T oday is the day from hell. From the early wake-up call from my idiot brothers to the BFH, who is now screaming about how things are not going her way. Seriously.
I look at Bea. As the wedding planner, she is kind of stuck being here, but I know that Rachel intimidates her for some reason. I’ve seen her handle high-strung brides without a problem. I don’t like seeing Rachel’s effect on the staff.
“Is there something I can help you with today, Rachel?”
I’ve called her by her first name because she’s an asshole. Most of the time, I use the client’s surname out of respect unless they tell me to use their first names. Rachel doesn’t deserve my respect. She has been verbally assaulting all of the staff today. It is my only act of rebellion, and I am not giving it up.
“Yes. It is less than an hour before the wedding, and my groom is nowhere to be found.”
She’s not reacting in panic like a lot of brides might do. Instead, she is incensed, angry. I guess that might be normal for some people. My first thought would be worry. I would wonder what happened to my groom, but she hasn’t wondered once if he is okay. She’s more worried about how this would look. Rachel also seems to think it is my job to find the idiot.
“Give me a second, and let me call around the resort. Sometimes grooms take a minute or two to themselves on the day of their wedding.”
That seems to calm her, although I get a look from Bea that tells me she knows what I said is a lie.
I step out of the room and pull out my phone. As I start calling around, I walk down the hallway, trying to get as far away as possible from Rachel and her mother. After a few phone calls, I lean against the wall and sigh. I have a feeling that this entire thing is about to become a shit show. No groom and a Bridezilla who is marrying for status and not love. This is going to be ugly.
“I heard Theo Darling is involved with someone,” I hear a woman say. I realize I am near another of our small conference rooms. I inch closer and, yes, I know it is bad form to eavesdrop on our guests, but since I spent last night with that man’s mouth on me—along with other things—I think I have a right to listen.
Also, I know this is BS, but it’s been a day.
Another woman snorts. “Like any woman could hold that man down. The moment he sees a model who catches his eye, he’ll be gone. That man just doesn’t know how to behave like a good man.”
“Why would he when he’s so good at being bad?”
They both snicker, and I hear rustling as if they are coming out the door. I panic and call someone just to pretend like I’m busy and wasn’t listening.
“Allegra, I thought you would be too busy today to call.”
“Well, someone has to know where he is.”
“I have no idea what you are…oh, you’re covering.”
My mom is sharp.
“Yeah, you know how it goes.”
“Do you want to tell me about this Theo? Your brothers are not happy with the situation, so I am assuming he’s a hottie.”
“That would be correct.”
The two women walk past me, whispering now between them. They barely even notice that I am standing there. Once they pass me, I turn and walk in the opposite direction.
“I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Mom, I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Are the people gone then?”
“Yeah.”
“So, you think this isn’t going to last? Why not? What is wrong with him?”
“Nothing is wrong with him,” I say as I step into my office and shut the door. “He’s just out of my league.”
“Impossible! Why would you say that? You are out of no one’s league. You are the ultimate league.”
Also, she gets agitated when we talk ourselves down and say a bunch of nonsense.
“He’s a billionaire.”
“And you are the most beautiful woman in the world.”
I sigh. She’s on a roll. “We can talk about this later. I have a crisis.”
“And this isn’t important?”
“We are less than an hour from the wedding, and the groom is nowhere to be found.”
“Oh…okay, that is more important. Call me back. And remember, it isn’t tattling on your brothers if they are jerks.”
“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, baby girl.”
I drop my phone and collapse in my chair. The lack of sleep last night, along with the stress of today, is really dragging me down. Not that I would give up last night for anything. Also, what those women said is starting to really bug me. I mean, I know we aren’t running off to get married. And he didn’t pledge his undying love to me. Still, I thought it was just a little more serious than just a one-night stand.
And just like that, I doubt everything. What if this is all it was to him? What if I was just a conquest, and now that he had me, he’s going to dump me?
My door bursts open, and, of course, it’s one of my brothers. Alyx looks a little messed up. His hair is sticking up as if he just got out of bed, and knowing him, he did. He’s the one-night stand owl of the family, which I’m sure made life as a Marine just horrible.
“Have you seen the news?”
I shake my head. “I’ve been busy. What happened?”
He holds up his phone and there, in color, is a picture of our missing groom, being led away in handcuffs.
“Oh, fuck me,” slips out just as the door opens again. This time it’s Theo.
“Everything has just turned into a shit show. If that idiot doesn’t show up soon, we’re all going to be killed by that fire-breathing nightmare of a bride.”
I hold the phone up so he can see it. His eyes widen.
“Fuck me.”
Alyx laughs. “That’s exactly what Allegra said.”
“It was a matter of time. His family has been hit several times by the SEC.”
“Well, that’s just great. I will have to deal with BFH now, and I am so not in the mood. She was having a meltdown when I left.”
“She was screaming at one of her bridesmaids when I saw her,” Theo says. “Well, I actually didn’t see her. I heard her from the hallway and ran away like a little boy.”
I smile. “With that set of lungs, they probably heard her in Outer Mongolia.”
“So, what do you need from us?” Raine asks.
I look at Raine. “I have no idea. Don’t you have a job you need to get to? And what the hell ever happened to Devon?”
“He went up to see his folks in Baltimore.”
He’s avoiding eye contact, and that is not a good thing with Raine.
“Raine?”
“Listen, he really wasn’t coming here.”
I blink. “What?”
“I was just teasing you, and while I do want you to move back to Colorado, I know you aren’t going to do it for some stupid guy. Especially Devon.”
“Why is that?”
“He’s gay.”
For a moment, I can’t speak. This is not a usual occurrence for me. Ever . But he has rendered me speechless. I am without speech. The ramifications of what Raine just dropped in my lap…Jesus.
I give him a narrow look. “Are you messing with me? You threatened to set me up with a man who’s gay?”
“And in a relationship.”
That comes from Alyx. I look over, and my brothers are all standing there with stupid grins on their faces. Every one of them knew it. They knew this was happening, and they went along with it.
They are so going to regret it.
Then, my gaze lands on Theo’s face, who looks…I don’t know. There is no expression on his face. But I don’t have time to figure that out. Because in the next instant, a freaked-out Bea shows up at my office door, which is apparently the epicenter of everything today.
“Allegra…the news. I think she might tear down the entire thing.”
I draw in a deep breath, then release it slowly.
“All of you,” I say, pointing to my brothers, “are in trouble.”
“What are you going to do, tell Mom?” Tyler asks, laughing.
“Yeah, but I will get my revenge. You won’t know when it’s coming, but I will get each and every one of you back for that.”
I look at Theo, who is studying me with an air of…again, I don’t know what. Seriously, I have no idea what that look is about, but I mouth sorry and head out to deal with BFH. Later, I will have to pack away all the feelings I have for him and deal with the loss. We both knew this was temporary, and since there was no reason for us to pretend anymore, I’m sure he’s ready to be rid of me.
I march down the hallway, steeling my spine for dealing with the screeching banshee.
I step into the room, and the rage pouring off Rachel could fuel the entire Asian continent for the winter.
“You!”
She says it in a way that makes me think I had something to do with her fiancé being arrested.
“Yes?”
“This is your fault. You should have done something to make sure he was here.”
That makes no sense whatsoever, but this woman rarely does.
“Miss Burton, I can assure you I didn’t have anything to do with what has happened.”
She opens her mouth—probably to spout some other nonsense, but I am in pain, my heart aching for the man I know doesn’t want to have anything to do with me after this weekend, and I have had enough of her abusive crap. Worse, I know she has been horrible to every staff member here.
“The person responsible for what is happening right now is your fiancé. He apparently broke the law, and with him being in the society pages and you two on your way to your honeymoon out of the country, the Feds probably freaked out. It’s probably more your fault than anyone’s.”
She blinks as the entire room goes quiet. Rachel looks around, then back to me, her eyes narrowing on my face. “We want a refund.”
“I understand that, but since you signed a contract, you are beholden to that contract. There will be no refund for your event. You are more than welcome to carry on and have a party, but we will not be giving you a refund.”
“We’ll see about that. I’m going to talk to the Darlings. They’ll understand.”
“Actually, Rachel, we will not be giving you a refund.”
My entire body lights up at the sound of Theo’s dark voice. I don’t turn around because I would want to jump into his arms like a ninny. I might have a brave face on, but I’m close to cracking. Today has been kind of a crap day.
“Your brother?—”
“Wants nothing to do with you, and you will not bother him. You can deal with me, or with the manager of this hotel. I can tell you one thing is for sure: we will not be giving you a refund. We stand behind Ms. Sullivan.”
She’s staring at him as if he has grown five heads. My heart is beating so hard I’m amazed it hasn’t shot out of my chest yet.
“Theo,” Rachel whines.
“You signed the contract. You’re stuck with it.”
Her entire face turns red, but apparently, Theo has had enough. “I need all my employees out of here. As I said, you can stay, or you can go. We will be holding the reception either way.”
Then, without another word, he grabs my hand and starts off. I stumble to catch up with him and realize he probably wants to let me have it after what Raine revealed.
This is definitely the day from hell.