Chapter 2 （B） – Asher
Two (B)
PRESENT DAY
ASHER
The following morning
The William & Natalie Calloway Wedding
The Squantum Association
Providence, Rhode Island
The lighthouse across from this venue always glowed bright white hours before a wedding ceremony.
For whatever reason, it was glaring red like it knew me and my top assistant were here. Like it was well aware that this weekend was bound to end in tears.
“I’ve hated every second of working with this client,” Kelsey handed me a pair of binoculars. “How much longer until we’re done with him?”
“If you gave me the right research, hopefully an hour.” I looked at my watch. “Will you be joining me inside to make sure everything goes well?”
“Ugh. Never.”
Of course. I smiled and stepped out of the car. “Come back for me in twenty.”
She sped off and I walked into the ballroom. I looked around at the four hundred empty white-clothed tables and sparkling chairs that would never witness this couple’s first dance.
All because the groom was too scared to pull the plug on this relationship six months ago, like I suggested. Hell, he should’ve done it six weeks ago when I literally laid out all the reasons why that was better, but he “didn’t want to hurt her.”
Until now, I guess.
I pulled out my second cell phone and scrolled through our emails, making sure that I’d mentioned that my fee was triple for handling this at the last minute.
Check.
Before I could call him, text messages crossed my screen.
William
WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!
YOU SHOULD’VE LANDED BY NOW.
I need you to stop texting me in all caps.
For what I’m paying you, I can text you however I WANT.
I’m at the venue. Where are you?
The men’s room. The one in the servants’ villa.
Thank you.
I slid my phone into my pocket and strolled across the grounds, stopping when I saw a huge pink and white floral arch standing above the welcome sign.
Rose, peony, random tulip, dahlia…
I’d know that signature pattern anywhere, and I knew who insisted on having it at every event she planned.
This was a Katie Elizabeth wedding.
Shit.
I clenched my jaw.
Lately, I’d asked every client who their planner was, and anyone who uttered her name got ignored. And I asked William more than five times to confirm.
Sighing, I continued strolling to the men’s room and found William pacing the floor.
“Well, then.” His eyes met mine. “Took you long enough.”
“I’m here three hours early.” I crossed my arms. “Who’s your wedding planner again?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I let Natalie handle all that.”
“You don’t even know her name?”
“You’re here to help me, not ask silly questions.” He stopped pacing for a few seconds. “Okay, fine. It’s Katie Elizabeth, and the only reason I lied is because the guy who referred me to you said I had to or you wouldn’t help.”
Of course. I gritted my teeth.
“You better not be thinking about backing out on me now.”
“I’m tempted...” I looked at my watch. “But your next-to-last check cleared, so I guess I have no choice.”
“Exactly.” He resumed his pacing. “I thought you would’ve delivered the bad news by now.”
“I told you this called for a different approach, and it’s being handled as we speak.”
“Will she know I’m behind this?”
“No…” I shook my head. “She’ll blame herself, unless you finally want to man up and be honest with her.”
“Ha! No.”
“Well, make sure you have my final payment scheduled for an hour from now and you’ll be fine,” I said. “I’m flying back to New York.”
“But don’t you want to stay and make sure things go as planned?”
“I’m a professional, William,” I said. “You’re free. Trust me.”
He looked as if he didn’t believe me, as if all the bravado from earlier had melted and given way to fear of the unknown.
“Fine, I’ll wait in here with you until you feel like it’s done.”
“Thank you.” He pulled a pack of playing cards from his pocket. “Double solitaire?”
“Sure…”
Within minutes of him setting our hands on the back of the sink, his phone sounded.
“Hold on.” He pulled it from his pocket and answered. “This is William speaking... Oh, just walking around a few times before everything goes down and… She said what?”
His eyes met mine. “Is this some type of joke?”
I flipped over my hand and laid down a king. Then a pair of clubs and a queen.
“Well, I...” William loosened his tie, heaving. “I wasn’t expecting that, but… Yes, I understand. No, she can handle telling the guests. Thank you.”
He ended the call, glaring at me.
“It’s your turn.” I gestured at the cards. “Unless you don’t want to play anymore.”
“The wedding is off.” He swiped the cards off the sink. “She called it off.”
“Great.” I smiled. “Go ahead and send your final payment to me.”
“Her ex-boyfriend showed up with an emotional speech about wanting her back, and she’s going with him. That wasn’t what I had in mind for ending things.”
“You can talk and tap ‘pay’ at the same time…” I pointed to his phone. “I can show you, if you like.”
“Why would you get her ex involved?”
“Wrong question.” I grabbed his phone before it could lock and tapped on his wallet icon. “You should be asking yourself, why does it matter who she’s with now, since you didn’t want her? Or, you could ask why you couldn’t just tell her the truth from the beginning.”
“I’m not referring you to anyone I know,” he said. “Ever.”
“Six thousand...” I typed the number, double-checked it, and sent it to myself before returning his phone. “You’re welcome.”
“Now, everyone will think that I’m some sort of cuck.”
“Better that than a coward.” I turned away and left before I could say anything else.
I was halfway to the exit when I saw the bride—still dressed in her wedding gown—rushing toward a blue convertible with a guy in jeans.
This was one of few times when I didn’t feel as guilty for messing things up.
A group of bridesmaids suddenly rushed past me, and then I saw…her. The bane of my existence in a light grey dress that clung to her curves in all the right places.
Her honey-colored hair fell past her shoulders in soft curls, and I felt the sudden urge to wrap it around my fist.
Her eyes were puffy—as if she was the one who’d lost today—but I knew it was really because no one would get to see her over-the-top work for the reception.
I slid a pair of shades over my eyes and turned to walk the other way, but it was too late.
Her mouth dropped open, and she rushed over, her stilettos clacking across the concrete.
“Oh good,” she said. “Here I was thinking maybe this was some second-chance romance coming together at the worst time, but… It’s you again.”
“We don’t have to talk every time we cross paths, Katie.”
“This is number three this year, Asher.” She scowled. “This. Year.”
“It’s always a pleasure seeing you.” I smiled. “You’ve cut your hair since I saw you.”
“I did…I hope you hate it.”
“I love it.” I was tempted to touch it. “It looks very good on you. Does your boyfriend like running his fingers through it?”
“He’s obsessed with it,” she said, and I immediately regretted asking.
“Does your girlfriend like what you’ve done with yourself lately?” she countered. “Adding more broken hearts to your collection?”
“I don’t do girlfriends.”
“Just casual sex?”
“I haven’t had sex in a long time.”
“Society thanks you for not spreading STDs.”
Okay, enough of this woman for today… I stepped closer against my better judgment.
“You know, you and I could’ve been such good friends if you weren’t so hostile every time you saw me.”
“You make a living ruining months of my work, Asher. We can never be friends.”
“The bride and groom still have to pay you.”
“That’s not the point.” She closed the gap between us. “But I wouldn’t expect you to ever understand that, because whenever you see someone even thinking about getting married, you see dollar signs and ways to ruin it.”
“That’s not how my job works.”
“You don’t have a job, Asher.” Her lips were way too close to mine. “You’re a literal cancer on the world.”
“Walk away from me before I make you regret saying that.”
“Truth hurts.” She shoved past me and kept walking.
I didn’t stop her, and I didn’t reach for her like I’d done a few times in the past.
I just watched her go like I wasn’t already thinking about the next time I’d see her.