Chapter Forty-Three
It took three hours to get from New York City to The Hamptons. Aliannah and Ivan were viewing Longhouse Reserve for their wedding venue. Aliannah was so excited to see the gardens. It was its own private estate, which ticked off the security box, and they were hoping to hire out the entire estate for the duration of the wedding.
Aliannah stepped out of the SUV and stood in awe of her surroundings. The manor house was beautiful on the outside, and the gardens were extraordinary. There was a skip to her step as she headed inside.
“Good Afternoon, I’m Sylvester, the wedding coordinator here at Longhouse Reserve. Are you the Stacktons?” Sylvester looked at his clipboard with furrowed brows. Ivan had given them Aliannah’s last name for the viewing. He didn’t want a paparazzi frenzy showing up. Sylvester wore a navy blue tailored suit and had slicked-back greying hair.
“Yes, we are, and I would appreciate it if you kept our presence quiet.” Ivan firmly shook Sylvester’s outstretched hand.
“Of course, sir, we shall start with the exterior tour before returning inside. Please follow me” Sylvester turned and walked with a level of superiority no one would dare say boo to.
They walked through so many different gardens. Sylvester explained the different flowers as they went. They came across a white rose garden surrounded by tall hedges. Aliannah gasped.
“This one, this is perfect” She squeezed Ivan’s hand.
Sylvester showed them images on his iPad of the set-up options available. They wanted an afternoon ceremony with an evening meal and party. They would place an altar decorated with white linen cloth and more white roses at the far end of the garden in the bandstand, and chairs decorated with white tulle trimming would be set up on both lawns. Aliannah loved it.
They moved on to the next space, the front lawn garden. This allowed for an indoor option should the weather get too chilly in the evening. Sylvester showed them images of what the space would look like in the evening. There was a canopy of fairy lights across the sky and down along the hedges on the sides, tables and chairs dotted around the edges with a white linen cloth, and a white dance floor took up the centre of the lawn.
“Yes to all of it!” Aliannah was buzzing with excitement.
They entered the interior ballroom, which was set up for a wedding for the next day.
“I shouldn’t really have you in here, but as the event is tomorrow, a cheeky peep at the set-up won’t cause too much trouble for the staff.” Sylvester winked and waved them in.
The staff was still placing the centrepieces and the flowers, but everyone waved hello to them.
“Oh, this is divine! Please tell me you have a date this September!” Aliannah clung tight to Ivan’s arm. He looked down at her and smiled. Sylvester’s jaw dropped.
“THIS September?! I doubt it! This place books out two years in advance!” He began to scan the calendar and shook his head.
“I’m afraid we don’t. We are fully booked. The earliest opening is…. March next year, and that is only because they cancelled this morning.” Sylvester looked apologetic. Ivan cleared his throat.
“I don’t think you understand who I really am, Sylvester. We need September this year. I will hire the entire estate for complete exclusivity.” Ivan glowered
“Sir, we have no availability,” Sylvester said while scrolling through his calendar.
“I am Ivan Kozlov. I am sure your manager would be highly disappointed to hear you could not accommodate such a lucrative business opportunity.” Ivan took a step towards Sylvester, who towered over him by a foot. Sylvester tried to retain his mask of confidence, but it was visibly slipping.
“Once it gets out that you hosted my wedding, your books will be overflowing for the next ten years. However, should it get out that you refused, your bookings will all withdraw for fear of substandard services, and this beautiful estate will crumble to nothing.” Ivan waved his arm across the expanse of the area.
Sylvester was flustered; he again scrolled the booking list.
“I don’t care who you cancel to make it happen. I will pay double,” Ivan leaned leisurely on the bar.
“Please excuse me a moment.” Sylvester speed walked out of the ballroom.
“The poor man is shitting his pants, Ivan. Oh my God.” Aliannah stifled a giggle.
“Only the best for my darling; if this place is what you want, then I will make it happen.” He kissed her cheek before ordering a bourbon from the bar.
Aliannah accepted a mimosa from the barman and wandered around the room, examining all the tables and their placements. She was in love with this venue. It was perfect. It was not too big but not too small either, and the privacy of the entire estate to themselves. A wave of relief went through her, knowing the paparazzi would not be able to get past the front gate, the gate which was too far from the manor house to see anything, even with a long lens.
Sylvester returned twenty minutes later with another man in tow. He looked afraid of this man. Aliannah raised a brow at Ivan as she joined him again at the bar.
“Hello. I am Kristoff, the manager here. I am deeply sorry for the confusion with Sylvester. Upon reviewing our calendar, I can offer you full exclusivity on the 6th of September. It is a Saturday. We cancelled the existing event on that day. Does that date please you, Mr Kozlov?” Kristoff had a glint of hope in his eyes.
Ivan sat at the bar and finished his drink before turning to look at Kristoff.
“I am glad you are a competent man, Kristoff. At least someone on your staff is.” Ivan shook Kristoff’s hand and glanced at Sylvester.
“Let’s take this to my office, where we can draw up the contract,” Kristoff said. Ivan followed, firing off a text on his phone.
Lorenzo met them in the main foyer, holding a large brown envelope. He handed it to Ivan and nodded before heading back outside to the SUV.
Kristoff’s office was as extravagant as the manor itself. Everything had fine royal blue finishes, and the floor and walls were made of pale wood. It was bright and expensive looking. The type of atmosphere that makes you feel like something will break by simply looking at it.
“Now, Kristoff, before we begin, I have a contract for you,” Ivan said, handing him the envelope.
Kristoff sat at his desk and opened it. It contained a thickly stacked document. Kristoff read the first page in detail and flicked through the rest.
“I see…” Kristoff closed the document.
“The NDA must be signed, or all bets are off. My wife’s safety and protection are paramount. If you cannot agree, then we shall take ourselves elsewhere. I don’t know about you, Kristoff, but I would hate to get on the wrong side of my wife.” Ivan smirked as he took Aliannah’s hand.
“Absolutely, Mr Kozlov,” Kristoff said as he began signing the document page by page. Breaching the NDA would end his career, he would lose his personal home, and Ivan would hold a majority stake in the shares of Longhouse Reserve.
He handed back the NDA to Ivan when he finished and pulled out his own contract. Aliannah wandered over to the bookshelves while the men discussed the finer details.
“Whatever she wants, she gets. Nothing is off limits.” Ivan signed the final page, and the men stood up to shake hands.
“It is a pleasure to have the honour of hosting your wedding, sir. I wish you and your wife the happiest of futures, and we look forward to your big day. I will fax this through to your people immediately for your own records. Please feel free to take another turn about the grounds before you depart.” Kristoff smiled and held his office door open for them.
They stepped outside into the fresh air again. Aliannah stood in the sun with her arms out spinning. She could not believe it. Ivan leaned against the pillar, watching her smile.
“What are you doing, darling?” he raised a brow.
Aliannah skipped over to him and kissed him passionately.
“Thank you…. This is perfect,” she said, kissing him again.
“Anything you want, darling, all you need is to say,” he smiled.
The drive home was busy with florists and photographers being called and finalising the guest list. They settled on a hundred guests, which was considered tiny for a mafia wedding. The guest list did not account for the security that would be present, either. Ivan put Igor in charge of security for the event.
Igor would be Ivan’s best man, and Michelle would be Aliannah's maid of honour. They didn’t want anyone else standing up there with them. They said no to flower girls, page boys, or anyone under eighteen. This was not an event for children.
You are cordially invited to the exclusive wedding of:
Ivan Kozlov everyone cleared their calendars for such a major event.
Their phones pinged constantly for the rest of the week as everyone confirmed their attendance. Aliannah had to mute her phone to finish her work duties. Mr Wright has been satisfied so far with her progress in obtaining exhibits and artefacts. For now, he was happy for her to continue working from home.