Chapter 12 It’s Nothing but Blue Skies from Here, Right?
It’s Nothing but Blue Skies from Here, Right?
Vivian - Three Days Later
Email to Zara@, Zaylee@
From: Viv@
Subject: Wedding Success!
Hi, ladies!
We’re already up to three million views on the reveal video, and the other two videos we posted are over a million and climbing steadily. As you can see in the comments, Dominic is A HIT! Seriously, he could start his own channel and make a fortune.
Anyway, we’re full-steam ahead on the plans.
We’ve been doing lots of filming with Frank, B-roll, fun little moments at the beach, poolside, stopping for ice cream, etc.
It’s all going so smoothly. We’re meeting with the resort owner today to set dates, etc.
We should be able to get the engagement video shot by the end of next week, and then move directly onto wedding planning with a quick stop back in New York before returning to Santa Valentina for the big event.
Preliminary Wedding Video Plan (To Be Scheduled):
Santa Valentina: Engagement
Planning wedding
Flowers, cake, decorations, fun touches for guests (custom welcome bags, photo booth, etc.)
In NYC: Flight back to NYC
Registering for gifts
Dress shopping (including shoes, veil)
Shopping for lingerie and honeymoon outfits
Suit fitting for Dominic
Flight back to Santa Valentina
Santa Valentina: More wedding prep
Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding - On resort beach at sunset
Reception - Dinner at open-air Carib-Asian Fusion restaurant
Dance by pool
Wedding Night - Presidential Suite
Honeymoon - Island of Eden (if we can get a night there and can film)
Please let me know if there’s anything I’m missing or if you have any questions/suggestions.
xoxo,
Viv
Email to: Viv@ cc: Zaylee@
From: Zara@
Subject: Re: Wedding Success!
Viv,
We saw the videos. Dominic is DARLING! Honestly, why on earth have you been keeping him a secret this whole time?
Seriously—he’s SO handsome and well-put-together, and the fact that he’s a true artist who is committed to his community and his craft while also looking after his nephew full-time?
Amazing stuff. Seriously. If he is looking for representation, tell him we’d love to have him.
But for now, having the two of you post as much as possible is the play.
You look perfect together (#relationshipgoals material).
These plans all look great. We’ve put some feelers out for dress designers and should hear back by tomorrow, but the timeline might be too tight.
If so, we make ‘off the rack’ the new trend.
We’re hoping to get Olivia Paul (you’ll remember she got her start making Princess Tessa of Avonia’s gown).
She’s so hot right now. If that works out, you’ll still do the wedding dress shopping video, then while you’re trying on something sort of ugly, you’ll get a text from her saying she can fit you in.
It’ll all look very organic of course. Then two videos with the designer—one when you’re planning, and one fitting (but we won’t show the whole dress until the actual wedding, obviously).
Tiffany’s is a go for filming ring shopping, and we want to get your opinion on partnering with Anthropologie for the registry. They’re super excited about you, especially if you have plans for a baby soon. Their baby line needs a big boost.
Smooches,
Zara
Email to Zara@, Zaylee@
From: Viv@
Subject: Re: Wedding Success!
Wow, Olivia Paul? That would be INCREDIBLE! Also, Tiffany’s for rings is perfect, as is Anthropologie. I love everything they do, although there are no immediate plans for Dom and me with regards to babies, so if that’s a deal-breaker for Anthropologie, I’d rather tell them now.
Plus, if we rush straight into having a family, we’ll miss out on all the opportunities to showcase our first year as a married couple.
Hugs,
Viv
Email to: Viv@ cc: Zaylee@
From: Zara@
Subject: Re: Wedding Success!
Viv,
Good point about the first year of marriage thing, so long as you start talking about babies if views drop.
Dominic’s got that ‘it factor’ and it’s possible you can get through several months before you have to move into parenting, so long as you both know it’s a moving target.
Your fans are starting families so you either join them and lead them into parenting with style or you lose them. It’s really that simple.
More Smooches,
Zara
P.S. Olivia Paul is out. Apparently, she’s booked for the next three years, which means when you go film the wedding gown shopping video, you will actually be shopping for a wedding gown. We’ve set you up with Posh Bridal (and they are THRILLED to work with you).
Have you ever had a moment in life where things are going so well it's a little bit scary? Like everything you do goes so smoothly for so many days in a row, without even the slightest hiccup, that suddenly this tiny little nagging voice in the back of your head starts to whisper that the other shoe is about to drop? Because that's happening to me. And I can’t help but think Ben is going to be the person to drop the other shoe. He hasn’t said or done anything that would suggest he’s about to sabotage my plans (in fact, he’s been a little too quiet about the whole thing, if you ask me).
But there's a slight twinkle in his eye whenever he sees Dominic and me—a newfound breeziness about our whole plan that wasn't there before—and there's no reason I can think of for him to have changed his mind.
Since our talk the other morning, I’ve not only made sure to whisk Dominic off as soon as Ben gets home from work, but I’ve managed to avoid having any alone time with Ben myself.
The trick is to wait in my room until I hear Henry's little voice, then I get up and go make him a special breakfast and hang out with him before Ben takes him off to school. I absolutely love Henry so I'm trying to spend time with him in the mornings because keeping Ben and Dominic away from each other in the evenings is absolutely crucial for my plan. Dominic and I also pick him up from school and hang out with him until Ben comes home. Then, we take off to meet up with Frank and make more content before Dom’s show. I stick around the resort while he’s working, and by the time we get home, Ben’s asleep.
It’s the perfect plan because it’s given Dominic and me plenty of time to get to know each other, and what we’ve learned is that, other than the whole sex thing, we really are perfect for each other.
We’ve been having a blast so far. He's funny, charming, and completely agreeable.
His sense of style mirrors mine to a tee.
And not only that, but he is a massive hit with my followers—like super huge.
We've made four videos over the last three days and they are completely blowing up.
Still not a word from LornaLuvsLuxury, so suck it, Lorna!
In fact, it’s all been going so well that I’ve managed to shut down that little voice of doom in my brain.
Until today. We were about to walk out the door when Dominic made a remark to Ben about how he was surprised Ben wasn't doing his usual overreacting about the wedding, to which Ben replied, “Well, Dom, sometimes these things just take care of themselves. Besides, it would take a force much bigger than me to stop all this nonsense.”
There was something about the look on his face when he said it that was quite disconcerting—as if he knows of a bigger force that is actually on its way.
And it’s that look that I can’t get out of my mind as we drive over to the resort to meet with Libby, one of the resort owners, about the wedding.
I should be focusing on the task at hand because I'm about to give her my big pitch, explaining how much exposure the resort will get through my channel. It’s super important, but that damn expression on his face and his words about this being ‘nonsense’ keep invading my mind.
We get out of the car and walk toward the open-air lobby, which is attached to the resort's administration offices.
“What do you think Ben meant about a force bigger than him?” I ask.
“Who knows?” Dominic says with a shrug. “He's probably counting on a hurricane or something. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. You and I have a plan, and we are sticking to it. Nothing is going to get in the way.”
He stuffs his hands into the front pockets of his chinos and strolls up to the front desk where an older woman is showing a young man with a trainee badge how to use the cardkey machine. Dominic knocks on the counter and says, “Rosy, my darling, how's things?”
Her face lights up when she sees Dominic. “Better now that you're here. What can I do for you?”
“Well, Rosy, my fiancée, Vivian, and I are here to meet with Libby about holding our nuptials at the resort.”
Rosy looks at me, her smile quickly replaced by confusion. “Hello.”
“Hi,” I say, giving her a tiny wave. “It's nice to meet you.”
Rosy leans across the counter and gives me a hard stare. “Wow, you really look like a woman.”
“That's because she is a woman,” Dominic says. “Not that you're supposed to comment on that.”
Rosy glances at him. “I thought you were—”
“Rosy, I am getting married to Vivian, and we are here to meet with Libby, so we’re just going to head back and do that now. I don’t want to be late.”
Her face morphs to extreme embarrassment. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.”
I offer her a comforting smile. “No problem, I can understand that this might be confusing for people who know Dominic.”
We walk through the doors to the offices and Dominic loops his arm through mine, lowering his voice. “That might happen a lot, by the way.”
“Don't worry about it, seriously. I’m honestly not offended in any way.”
“And that’s why you are a keeper.” He stops in front of an office with an open door and gives a little knock. “Hi, Libby, is now a good time?”
Libby, a red-headed woman who looks to be in her late thirties, stands up and smiles. “Come in, come in. I am thrilled to be meeting the lucky man who—” She stops midsentence, her face turning bright pink as she whispers, “I'm sorry, I have made a mistake.”
We walk into the office and Dominic closes the door behind us. “Allow me to explain.”
Libby might be the world's greatest boss.
If I were to want a career change, I would one-hundred-percent want to work at this resort.
It's like one big happy family where everybody cares about each other and supports one another.
Libby is completely on board about holding the ceremony on the beach at sunset, and using the presidential suite for our first night as a married couple.
She just got up a minute ago to go talk to the event coordinator to figure out the best dates.
And best of all, she's checking to see if we can spend at least one night on their private luxury island, the Island of Eden, as our honeymoon.
Dominic smiles at me as soon as she leaves the room and puts a hand on mine. “Told you she was wonderful.”
“Honestly, I don't think this could be going any better.”
“I don't either. This whole thing makes me wish I was attracted to you, even the least little bit.”
We both laugh at the idea, then I pull out my phone to take a second to go over my emails with Zara and Zaylee.
I want to make sure I haven't forgotten anything that we need to mention to Libby.
My gut tightens when I read the part of Zara's message about us having babies.
There is obviously no way I would bring a child into this whole thing.
Unless… If Dominic was up for it. I mean, it sounds crazy, but there are all sorts of families, and if somehow this actually worked out and we had the perfect, loving, platonic relationship that could last forever, maybe having children wouldn't be the worst thing in the world?
“What are you thinking about?” Dominic asks.
“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head a little. “It's just that, well, you know how my management team believes this is a real marriage?”
“Uh-huh.”
“They're talking about partnering with Anthropologie for the gift registry.”
His face lights up. “Ooh! I love all things Anthropologie.”
“Me too.”
“But wait, why is this a problem?”
“Well, one of the reasons that they're excited about it is because they’re assuming we’re going to want to have children someday soon.”
He wrinkles up his nose a little. “Children? God, no.”
Welp, there’s my answer. It was a horrible idea anyway. “I thought you love taking care of Henry?”
“I do. Henry is the best. I would lay down my life for that little guy, but after spending a very unexpected and intense five years raising a small human, I am in no rush to do it again. If I ever do it all.” He pauses, then adds, “Especially if I’m about to embark on my Broadway career.”
I nod, knowing that his answer is the sensible one, even though a tiny part of me is slightly disappointed for reasons I cannot understand. I’m going to have to put a pin in that thought for now because I've got way too much to think about right now.
Libby returns to the office, but with her is a tiny older woman who I first assume is the events coordinator. Huh, why does she look so familiar? And what’s she so unhappy about?
Libby smiles at Dominic. “Look who I found wandering around the resort!”
Dominic's head snaps back. “Mum?”