Chapter 11
The wedding is going so well, I think to myself, sipping a fresh glass of champagne and excusing myself from gossiping with Merry and Gina.
They were both here in gorgeous designer dresses, threatening to outshine most of the guests.
Everything has been going smoothly, except for earlier in the afternoon when a bundle of nerves had hit me just before I walked down the aisle.
I'm not the bride, so my fidgety fingers and the perspiration bathing my forehead had been a shock to me.
The girls may have done a great job for my self-esteem that morning, complimenting me as we were getting dressed and taking pictures, but when the moment had come for me to make my entrance, my gut was twisting with nerves.
Especially when my eyes had landed on Cole.
He’d been whispering in Dean’s ear, so I had time to study him undiscovered.
Seeing him in a grey tux at the altar was like a punch to my solar plexus.
What would it feel like to be Cole’s bride, walking down the aisle to meet him?
Woah woah! Hold it! Where had that thought come from?
I shake off my lingering nerves and straighten my shoulders, preparing to face my fears. I begin to walk.
Looking back now, I'm giddy with excitement at the “Ohs” and “Ahs” I’d heard while walking to the altar.
The girls were right, Gina and Merry were right, and my Dad was right.
I did look stunning! I didn't think I could be happier that afternoon as Dean and Lenny had performed their first kiss as man and wife.
I dab at my traitorous happy tears, my neck begins to tingle with awareness.
I look away from the couple to find Cole smiling at me.
His entire face is lit up with joy, and I can't help but return his smile before quickly looking away.
I didn't want to risk him seeing how much he means to me at this moment. It’s a memory I will forever cherish.
I return to the present and begin tapping my feet to the music, giggling as I spy my best friend cornering my dad for a dance.
My smile widens as I watch Dean approach me.
“Mr. Married brother!” I say in a sing-song voice, opening my hands for an embrace.
He laughs and walks into my arms, swaying me from side to side as he hugs me.
“My very single sister,” he teases as we pull apart.
I smack his hand playfully. “Hey, that's not nice!” We both laugh, the happy sound mixing with the blast of soft music from the band singing.
I glance at him again and groan. “You look so happy it hurts to look at you.”
Dean barks with laughter. “Soon, our places will be reversed.”
I pull a face at his words. “I don't think so. You know I have no love life.” I end with a sad laugh. Dean grins and raises his brow like he knows a secret, and my heart begins to race .
“Are you sure about that?” He wiggles his brows, evoking nervous laughter from my lips.
“Of course!”
“Well, I could've sworn you were eating Cole up with your eyes earlier on at the church.”
Dean’s pronouncement causes my heart to drop to the pit of my stomach.
I laugh to cover up my shock. “Cole? Of all people, Cole?” My laughter sounds forced to me, so I fake a cough and begin spluttering.
“Come on, Dean. I've exchanged a few appreciative glances with Cole, but that's it.
You have to admit, he looks good in a suit but he's a chick magnet, we both know his scores with women.” I add with a wink.
Dean chuckles and lifts his hands in mock surrender. “True, True! You're right.”
Folding my hands across my chest, I pin him with a haughty look. “You bet I am.”
Even though my words come out clear and light, my insides are trembling with fear of almost being discovered.
Lenny arrives immediately and drags Dean off.
I let out a shuddering breath, turning around to hide my relief.
I thought I'd been super careful, but Dean's question proves otherwise.
I resign to avoid Dean until he leaves for his honeymoon.
My family loves partying, and so does Lenny’s, so we party late into the night, and by morning we all gather for breakfast. Breakfast is a lazy affair, as everyone arrives at different times depending on when their hangover eases.
I've always been cautious about drinking within my limits so I always have my wits about me. That’d made me the first at the table at seven-thirty this morning.
Gina and Merry had returned home last night, much to my annoyance.
They've left me by myself to field off Dean's questions.
Before long, the rectangular table that sits twenty at one of the private restaurants in The Ritz-Carlton is full.
I eat quickly, laughing at Dad’s jokes and Lenny’s teasing commentaries about the wedding party.
Dean looks like he wants to talk to me again and my breath hitches in my throat from nerves.
He can't talk to me if I'm busy, right? And so, I occupy myself, conversing with Paige and assisting everyone present with their food selection.
“Try the bacon!” I urge Mrs. Prime. “You’ll love it!
” I add, kissing my fingers. She smiles as I heap some onto her plate.
Turning to Thelma, I say, “You should try the eggs. Perfectly scrambled, you can just taste the butter. Yummy!” I groan in excitement.
Keeping up a stream of non-stop chatter discourages Dean from cornering me again to ply me with questions.
Lenny begins to shuffle Dean out of the restaurant by 8:45 and we all exchange hurried goodbyes, hugs, and kisses.
I watch them drive away from my perch at the doorway of the hotel leaning on my Dad’s shoulder.
Dad places a kiss on my forehead and rubs my arms. “Don’t worry, your own prince will come and sweep you off your feet! ”
I chuckle and press a kiss on his cheek. “Yes, Daddy. I'm not worried.”
He nods in approval as we both wave the newlyweds off.
To be honest, I'm feeling a pinch of worry because I'm a twenty-four-year-old successful marketing VP without a boyfriend and I have a stupid crush on my brother’s best friend.
Speaking of best friends, Cole hadn't shown up for breakfast this morning.
Frowning, I wonder if there's something wrong.
My worry over my love life takes the back burner over the next three weeks.
With Dean’s wedding out of the way, I can focus on my family-centered campaign.
Every day I come into work, the figures are staggering and the sales margin keeps increasing.
At the end of April, long after the Easter celebrations, families are still shopping in bulk, making shopping an entire family experience.
With the discounts and freebies attached to each family purchase, the influx of customers to Prime Universal Supermarkets in New York City branches maintains a steady climb.
“Sales charts are blowing up downtown,” Freda pipes from my office doorway, poking her head inside. My eyebrows shoot to my forehead in shock.
“That's another percentage higher in less than twenty-four hours!” I state excitedly, and she nods her head in response before disappearing from my door. I wait for a few minutes to ensure she isn't coming back before I hop off my chair and begin to do my happy dance.
Once I've worked up a sweat, I text the girls and tell them the good news. Their responses are instant.
Merry’s text reads:
Congratulations girl! You deserve this big break.
Gina: Yassssss! Go, Dora!
I grin at their texts, happy everything is coming along smoothly. I grin at the thought of Delores Stone listening to the reports soon. She’ll know just how intelligent I am! By the end of the day, I'm reading a mind-blowing sales report prepared by the quirky, slender Sales Assistant, Emma.
In the folder, she'd compiled a number of charts that map the profit margin at Prime Universal Supermarkets in the last five years. Those statistics pale in comparison to what we’ve achieved in two months!
Oh, Delores is going to swallow her tongue!
I giggle in glee, spinning my swivel chair around until a knock at the door interrupts me. I quickly stop my chair, grabbing hold of my desk to pull myself back into position.
I clear my throat before calling out to whoever is at the door, “Come in!”