“No. I told you, Vivian hired someone to do all of this. I don’t even remember it.”
Not even the cake tasting. She outsourced that too. It was like one day I proposed, and the next thing I was getting married. There was no journey along with it, and there was no bridal shower. Maybe I should have noticed the signs when I found out she didn’t have any friends. That wasn’t normal.
“Okay, whatever you say. Are you staying at the hotel?” she asked me.
“Yeah, I am. You and dad are too?”
“Yeah, it can be in a mini vacation for us.”
“Right. I’ll see if our seating arrangement is together for tonight.”
“I hope it is, we can talk more. I have to run though, I’ll see you tonight. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
As I was getting ready, I thought of mom meeting Emilia. I don’t know why. I knew mom would like her. Emilia was perfect. And I knew deep down it was never casual. When I’m with her…it was anything but casual.
It was everything.
It is what I have been afraid of since I found out what Vivian did. It’s what I always wanted out of a marriage. I want it with her, I knew that now. But I won’t make her regret loving me if her career doesn’t work out because she was too busy in a relationship.
So, I couldn’t introduce her to my mother as my casual sex fling. And if I did, mom would see right through it. She always had a way of doing that.
I made sure I wasn’t supposed to bring anything with me and then finished getting ready. I actually put product in my hair for a change and slicked it down. I slung my jacket over my shoulder and headed out. I took the Tesla and drove the twenty minutes to the hotel downtown. There were cars lining the valet, but I wasn’t sure if it was for the dinner. There should only be about twenty guests.
I went to the front desk to book my room and was glad to see a woman because then I could charm her into doing what I wanted.
“Is there an Emilia Michelle checked in?” she was young, her big brown eyes stared back at me.
“Uh, I can’t give out that information.” I smirked and leaned closer to her, so no one could hear and
so she could get lost in my dreamy eyes. Confident, not conceited.
“Please, she’s a friend of mine.” She doesn’t have to know the full truth. She sighed but checked her computer anyway.
“Yes, there is.” She looked back at me blushing.
“Can you book my room next to hers?” she blinked like she didn’t know what I had said.
“Um, I can see.”
“Please.” I smiled.
She swallowed nervously but did some clicking and typing. “Someone booked that room for tomorrow.”
“Well, can I book it tonight and maybe you can tell them something happened, and you had to move them?”
She bit her lip nervously as she contemplated. Maybe it helped I was looking at her like I wanted to bring her up to the hotel room with me. I mean, she was pretty. But she wasn’t Emilia.
“Um…sure.” She finally said.
“Thank you.”
Once she finished I gave her my best, knee-weakening smile and then left for the reception hall. It was pretty much empty save the catering staff, event staff, and…Emilia. I spotted her by the podium, setting up a beautiful tulip arrangement. The theme was similar to the bridal shower, but not completely identical.
I walked up to her, not announcing myself until I was right behind her. She wore a black dress that glinted under the light and made her hair even brighter, she had curled it loosely to fall down her back. The dress hugged all of her curves, my eyes lingered at her pear-shaped ass for a good moment.
“Emilia.” I said simply. She turned to look at me slowly.