For a moment, I imagined it was me standing with Madison, smiling at the camera. I could pretend we were surrounded by family wishing us well. No. Fuck, even my imagination wasn’t that strong.
With the exception of Liv, the whole damn venue could go up in smoke, and I wouldn’t lose a minute of sleep. After consideration, I added Lena to my list of attendees who would survive my mental massacre.
Isn’t that the way it is with fantasies?
A person had the opportunity to think and rethink until they hit every marker.
With each rendition of the wedding in my head, my imagination became more morose. The flames started in the kitchen. No. Candles ignited the cheap décor, spreading quickly and blocking exits. Lena and Liv were talking in the hallway, discussing the mistake both Phillip and Madison had made. They’d come to the conclusion that I was the better groom when the structure exploded.
Another drink of the amber liquid.
My throat no longer felt the burn as the alcohol coated my throat and stomach.
Far below, lights identified towns and cities separated by large dark spaces. The red had tempered as the bourbon mixed with the onboard meal. It was as the captain announced our arrival in Appleton that I made my decision.
My family was dead to me.
With the exception of my sister, I was done.
Stick me with a fucking fork.
I was Donovan Sherman, and when I stripped off this cheap tuxedo, I’d set it ablaze like my fantasies of the venue. I had no intention on wasting another minute on anyone who shared my DNA. However, I vowed that at every opportunity I discovered to use my wealth or power to my advantage, I would.
My car was waiting in long-term parking. The worst part about living in the middle of nowhere was the lack of direct flights. With a four-hour drive to my house in Ashland, I made the right decision by staying the night at a hotel.
I’d give myself this one day and night.
When my eyes opened in the morning, I would move on.
It was the next morning when I woke that I searched the pockets of the tuxedo. Hell, if I didn’t set it ablaze, I’d leave it in the trash. The shop could charge me for the damn thing. I didn’t give a fuck.
As my fingers came into contact with Madison’s pearls, I pulled them from the depth of the pocket. I contemplated leaving them for the maid, throwing them in the trash can, or igniting them with the tuxedo.
Do pearls melt?
Are they real?
Are they old?
A family tradition?
Sentimental?
At the front desk, I asked for a padded envelope. After scribbling Lena’s address on the front, I dropped the pearls inside, sealed the flap, and paid the postage. With my good deed for the year complete, I washed my hands of my past.
“For better or worse, motherfuckers. I’m moving on.”
Van
Present day
‘Pharmaceutical heiress leaves Donovan Sherman at the altar. Wade Pharmaceutical stocks plummet.’
Julia stared at the screen of my phone. In actuality, the story was more headline than substance. Nevertheless, I was admittedly caught off guard by the change of events.
“Why would they purposely want to sabotage the value of Wade?” Julia asked.
“The million-dollar question is who arethey?”