The Arrangement

Chapter 6

This cant be real." Sarah exclaims as she kicks off her shoes to walk across the heated marble floors.

I looked around the bridal suite at the Cartwright's hotel. It was beautiful. But I couldnt even muster the slightest bit of excitement within myself. In the week between Thanksgiving and the wedding, my dad had suffered another stroke. And they had put him in a medically induced coma a few days ago. I had wanted to rush to his side but Michael and Greyson told me there was nothing I could do. He was stable . But there was no way of knowing how long he would be in a coma...I felt tears welling up in my eyes. My dad wouldn't be at the wedding to walk me down the aisle.

Sarah had returned and hands me a glass. "Here. Cheers..."

"Mimosas?" I laugh as I look down at the drink. "Its barely past noon."

"Anna, if there is any day you can drink a little bit earlier, its today." She sipped her own cocktail. "You are getting married."

I had told Sarah the same story about Christain and I's whirlwind romance as I had told my family. I had been the lie so often I was almost starting to believe it myself.

"Anyway," She raises her glass. "A toast to you." We clink our glasses together and take a sip. She smiles at me, " I'm so happy that you are happy." She looks right at me as she says it, her eyes searching mine. It was like she was waiting for me to confirm it.

A knock at the door saves me from answering and Sarah rushes over to answer it, revealing a group of women dressed in black.

"We are the bridal team." The one in front says. As the rest of them march into the room and begin to set up their stations in the suite. Another one of them points for me to follow her. And they begin to do their work on transforming me into a bride. For what seemed like hours they fussed over me. Even my wedding dress had been designed by Victoria Ling. I felt like I was Cinderella going to the ball. And when they were done, I saw myself in the full length mirror and everything came into focus.

This isnt me. There is no way.

But it was. My skin was wrapped I'm a gown meant for a queen. The way it draped and clung, the way the ivory made my skin glow, the way the corset hugged my figure and how the train fell straight behind me on the floor, it was all perfect. Too perfect.

"Oh my god." Sarah yelled when she saw me standing there. " You look so beautiful. "

"Sarah," I finally say. "Is this really happening? Am I really getting married?"

She steps closer to me and squeezes my hand. "You are, Anna. You are."

And with a hug she went to take her place in the front pew - While she was my maid of honor, Mr. Cartwright had insisted only Christian and I were to stand on the raised platform. But now, I was all alone in the empty bridal suite in a dress I shouldn't be wearing with my hair and make up all done up. Yhis was it. I took a deep breath and another gulp of champagne and opened the door, stepped outside. The second I did, I heard my name being called from down the hallway. I turn to find that it is Greyson, looking ever so handsome in his tux.

"Hi Greyson." I say as he hugs me.

"You look stunning."

I smile. "Thank you."

"I was hoping to catch you before...you know, your big moment. " He says but cant quite look me in the eye. "Michael is holding our seats in there, but...look sis, I know we have given you a hard time about this. But you gotta know Anna, we are proud of you. Dad is too."

I tear up . "You think so?"

"He is proud of everything you do, you know that. You are the smart one." He says. And I know he means it, which weighs on my heart even more. "But if Christian ever does anything to hurt you I swear..."

"I know, Greyson. I know." I wipe away a tear before it can ruin my make up. "Thank you."

He hugs me again. "I will see you in there." And with that he was walking back down the hall.

I took a gulp of air. Now it was all on me.

"Hey," He shouts, almost at the door.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." And then he walked into the room where my future would be decided. And step by step, little by little, I did too.

Christain Cartwright

The nerve of this girl. I cant believe she is going through with the wedding after what I said to her. That proved my point. She was definitely in it for the money. No self respecting woman would ever marry a man would said he hated her. And he had basically spelled it out for her at Thanksgiving that her life would be a living hell if they got married. And yet here we are.

I looked out at the room in front of me. Five hundred people to watch the spectacle, to see me turn into a man. The violinist starts to play and my nerves hit. It was time. I see my dad in the front pew looking pleased as ever. And I had to admit it was nice to see him like that, smiling and having fun. Just then the grand door opened and my eyes shift to the back of the room. Everyone rises to their feet. And it makes me think of my parents marriage and how beautiful it must of been. This wasn't going to be that.

Mr. Cartwright

There was no celebration like a wedding. In my sixty years of life, it was perhaps the one thing I could with certainty on any given day. The decor, the apparel, the ceremony itself - it was in the name of love. And love- real, true love - was the only thing I had faith in. And so what if this old man was the one who had orchestrated it? It only matter that I had been the one to find the angel who could help save my son. What did matter was that he was open to her. Sure, it had taken some convincing. But as soon as I had dangled the role - my role - at the company in front of Christian's face, he was all in. For the job, the marriage, everything. His heart was open to her entering it and that was what I had hoped for.

I looked around the room today, filled with family and friends, associates and clients and couldnt help but well up with pride. The wedding planner had done an extraordinary job. Everything was spectacular. The room was covered in flowers - white lilies, of course - and light ornaments hung from posts along the walls. There was even a raised platform where there the vows would be exchanged and where the priest would stand behind Christain as he awaited the bride's appearance. The pews had been specially installed to match the Oak flooring and they came with ivory cushions. The florist had woven lilies across each pew and there were glowing lights in between them. The whole room was radiant, as it should be.

I was happy to see the pews filled to the fullest. I just want as many eyes on my son and his new wife as possible, to bear witness to the day his life would turn around. I knew deep down in my heart that this was the right step for him and I was so proud to be here to see it. I could only wish that my Katherine, could of been here, beside me as well.

As I scanned the room, nodding and waving at guests I made eye contact with I couldnt stop thinking about my late wife - the reason we were all here today, the reason I was able to find guidance and in turn, guide my son. I missed her every day but today I missed her something extra.

Then the doors opened and the guests all got to their feet. And when I turned and looked I saw AnnaLeigh, my soon to be daughter in law, walking down the aisle, I felt my beloved right there with me watching as our son was about to get married.