EVER AFTER ECHOES

HALLIE

Present day

Another day to bring other people’s dream wedding to life while my love life is nothing to write home about, yeah you guessed right. I’m a big wedding planner, the best in the city some might add. I moved to New York 2years ago, when I realized most of my client come from here, so it made sense to me at that time.

Do I regret it? I don’t think so I just have a front seat to watch him top the charts as the most eligible billionaire playboy. Not like I care so no biggie. The building in front of me snapped me back to reality, packed my car in my spot picked my bag and Ipad from the back seat of my car and made my way into the office. “morning miss H” my workers greet as I make my way to my private elevator. Stepping out of the elevator I came face to face with my PA Trisha the closet person I have to a female friend because I’ve got none. “someone is late” Trisha says picking her tab and following me into my office. One of my favorite thing about this office is the beautiful view behind my desk.

Dropped my bag on the table and face her “I needed the rest Tris” “you sure did know our last project was fire the bride sent in a very generous tip this morning” “that’s exactly how to start a new week” now my smile is unmatched I love me a satisfied bride

“what do I have for the day Tris” I ask as I move to make myself a coffee “well, today is a bit free for you, the orders for miss Bernard bridal shower came in yesterday” “hmm.. tell the decoration team to get to work and is the venue for the wedding party secured and check with the fashion designer if the wedding dress is ready I need to see it before we call the bride for the final fitting” “already told the decoration team to get to work, and yes the venue is secured and you have an appointment with the designer by 3”

I smile at her, she’s the best Pa I’ve had in forever, my last Pa was too lazy and she tries to seduce every groom that comes into this office. “will that be all for today?” “you have a meeting in 20 minutes with Miss Anna Demari” “huh!” I’ve got confusion written all over my face.

“She’s a new client, daughter of the business tycoon Mr Demari, you agreed to the offer 2weeks ago and told me to set up a meeting” “yeah, right I completely forgot about that, alright then I need to prepare, thanks Tris” “anytime ma’am” she makes her way to the door before she paused and turned “don’t forget you have a gala to attend on Friday and you can’t come up with any excuse in the world to avoid going. “That will be all” and she stepped out.

Arrrrgghhhh!!! Attending this gala’s as to be a nightmare, I keep my personal life and business life away from each other, most people know me as miss H, except its business I don’t accept or go to any party, this is going to be my first ever gala, I really tried to avoid this one but there is no escape from this one, I need to put myself out there, I have zero personal social media account, I avoid paparazzi at all cost, any time my business comes up in any magazine it never carries my name just my business name and my work that’s all, but my social media team thinks I need to put myself out there. The sound of my intercom brings me back “yes Tris,” “Miss Demari is here” “send her in”.

The door to my office opens and a beautiful tall woman walks in elegantly in her black dress stopping like 2 inches above her kneel, perfectly shaped body and accessories is top notch, love me a woman that loves fashion. With a bright smile on my face “Good day miss Demari welcome to Ever After Weddings, please take your seat” “Thank you very much and please call me Anna” she said as she takes her seat. “I love your office space and this view behind you is to die for” “thank you Anna”

“okay so Anna I checked your profile on social media to have an idea about what you will like and I’ve come up with very nice ideas for you” “really? That’s nice you came highly recommended” “thanks, I don’t know maybe my assistant forgot to mention it but I prefer having you and your fiancée for the first meeting, and there is nothing about your engagement online so I really couldn’t prepare for him, so will he be joining us?” adjusting herself properly “oh she did mention it but he will not…” the knock on the door interrupted. Trisha pops her head in “sorry to disturb but I think your fiancée is here miss Demari” “let him in Trisha” that’s great then.

The closes and open almost immediately “ sorry I’m late” that voice sounded so familiar raising my head slowly praying the fiancée is not who I think it is, the moment my eyes came in contact with the face, it was like the time stopped moving, suddenly I couldn’t breathe and everywhere seems soo hot, Timothy is standing in front of me and all the emotion I thought had died came crashing down, 10 years of practicing for when I will ever see him again looking into his blue eyes and I can’t believe my eyes Tim is getting married and I’m the one planning the wedding of the man who broke my heart 10 years ago.

Anna’s voice snapped me back to reality “babe are you okay looks like you have seen a ghost” looking deep into my soul “I’m alright” Anna oblivious to what is going on around her decides to introduce us “this is my fiancée Timothy I didn’t know he was going to join us, babe our wedding planner.” “Hallie?” Tim interrupts her, my time to speak up without thinking “Mr Timothy nice to meet you, sorry do I know you?” why did I say that, mentally slapping myself, confusion written all over his face “sorry I thought you were someone else” “that happens a lot, so let’s get back to business” taking my eyes off Tim and the angry look he is sending my way is really making it very difficult to concentrate “so Anna what are we looking at?” a very happy bride sitting up to describe her dream wedding “ so I want an engagement party to announce our engagement to the world” I chocked on my own saliva, coughing seriously, Tim quickly reaches for the water bottle and passed it to me our hands brushed each other and I didn’t like the way my body reacted to his touch, I drowned the water at a go “are you alright?” Anna asked with concern laced her voice “I’m fine thanks” my eyes met his again he raised an eyebrow which I ignored, the 18 years old me wanted to give the usual reply but I faced Anna instead “alright you were saying?” “ an engagement party like next week then we can plan the main wedding” “ alright, do you have any color you want for the engagement and wedding? Could be the same color for both or can be different “babe what do you think babe?” Anna asks Tim reaching for his face and wiping an imaginary dirt off his face that steered a very funny feeling from the pit of my tummy but I ignored it “whatever you choose is fine” “alright then I was thinking black and pink for the engagement party and purple and teal for the wedding”

“hmm nice color, alright then I will work on some decoration ideas and make necessary adjustment to the colors I have already, am I taking care of the outfits too or you got that covered?” Tim decides to involve himself “I don’t want you taking care of my outfit, babe what do you think?” “I love that idea”

That’s great “I will tell my assistant to book an appointment with our designers if you want custom made or you have a brand you can just discuss with her she will take care of it” Anna wants to speak when Tim interrupts her “ I don’t want your assistant working on our outfits I want you, my fiancé said you are the best at what you do so I want the best from you and not your assistant” I gave him a glare warning him no to test my patience “ my assistant is very capable Mr Tim, she’s only going to follow you to the designers I will supervise her work there is nothing to worry about sir “ “like I said before I want you and only you” that didn’t sound right to me at all, he continues talking,``is either that or we take our business elsewhere.” I see what he is doing, he has a very smirk on his face and its taking everything in me not to slap it off his face. “alright, that will be all please see my assistant on your way out to fix a date for our next meeting, thanks for coming.” I stand to my feet plastering the fakest smile ever. I stretch my hands to shake Anna and she does the same “I’m sure we will be great friends” I doubt that I said to myself.” I’m sure we will” I smile at her keeping my hands to myself “Thanks for coming Mr Timothy”.

I watch as he puts his hand around her waist and guides her towards the door, the moment they step out of the office I allow the tears I’ve been holding back drop.