The Wedding Planner

Two

SCARLETT

Aiden would not be happy.

Brides who wanted June weddings was one of the biggest causes for his frustration with my job. Brides in general was a cause for his frustration, really.

Planning Sophia Rainier's June wedding would probably mean long nights for the next ten months, meaning that Aiden would be extremely irritable.

For the past two days, ever since Sophia’s assistant called my office and set up an appointment, I have been sitting on the information, wondering whether I should warn Ian or not. We were already at a rough patch because of my constantly busy schedule, which was an occupational hazard, and this information might push it over the edge.

I watched him on the phone, planning a meeting for the day as he put his tie on. He had spent the night at my apartment because I wanted to make it up to him for being so busy.

He tossed his phone on to the kitchen island and walked over to me, kissing my temple.

"Any breakfast?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Aiden, you know I'm not a good cook," I told him, holding my mug with both hands.

He nodded, smiling and picked up his phone again. "I'm going to go after this cup," he said, gesturing with his coffee mug.

"Don't you want to get breakfast together?" I asked, hopeful that he would agree because I knew after today's meeting with Sophia, I'd want to stay back and get started on her preparations. It's never too early to start planning someone else's wedding, especially a pageant Queen's. They tend to change their mind a lot, so, having some extra time is always helpful.

Aiden shook his head. "I've got to stop by my apartment and pick up some files," he said, not turning to look at me, "And if I stay to have breakfast, I'll be late for my meeting."

"I don't think I can make dinner today," I told him, rinsing my mug under the tap.

"That's fine, Scar " Ian shrugged, smiling at me, "It's Friday, so the guys and I will hit up some bars tonight. I know that's not really what you like to do."

He was right. I didn't really like sweaty, drunk strangers around me, but that doesn't mean I don't like to go out on a Friday night.

Remembering my work for the wedding I was planning for the next week, I decided it was a good thing that Ian would be occupied.

"I'll see you, maybe tomorrow, okay?" Aiden said, coming over to me and kissing the top of my head before he walked towards the door, "Love you."

After he was gone, I got ready for the day and made my way to the office. It was a beautiful, old townhouse that I had transformed into my headquarters. The words "Wedding Dreams" were mounted above the door and the inside was a calm, serene environment that I designed to placate even the most frenzied of brides.

When I walked in, Arya, my assistant was already there, arranging some flowers at the front desk, talking to Emily, the receptionist. She looked up at me as I entered.

"Are you ready?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "For the Queen of all pageant queens?"

I smiled at her comment. "I'm sure it'll be fine," I told her.

"To whom is she getting married?" Emily wanted to know.

Arya shrugged. "Her assistant didn't tell me, but I guess it's all hush-hush because there hasn't even been an engagement announcement in the papers."

Arya loved celebrity gossip, especially since we met many of them in our line of work, sometimes more than once. She kept the whole office up to date on all the goings on of the outside world.

"Arya, since that's the only meeting I have today is with Sophia, will you please make sure I'm not disturbed, unless the bride for next week's wedding calls?" I said to her, walking towards my office, "I want to finish the details by tonight so that we're fully prepared for next week."

Arya nodded and I began my work. It was rare when I could have only one meeting for day, so I took the maximum advantage that I could.

Half an hour before the meeting, I got out a new file and labeled with Sophia Rainier's name and did a little research on her, so that I knew exactly how to behave around her. Most celebrities preferred when the people who worked for them just nodded and listened to what they wanted, rather than give their own opinions. According to multiple articles, Sophia was no different. She wanted things exactly the way she said.

I rubbed my temples with my fingertips and finished the sandwich I was having for lunch. I brushed all the crumbs off my desk and tidied up the mess from the morning's prep work, waiting for the couple to arrive.

There was a beep on my phone from Arya and I pushed the button down and said, "Yeah?"

"You'll never believe who she's marrying," Arya whisper-yelled to me and immediately hung up.

A few moments later, she tapped on the door to my office and walked in, leading in Sophia Rainier and her fiancé, Rafe Storm.

Sophia was wearing a black, A-line, Gucci dress, with her hair held away from her face with a clip, and carried a red Prada bag to match her red Jimmy Choo shoes. She was tall, taller than me, and definitely more slender, being the model that she was. She had a long neck, which she seemed to crane even more to look more poised. She wore the most people-pleasing smile on her face. She was beautiful and glamourous, with her sparkling blue eyes and her winning blonde hair.

"Thank you, Arya ." I said, getting up and walking over to the couple.

Arya widened her eyes behind both the guests, raising her eyebrows suggestively, so that they couldn't see her and scurried off.

"Ms. Rainier ," I greeted her, shaking her hand, "It's so nice to meet you."

"Please, call me Sophia ," she told me, smiling sweetly, "And this is my fiancé, Rafe," she gestured to the famous billionaire, "Of the Storm family."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Storm " I greeted him as well, shaking his hand.

Rafe stood behind his fiancée, one hand nestled in a pocket of his trousers. His navy-blue suit was immaculately tailored to fit him and the only accessory he wore apart from his matching cufflinks and tie pin along with his pocketsquare, was a perfectly matched Rolex watch. He was tall and broad shouldered, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He was every bit of the picture of a perfect gentleman that he was in the magazines he appeared in.

I was almost amazed that he was getting married with all the stories the world hears about him.

"Very nice to meet you, too, Miss –" he faltered.

"Darling," Sophia practically hissed to him from the corner of her mouth, still keeping her smile.

Rafe turned to look at Sophia , confused. "Yes," he hesitated, "Honey?"

Sophia turned her head to him and gave him a look. "Her name," she clarified, "She's Miss Darling."

Realization dawned on Rafe’s face and we all laughed. "I'm sorry," he said.