HONOR ME

ONE

SKYLER

"...André Larsen has done it again."

The news anchor's voice echoed through the living room.

*"Larsen Holdings has finalised its acquisition of Huxley Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth £8.6 billion. The company's CEO, twenty-nine-year-old André Larsen, attended this evening's charity gala in London, drawing thousands of spectators despite refusing to speak to the press."*

The television switched to footage of camera flashes, security guards and screaming fans.

*"The Norwegian billionaire has once again become the most talked-about businessman in Europe."*

I let out an exaggerated sigh.

"There he is again."

Mother looked at me over the rim of her teacup.

"What was that for?"

"I don't understand why everyone's obsessed with him."

She smiled.

"Because he's extraordinary."

"He's a businessman."

"He's much more than that."

I rolled my eyes.

"I think André Larsen is completely overhyped."

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.

"Only if you knew."

I frowned.

"You've said that three times this week."

"And I'll keep saying it."

She turned her attention back to the television.

Typical.

For the past three months, André Larsen had somehow become the centre of every conversation in our house.

Breakfast?

André.

Dinner?

André.

The evening news?

Definitely André.

It was beginning to drive me insane.

I grabbed my handbag from the dining chair.

"I'm heading out."

Mother muted the television.

"Where are you going?"

"To the flower shop."

Her expression immediately changed.

"Skyler..."

"What?"

"You've only just come home."

"I know."

"You spent three years in Germany studying medicine."

"I know."

"And yet you're still thinking about that little flower shop."

I smiled.

"I'm not thinking about keeping it."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"I'm thinking about selling it."

For a brief moment, she simply stared at me.

"So you've finally made up your mind?"

I nodded.

"It doesn't make sense holding onto a business that's been closed for three years."

She smiled softly.

"I think that's for the best."

"So do I."

I slipped my bag over my shoulder.

"I'll be back before dinner."

"Take care."

"I always do."

As I reached the front door, Mother's voice stopped me once more.

"And Sky?"

"Yes?"

"Wear a smile every now and then."

I laughed.

"I'll think about it."

---

The bus dropped me off a few streets away.

Bloom & Ivy looked exactly as I remembered.

The only difference was the layer of dust covering the display window.

I unlocked the door.

A stale smell greeted me immediately.

"Oh..."

Dust floated through the air as sunlight streamed in through the windows.

The shelves were covered in grime.

Spider webs stretched across empty display stands.

Every flower had long since died.

I walked slowly around the shop, taking in the silence.

Three years.

That was all it had taken.

A place once filled with colour and customers now felt abandoned.

I ran my fingers across the counter, leaving a clean line through the dust.

"Well..."

A small smile crossed my lips.

"I suppose hiring a cleaning company is the only sensible option."

Trying to restore the shop would cost more than it was worth.

Selling it was the smarter decision.

It was time to let someone else make something of the building.

"Sky?"

I turned.

Standing in the doorway was a familiar face I hadn't seen in years.

"Lou?"

His smile widened.

"I was wondering how long it'd take you to recognise me."

I laughed and hurried over, pulling him into a hug.

"Oh my goodness."

"It's really you."

He hugged me tightly.

"It's been three years."

"I know."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

When we finally stepped apart, he looked me over.

"Germany suits you."

"Is that your way of saying I've changed?"

"It's my way of saying you've grown up."

I smiled.

"I'll take that."

He glanced around the shop before letting out a low whistle.

"What happened here?"

"I left."

He looked confused.

"For Germany."

Realisation crossed his face.

"So nobody was running the business?"

I shook my head.

"It stayed closed the entire time."

"And now?"

"I'm hiring a cleaning company to clear everything out."

"And after that?"

"I'm selling the property."

He searched my face, as though expecting me to hesitate.

I didn't.

Finally, he smiled.

"You've already made peace with that decision."

"I have."

"Then I won't argue."

"You'd lose anyway."

He laughed.

"Probably."

I locked the shop, and together we started walking towards the bus stop.

"So," Louis said, "does your mum still make those cinnamon rolls?"

I laughed.

"That's the first thing you ask after three years?"

"They were unforgettable."

"I'll let her know you miss her baking more than you missed me."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

We both laughed.

Then...

I stopped walking.

"What is it?" Louis asked.

I couldn't answer.

Across the road stood an enormous digital billboard.

A woman's face filled the screen.

My face.

My heart skipped.

"Lou..."

He followed my gaze.

His smile vanished.

The image faded, replaced by elegant gold lettering.

**SKYLER McCARTHY-SMITH**

**Daughter of Pamela McCarthy-Smith**

**is engaged to**

# ANDRÉ LARSEN

### *The Wedding of the Year*

I stared at the billboard.

Once.

Twice.

Then I looked at Louis.

"This..."

My voice barely came out.

"...has to be a joke."

People had already begun gathering beneath the billboard.

Some looked up at the screen.

Others looked directly at me.

A young woman gasped.

"Oh my God..."

"That's her."

Within seconds, phones were pointed in my direction.

Someone called my name.

Another person shouted congratulations.

"What are they doing?" I whispered.

Louis stepped closer.

"I think they recognise you."

"I've never even met André Larsen."

More people began crossing the street towards us.

The crowd grew larger by the second.

"Sky," Louis said quietly, "I think we should go."

For the first time all day…

I agreed.

Louis took me home but had to let me handle the situation myself. So he left for his place.

"Mum!"

I shoved the front door open so hard it slammed against the wall.

"Mum!"

A voice floated from the kitchen.

"If you're trying to break my door, you're doing an excellent job."

I marched towards the sound of her voice, my pulse pounding in my ears.

Mother stood at the kitchen counter, calmly drying her hands with a tea towel as though nothing had happened.

As though my face wasn't plastered across a billboard in the middle of the city.

She glanced at me and smiled.

"You're home sooner than I expected."

I stared at her.

"When did it happen?"

She tilted her head.

"When did what happen?"

I took two steps closer.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

I pointed an accusing finger at her.

"Mrs Larsen."

The smile on her face widened ever so slightly.

"When did I become Mrs Larsen?"

She chuckled softly.

"You'll thank me later."

She reached out and gently patted my cheek before attempting to walk past me.

I caught her wrist.

"No."

She looked down at my hand before meeting my eyes.

"Skyler."

"No," I repeated, my voice rising. "You don't get to walk away from this."

She slowly pulled her hand free.

"I don't know what all the shouting is about."

"You don't know?"

I laughed bitterly.

"My face is all over the news!"

Still she remained calm.

"Is it?"

"There are people taking pictures of me!"

"I can imagine."

"They think I'm engaged!"

"They do."

My breathing quickened.

"Mum..."

My voice cracked.

"What have you done?"

She sighed as though I were the one being unreasonable.

"I've secured your future."

"My future?"

"Yes."

"I didn't ask you to."

"You don't have to."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"You had no right."

She folded the tea towel neatly and placed it on the counter.

"I am your mother."

"And I'm your daughter!"

"Exactly."

"That doesn't mean you get to decide who I marry."

"I wasn't asking for permission."

Her words hit me harder than I expected.

For the first time since arriving home, my anger gave way to disbelief.

"You... you're serious."

"Completely."

I shook my head.

"I'm not marrying anyone."

"You are."

"I'm not marrying André Larsen."

"You are."

"I've never even met him!"

Mother folded her arms.

"That can be arranged."

My mouth fell open.

"This is insane."

"No."

She took a slow step towards me.

"This is an opportunity."

"For who?"

"For you."

"I don't want it."

"I do."

"You can't live my life for me."

"I gave you life."

"You can't use that against me!"

Her expression hardened.

"Lower your voice."

"No."

"Skyler."

"I said no!"

The kitchen fell silent.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Mother inhaled deeply before smoothing an invisible crease from her blouse.

"Don't make me lose my patience."

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

"You're worried about your patience?"

She looked me straight in the eye.

"I have tolerated enough disrespect."

"Disrespect?"

"I'm asking you to do one thing."

"I'm asking you not to sell me off to a stranger."

"It isn't selling."

"It feels exactly like it."

She rubbed her temple as though she had grown tired of the conversation.

"You'll understand in time."

"I don't want to understand."

"I've already made my decision."

"And I've made mine."

"I am not marrying André Larsen."

Mother snapped her fingers.

"I do not care, Sky."

The room fell silent.

I blinked.

Surely...

Surely I had heard her wrong.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said I don't care."

She spoke slowly, emphasising every word.

"You are going to marry André Larsen."

"No."

"You are."

"I won't."

"You will."

My chest tightened.

"I can't."

"You can."

"I barely know the man."

"You'll have plenty of time."

"I haven't even seen him in person!"

"That will change."

"Mum—"

"Enough."

Her voice rang through the kitchen.

"Shut up, Skyler McCarthy-Smith."

The words cut deeper than the shouting.

She only ever used my full name when she was furious.

"You will do as you're told."

I stared at her.

For a second...

I didn't recognise the woman standing in front of me.

Without another word, I turned and ran upstairs.

The bedroom door slammed behind me.

I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.

What the hell was I supposed to do?

My mother had announced my engagement to the entire country.

To a man I'd never met.

A man I only knew because his face appeared on the news almost every evening.

I buried my face in my hands.

"This can't be happening."

Outside, my phone vibrated.

Then again.

And again.

The notifications refused to stop.

Slowly, I lowered my hands and looked at the screen.

**97 missed notifications.**

Every news outlet seemed to be talking about one thing.

**Skyler McCarthy-Smith.**

And her engagement...

...to André Larsen.