The Groom's Dove

De Vos

002

~The Planner~

"Miss Pierce." The doorman ushers me into the penthouse.

My breath hitches when I step in. I've seen rich clients, but I haven't seen this level of rich. It's almost like I'm in another dimension of the earth.

It's all white marble and floor to ceiling windows. It overlooks Lake Michigan. But, it doesn't feel like a home. It feels impersonal... Like a hotel for only VVIP clients.

He leads me to the elevator and I stare in awe. It's mirrored, sleek and intimidating. The doorman ushers me in, his face plastered with a firm formal smile.

"Miss Charlotte is waiting on the third floor."

I nod and will myself to smile. "Thank you."

Being nervous around clients wasn't me. Part of the reason I was the best was that I had total control of my emotions.

Exhaling for the millionth time, I check my reflection and straighten out my blazer. Maybe I should have worn the peach instead of this baby pink one.

I raise my hand to knock and the door bursts open. I don't mean to stare, but I do.

Charlotte looks like she popped out of a Vogue magazine. She's stunning in an intimidating way. Her bust length blond hair is perfect to the T. Her makeup is made so beautifully that it looks too natural.

She's dressed in designer athleisure, all primed like she is going for a shoot. My eyes move to the engagement ring on her finger and the i********: pictures didn't quite do justice.

One look at it and I know it can pay my rent.

"I knew you'd arrive right on time." She gives me a sweet smile that doesn't reach her eyes and extends her hand.

Her handshake is cool, firm and assessing.

We are seated and she smiles again. "Thank you for coming." I smile in response.

On the walls, there are no photos nor anything of personality. It's almost like a showroom.

"I heard you're worth the fee." I blink and smile again.

"I am."

I notice her posture. Straight and poised. One that can only come from the confidence of wealth. "How do you like it here?"

I look around. "It's beautiful."

"White goes well with anything. It makes it easier to spot dirt and its offenders."

Dirt and its offender... That doesn't sound like just dirt.

"43 million. It was worth the price."

43 million?! And she says it, like it's nothing more than a bag of potato chips.

Charlotte pulls out a three ring binder and hands it over to me. I flip through the pages filled with P****rest boards and venue photographs. Some pages hold designer sketches and old money aesthetics.

"I want timeless." Charlotte sings. "Classic elegance. I want the kind of wedding that'll go down in history. One people will talk about for years... everywhere. " She turns to me. "You won't disappoint will you?"

She knows what she wants. I give her that but she's planning only the wedding and not the marriage itself.

She's concerned only about how big and grand the wedding should be. What of her fiance? Isn't he involved in the wedding preparations?

The door opens. "Charlie I grabbed your green juice from..." The man pauses. He's tall and dark haired, wearing rumpled business casual like he just loosened his tie in the elevator.

Our eyes meet and he's got the kindest eyes ever. Like there's a river of kindness in them overflowing its banks.

He closes the door behind him. "Sorry. I didn't know you had a meeting."

Charlotte's face tightens microscopically. "You should have called." She says.

"Oh... Sorry."

Another apology in less than a minute.

"This is Dove Pierce, our wedding planner. Dove, my fiance, Liam Ashford. "

He extends a hand. "Nice to meet you." Charlotte stares at us and I understand.

"Nice to meet you too." I don't take his hand.

He chuckles awkwardly and rubs his palm on his trouser. I shouldn't have done that.

"You're here. Why don't you join in."

He sits beside her. She adjusts his tie and his shirt. "There. Better." She turns to me. "Shall we?"

I nod. "The flowers. Do you have any kind in mind?"

"White roses and some chrysanthemums. White lilies too. I want the most fragrant venue."

I nod and put that down. "And Mr... Ashford?"

He moves his mouth to speak.

"Oh Liam doesn't care about flowers." Charlotte waves. He smiles. I nod.

"Okay. I'd also want to match the decorations with your wedding outfit. It's best to match the altar with your colour and the aisle with his...."

"I chose a navy blue suit for you yesterday darling." She says to him then smiles at me. "He'll always wear what I choose."

It takes all I have not to blink obviously. "Okay..."

I take that down.

"And the music. What kind of music do you prefer?"

This time, she turns to him. "What do you think darling?"

"There's a jazz band my grandma loves. They're really good. We can contact them for the wedding."

Jazz. That'd be beautiful.

Charlotte laughs and playfully hits his arm. "It's a wedding darling. Not a retirement party."

He smiles again but like the others, it doesn't reach his eyes.

"Pardon my darling's taste. I'll get back to you on the music in two days... " Her phone begins to buzz. "I need to take this."

As soon as the door closes, her fiance and I exhale at the same time. I hold my breath and stare at him.

We stare at each other for a few seconds before we burst out laughing. I realize myself and stop.

"You're a wedding planner. For Charlotte to employ you, you're either one of the best or the best. "

"The best." I say with pride. He smiles. A genuine smile that reaches his eyes.

"It must be tough dealing with clients."

"I love my job." I say. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't have some ups and downs."

"Like wedding disasters..."

"Yeah. One time.." I say recalling a moment from two years ago. "I drank a glass of wine to cool my nerves before the wedding. I began to see things in double exposure and ended up falling into the cake."

He bursts out laughing.

"It wasn't funny." I say while laughing. "The couple wasn't even mad. They said it helped make the wedding much more fun."

"I bet you'd smell like icing for the next three days..."

"You bet..."

The door clicks open and the temperature drops. We clear our throats.

She stares from her fiance to me. "Did I miss something?"

He smiles at her. "Of course not." Our eyes meet and I look away.

You're here to work, Dove. Nothing else.

Charlotte sits and pulls out another brown envelope. I stare from her to the envelope and she gestures to open it.

It's a strict NDA prepared by her lawyer with performance clauses and penalty fees.

"I assume this is acceptable?"

It's not a question. It's a sign it and you're in. Don't, and you're out.

I sign.

It feels like I've bound myself to something I can't name. Something I can't put my finger to.

Her fiance's phone rings and he leaves to answer the call. Charlotte rises to her feet and extends her hand.

"I'll get back to you on any additional information you need to know."

I take her hand and smile. Outside, I hear her on a phone call.

"The planner's perfect." She says.

I can't help but smile.

"She's professional, talented, and plain enough that Liam won't even notice her. We can't have another situation like last time.”