Chapter 3: The wedding
1107 Words
“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” Miles murmured.
“You said that in the car,” Roman said without looking at him.
“I’m saying it again.”
They were seated toward the middle of the hall, indistinguishable from the rest of the guests. The venue was full, flowers everywhere, soft music playing from somewhere at the front. Roman looked around with the quiet attention of someone cataloguing everything for the first time.
“At this point,” Miles said quietly, adjusting his tie, “I feel legally responsible for whatever happens next.”
Roman crossed one ankle over the other calmly. “Relax.”
“I would if we were invited.”
Roman ignored him completely.
At the altar, Shane Lawson stood waiting beside the officiant with an easy smile resting on his face. But the longer Miles looked at him, the more familiar he became.
Then realization hit.
Miles turned quickly toward Roman. “That’s Shane Lawson.”
Roman glanced toward the altar again. “Is that so?”
“The Lawson heir,” Miles continued quietly. “Lawson Group.”
Roman gave a small hum. “Interesting.”
Miles stared at him. “You seriously don’t know who he is?”
“No.”
Miles looked genuinely disturbed by that.
Roman’s attention stayed on the ceremony setup ahead. “I’m not here for him anyway.” He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve slightly. “I’m here to see what happens at weddings.” His tone stayed calm. “Once I’m done with that, we’ll leave.”
Miles pressed his lips together and said nothing.
A murmur moved through the guests and everyone turned.
The bride had appeared at the entrance.
Lena stepped into the hall in the same dress Shane forced her to wear and Roman recognized her immediately. But this time he saw more.
She looked beautiful, obviously. Every person in the room could see that much. She didn’t look unhappy exactly. But she didn’t look like a woman walking toward something she wanted either.
Roman noticed it instantly.
The bouquet rested tightly between her fingers as she walked down the aisle slowly toward Shane.
Miles leaned slightly toward Roman. “She looks nervous.”
Roman’s eyes stayed on Lena. “No,” he said quietly. “She looks unhappy.”
At the altar, Shane smiled the second Lena reached him.
Lena looked up at him briefly before turning her face away almost immediately.
Shane leaned toward her ear. “Smile,” he said quietly. “People are watching.”
Then he straightened again smoothly and looked at her like nothing unpleasant had just happened.
“You look beautiful,” he said, loud enough for the front rows to hear.
Several guests smiled at the interaction.
The officiant began speaking soon after.
The ceremony itself moved exactly how Roman imagined it would. Formal words. Repeated vows. Promises about loyalty and forever that sounded strangely practiced coming from people who barely looked at each other
Then the officiant smiled at Shane. “You may now kiss your bride.”
A soft round of applause filled the hall.
Shane reached for Lena immediately, one hand settling against her waist as he leaned in. But at the last second Lena turned slightly and pressed only a quick kiss against his cheek. It lasted barely a second.
Roman scoffed quietly. The sound barely left him but Miles heard it.
Shane’s expression faltered for less than a second before the smile came back. He turned to the guests with his hands slightly raised.
“My bride’s a little shy,” he said warmly.
A collective sound of approval moved through the room.
“Awwn.”
Roman’s mouth curved slightly. He leaned back in his seat and crossed one leg over the other.
The officiant gestured toward the table to the side where the marriage certificates were laid out.
“And now if the couple would please come forward to sign.”
Roman’s attention sharpened slightly.
Lena went first. She stood over the table and looked down at the document for a moment. Her hand was steady when she picked up the pen but there was a pause before it touched the paper.
And then she signed.
The officiant nodded approvingly before turning toward Shane. “Your turn, Mr. Lawson.”
Shane picked up the pen.
And suddenly, the fire alarm went off.
It was aggressive and immediate, cutting through the hall without warning. For a second nobody moved. Then the confusion broke all at once and the guests were on their feet, chairs scraping, voices rising, everyone moving toward the exits in a disorganized rush.
“What’s happening?”
“Is that real?”
“Fire?”
The alarm continued screaming overhead.
Shane dropped the pen and turned toward the door. He didn’t look back at Lena. A woman nearby took Lena by the arm and guided her out with the crowd. The officiant and the rest of the wedding party followed. Staff moved quickly along the walls directing people out.
“Everyone please exit the building calmly!”
Within moments the hall emptied almost completely.
All except Roman and Miles.
Miles stood beside him looking at the door and then back at Roman. “Are we not leaving?”
“We will,” Roman said. His fingers moved slowly against his jaw.
Miles looked at the door again. “Sir. The building could be on fire.”
Roman considered this for a moment. Then he stood up.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s go.”
They moved toward the exit. Miles reached the door first and pushed it open, one hand holding it as he glanced back to make sure Roman was behind him. But he wasn’t.
Roman had stopped. He had turned around and was walking back toward the altar, toward the small table where the certificates were still laid out, the pen resting exactly where Shane had dropped it.
Miles gritted his teeth. “Roman. What are you doing?”
Roman reached the table. He looked down at the documents for a moment. Then he picked up the pen.
“I want to see what happens,” Roman said calmly, his eyes lowering toward the document. “When someone does something they’re not supposed to.”
Miles stared at him like he had completely lost his mind.
Roman leaned down calmly and signed his name on the line where Shane Lawson was supposed to sign.
Then he placed the pen back down.
Miles looked horrified.
“Roman…” he said slowly. “What did you just do?”
- Writer
