Vows and Vengeance

Verity

The bass was pulsing so hard through the floorboards of Vixens that I could feel the vibration flow straight through my chest.

It was only 8:10 p.m., but the club was already packed with women—laughing in the velvet-draped booths, lining up at the slick black bar, and moving under the purple and red neon lights. The air smelled like expensive perfume and gin.

I felt completely out of place.

I don’t own any form of “clubwear”. Even after going home to change out of my work slacks, I still stood out like a sore thumb.

My closet hasn’t seen a night out in years. Standing there in my dark wash denim knee-length shorts and a regular T-shirt, with my leather bag tucked under my arm, I felt like a stranger looking in. I had forgotten what this side of the city looked like.

I squeezed my way through the crowd until I saw Lisa’s familiar face working behind the bar counter.

Lisa was a force of nature. She had dark, shoulder-length hair that she always wore in slick ponytails, and she wore a fitted black top and apron, effortlessly flipping a silver cocktail shaker while taking orders. She was in her element.

I slid onto one of the high velvet barstools at the quiet end of the counter.

Lisa glanced over, her face instantly lighting up the second she recognised me. She finished pouring two drinks, slid them down the marble top, and wiped her hands on a rag as she walked over.

"Look who actually made it out of her apartment," Lisa greeted me with a wide grin, leaning across the counter. "You look good, Linds."

"I try," I said, my voice competing with the music overhead.

"Alright, spill," Lisa leaned in, her smile fading into genuine concern. "You sounded like you were having a full-blown crisis on the phone."

“Can I get a drink first?”

“Coming right up!” Lisa responded enthusiastically.

She prepared a classic mojito for me. After I took a sip of my drink, I tried to make sure I had her full attention.

I rested my forearms on the counter, making sure my voice wouldn't carry. "Darren came back."

Lisa stopped cold, the rag in her hand freezing mid-wipe. Her eyes locked onto mine, all the playfulness instantly vanishing.

"Darren?" she whispered, horrified. "Darren White? The ghost who left you in debt?"

"He walked into my office building today," I nodded, my stomach doing a nervous flip just saying it out loud. "And it gets worse, Lis. He didn't come alone. He came to hire me as his wedding planner."

Lisa was speechless, as I expected her to be.

“And you wouldn’t believe who he is getting married to,” I paused, taking a sip of my drink for some extra performative suspense.

“Susan Davies.”

“Davies? The Davies that run New Haven? How did that bum manage to bag an heiress?” Lisa asked in disbelief.

“Lisa, you would not believe the sob story this—”

“Hey, Shaker!”

An excited call interrupted me mid-sentence.

Someone slid onto the empty barstool right next to mine. She had vibrant, unnaturally red hair and striking blue eyes hiding behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses—eyes that felt familiar.

“Hey, Verity! You’re back!” Lisa responded, her face lighting up with genuine enthusiasm.

“Hell yeah! You know I can’t live without your margaritas,” Verity laughed.

They spoke with the easy, warm familiarity of close friends—not just a bartender and a random customer. My mind was scrambling, trying to remember where I know those eys from through the pulsing bass and neon lights.

“Who’s your friend?” Verity asked, casually turning her head toward me.

The second our eyes met, her smile completely froze.

An undeniable panic flashed across her face. Before I could process it, she whipped her head back around to face Lisa, ducking her shoulders as if trying to shrink out of my line of sight.

“That’s my sister, Lindsay,” Lisa responded while mixing Verity’s drink. “Lindsay, come on, say hi!”

Verity didn’t fully let her gaze meet mine after the first time our eyes met.

She didn't seem interested in a conversation with me, and to be fair, I wasn’t really in the mood for a conversation with anyone but Lisa.

We exchanged our pleasantaries awkwardly, but she refused to maintain eye contact, let alone face me for a proper conversation.

Weird.

Lisa finished making her drink and handed it to her. Verity downed that whole margarita in one gulp.

“God, thank you, Shaker!” She screamed over the loud music. “I needed this so badly, text me later!” She exclaimed as she got up to go back on to the dance floor.

As she left, Lisa looked on at her with an unmistakable infatuation.

“Isn’t she stunning?” Lisa sighed, facing me.

“I mean, its hard to say.” I admitted swirling my drink. “She seemed like she didnt want me to see her face.”

“She’s the most beautiful girl, I’ve ever seen. We have been talking for a month now!” Lisa squealed, completely infatuated with the topic at hand.

Lisa has been out for a couple years now and she has dated her fair share of women.

Since her last ex left her for a man last year, she kind of stepped out of the dating pool. I’m happy she found someone she liked.

“That’s sweet, babe.” I smiled leaning across the counter.

“Can we call a rain check on this conversation?” I abruptly added.

I was terribly overstimulated by the flashing lights and blaring music. I wanted to go home.

Lisa could see the exhaustion on my face.

“Sure, Linds,” She said empathetically. “I’ll come to your office tomorrow so we can finish where we left off.”

And with that, I left the bar and make my way back home.

~~~

The morning sun filtered through the dusty glass windows of White Lily, casting long, pale shadows across the showroom floor.

I sat at my desk with a steaming mug of black coffee cupped between my hands, staring blankly at the silver business card sitting next to my computer.

Julian Davies.

It was 9 AM and I couldn’t sleep. I kept replaying yesterday’s encounters.

I rubbed my tired eyes, took a long sip of coffee, and tried to focus on my inventory sheets.

God, I needed a vacation.

Ring Ring

Like clockwork, the office phone blared through the thick silence in my lonely office.

“White Lily Wedding Planning, Lindsay speaking!” I said, professional as always.

“This is Julian Davies,” The cold voice spoke through the receiver.

“My sister and I plan to come by the office today discuss venues and themes, when would you be free?”

And today was supposed to be a quiet day.

“Sure, you both can come around by noon.”

The phone clicked.

Almost instantly, I got another call from Lisa.

“Hey girl, I’ll be at your office by noon.”

Great, I’m double booked.

Lisa wouldn’t cause any problems at my office, especially when she knows how important these clients are. I trust her.

“I’ll see you at twelve, then,” I said into the receiver before hanging up.

I sank back into my chair and let out a long sigh, running a hand through my coily hair.

The next three hours dragged by in a blur of anxiety and floral inventory prep. Every time the clock ticked closer to twelve, my pulse spiked.

At 11:58 AM, I smoothed down my blouse, poured a fresh cup of water, and arranged my wedding portfolio neatly on the desk.

12:00 PM.

The brass bell above the shop’s front door chimed.

I took a deep breath, plastered on my best professional smile, and stepped out from behind my desk down to the lobby.

There stood the Davies Twins. Right on time.

Susan’s blonde hair was curled to perfection, and her perfect bone structure was amplified with just the right amount of makeup. She was wearing a beautiful crisp white knee-length gown with floral patterns around the hem.

Her brother looked as perfect as she did. A crisp navy suit and a fancy diamond encrusted watch on his wrist which probably cost more than the whole building.

They both looked like they stepped out of the cover of Forbes 30 under 30.

“Good afternoon, Lindsay," Julian greeted, his voice calm as his sharp blue eyes swept over the lobby before settling on me.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Davies. Miss Davies," I replied, keeping my posture straight and my voice strictly professional. I deliberately didn't look for Darren—noticing with a small wave of relief that Julian had kept his word and left my ex at home.

"Thank you for fitting us in on such short notice," Susan said, giving me a polite, practiced smile that didn't quite reach her ice-blue eyes.

"Of course," I said, gesturing toward the hallway leading to my office. "Right this way, we can discuss the initial venues and—"

The brass bell above the front door chimed again.

"Hey, Linds! Sorry I'm a bit late, traffic on Main Street was a nightmare—"

Lisa walked through the door carrying a brown paper bag, her words cutting off mid-sentence.

She froze dead in her tracks.

The Davies turned away from me to face the visitor who just barged in.

Lisa’s face went pale as her eyes met with Susan’s.

“…Verity?”