Chapter 4 - The Kingston Booking
1080 Words
“This can't be right.”
Winnie stared at the email on her phone. The east wing of Kingston Grand Hall, the section she had reserved for the Harrison wedding, was suddenly marked unavailable.
She immediately headed to the venue.
“I'm here about the Harrison wedding,” she told the receptionist.
“There was a change to the reservation.”
“Who approved it?”
Before the receptionist could answer, several employees suddenly straightened.
Winnie turned.
A man walked toward them.
Zion Kingston.
He was tall and striking, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit over a crisp white shirt. His dark hair was neatly styled, his features sharp, and his calm expression carried an unmistakable air of authority.
He looked polished, elegant, and completely in control.
“Mr. Kingston,” the receptionist greeted.
Zion's eyes settled on Winnie.
“What seems to be the problem?”
“Your venue changed my reservation without notifying me.”
He held out his hand.
“Let me see.”
Winnie handed him the documents.
He studied them briefly.
“You're right.”
“Then can you restore the booking?”
“Not yet.”
Winnie frowned.
“Why?”
“There's another request for the same space.”
“And who gets priority?”
Zion looked at her.
“That depends on which booking was finalized first.”
Winnie folded her arms.
“Then I suggest you check carefully.”
For the first time, a faint hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
“I will.”
Winnie held his gaze.
“Good.”
She checked her watch.
“I have a wedding to organize. How long will this take?”
Zion looked up from the file.
“You're in a hurry.”
“Yes.”
“Then you'll have an answer in five minutes.”
Winnie raised an eyebrow.
“Five?”
“Five.”
He turned to the receptionist.
“Pull up the original reservation.”
The receptionist immediately began typing.
Winnie watched Zion quietly.
He didn't seem rushed at all. He stood there with one hand resting against the desk, completely composed while everyone around him moved quickly.
The receptionist finally looked up.
“Mr. Kingston, Miss Carter's reservation was confirmed first.”
Zion nodded.
“Restore it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Winnie released a breath.
“Thank you.”
Zion handed her the folder.
“You'll receive the updated confirmation shortly.”
Winnie took it.
“I appreciate it.”
She turned to leave, then stopped.
“One question.”
Zion looked at her.
“Why was my booking changed in the first place?”
His expression became slightly more serious.
“I'll find out.”
Winnie studied him for a moment.
“Please do.”
She walked toward the entrance.
Behind her, Zion watched her leave.
He couldn't explain why her confidence had caught his attention.
But he remembered her name.
Winnie Carter.
Outside the venue, Winnie checked her phone.
The updated confirmation had already arrived.
She smiled.
“At least that's sorted.”
She opened her schedule.
The florist meeting was next, followed by a tasting with the caterer.
Her phone rang.
It was Maya.
“Did you fix the venue?”
“Yes. They restored the booking.”
“Thank goodness.”
Winnie started walking toward her car.
“I'm heading back to the office. We still have too much to finish.”
“Actually, Mrs. Harrison called.”
Winnie stopped.
“What now?”
“She wants the wedding meeting moved to tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“She said she has changes she wants to discuss.”
Winnie sighed.
“Okay. I'll make time.”
She ended the call and looked back at the Kingston building.
For some reason, Zion Kingston's face crossed her mind.
She immediately shook the thought away.
She had a wedding to plan.
That was all that mattered.
She got into her car and drove away.
When Winnie returned to the office, she found Maya waiting with the updated wedding schedule.
“Everything is confirmed?”
“Almost.”
Winnie dropped her bag on the chair.
“What’s left?”
Maya handed her the folder.
“The florist wants the final flower selection. The caterer needs the guest count. And Mrs. Harrison wants to see the revised reception design tomorrow.”
Winnie scanned the list.
“Fine. We’ll handle them one by one.”
Maya watched her for a moment.
“You look distracted.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Winnie closed the folder.
“I just had a long morning.”
Maya smiled.
“Was it the venue?”
Winnie hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did they give you trouble?”
“Not exactly.”
She remembered Zion.
“He fixed it.”
Maya raised an eyebrow.
“Who?”
“Zion Kingston.”
For a brief moment, Maya's expression changed.
Then she quickly smiled.
“The CEO?”
“Apparently.”
“What was he like?”
Winnie shrugged.
“Serious. Very confident.”
Maya laughed.
“You noticed.”
“I noticed because he was handling my booking.”
“Of course.”
Winnie rolled her eyes.
“Can we talk about the wedding now?”
Maya laughed again.
“Fine.”
Winnie opened her laptop.
“Tomorrow's meeting is important. I don't want any surprises.”
By the time Winnie got home that evening, she was exhausted.
She dropped her bag beside the sofa and sank onto the couch.
For a few minutes, she simply sat there in silence.
Then, without warning, her mind returned to the morning.
Zion Kingston.
She remembered the way he had looked at her when she challenged him about the booking.
Calm.
Confident.
Almost amused.
Winnie frowned at herself.
“Why am I thinking about him?”
She reached for her phone and opened the wedding schedule.
There was still plenty to do.
She tried to focus.
But somehow, the image of that perfectly tailored suit and those sharp eyes returned to her mind.
Winnie shook her head.
“He's just a man.”
She tossed her phone onto the couch.
“A very handsome man…”
She immediately covered her face.
“Oh, please.”
A small laugh escaped her.
Whatever that was, she wasn't going to let it distract her.
She had a wedding to plan.
And Zion Kingston was simply a stranger she'd met once.
At least, that's what she told herself.
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