Chapter 8: The Wedding 2.0
474 Words
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*3 weeks later. Private vineyard in Napa.*
No press.
No Victor.
No board.
Just 50 people.
White chairs.
String lights.
Grape vines.
And my mom in the front row crying already.
“Are you nervous?” David asked me. He was walking me down.
“No,” I said. “I’ve been waiting 4 years.”
The music started.
Not a march.
Our song.
And there he was.
Adrian.
Navy suit. No tie.
Eyes only on me.
He looked wrecked. In a good way.
I walked down the aisle.
Past Amber’s empty seat.
Past reporters we banned.
Straight to him.
The officiant smiled.
“Dearly beloved...”
Adrian squeezed my hand.
His thumb rubbed over my ring.
“Adrian,” the officiant said. “Do you take Zara?”
He didn’t wait.
“I do. I did 4 years ago. I do now. I’ll do tomorrow.”
Gasps. Laughs.
“Zara?”
“I do,” I whispered. “For real this time.”
“Then by the power vested in me... I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.”
He did.
Not a press conference kiss.
Not a contract kiss.
A husband kiss.
Slow. Sure. Home.
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*Reception.*
Long table. Fairy lights.
No seating chart.
Just people we love.
Mom gave a speech.
“I thought I lost my daughter twice,” she said. “Once to grief. Once to fear.
Tonight I got her back.”
Everyone cried.
Adrian’s speech was 10 seconds.
“I chose the company once. I choose her forever.
Cheers.”
Then he pulled me to dance.
No first dance choreography.
Just us. Swaying.
“You’re mine,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m yours,” I whispered back.
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*Midnight.*
Everyone left.
Just us in the vineyard.
Adrian kicked off his shoes.
“Wanna run?”
We ran.
Through the vines.
Barefoot.
Laughing.
He caught me. Spun me.
“Mrs. Cole,” he said.
“Mr. Cole,” I said.
He kissed me under the stars.
“No cameras. No contract. No Victor.”
“Just us,” I finished.
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*One week later. NYC.*
We came back to reality.
Cole Ventures office.
Small. 10 people.
Our name on the door.
David: “Wedding was perfect. Now back to work, lovebirds.”
Adrian pulled me into his office. Closed the door.
“Was it okay?” he asked. “Small wedding?”
“It was perfect,” I said. “Because you were there.”
He pulled me onto his lap.
“So. What’s next, wife?”
I smiled.
“Life,” I said. “The messy kind.”
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Text: `You should have stayed away. - V`
Adrian deleted it.
Tossed the phone.
And kissed me.
“Let him try,” he said.
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- Writer
