“Speaking of which is Flair…” he began.
“Not pregnant, not that it’s any of your business” I growled.
“Shame” my Grandfather’s voice was a matter of fact “If she was we could have avoided all of this altogether. Anyway, make sure you’re at the ceremony. I will text you the details. Dress appropriately, formal but not over the top. You can’t top the bride you know” he advised as I glowered at the phone “And do give Flair my best regards. I’m looking forward to seeing you both again. That photo of you two in the newspaper was just lovely” he added wickedly.
Son of a bitch “Were you the one who…” but I was speaking in to a beeping tone.
The old man had hung up on me. I growled and slammed the phone onto the bed in a fine temper.
“Fuck” I cursed. I grabbed it again and dialed Timothy at the office.
“Good morning Sir,” he said jovially.
“Timothy” my voice was bad tempered “Cancel everything today and rearrange it all. I know that it’s going to be difficult but I’ve no choice. If you can, dole out some of the cases to some of the other lawyers who don’t have as much on their plate, with my apologies.”
“Certainly Grayson, but is everything alright? You don’t normally like to hand your work over to other people unless it’s dire?”
“Unfortunately I’ve been informed that I’m to attend a wedding ceremony today and can’t get out of it,” I said smoothly “You may leave early today Timothy if you wish, seeing as I won’t make it in.”
“Well, thank you. I hope you enjoy the wedding” he said confused “but I don’t recall seeing it in your planner.”
“It’s last minute,” I said “It appears Charlotte’s getting married today.”
I did not elaborate and Timothy did not ask me to. “I’ll get right on rearranging everything. Give my” he hesitated “Give my best to your wife sir. I’m sure today will not be easy for her and if either of you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
“Thank you, Timothy.”
I hung up.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I glanced moodily towards the door and then heard the soft sounds of my wife approaching. Great. I heard the dog and within moments Roscoe was bounding into the room. What were we going to do with the dog? I pondered. It was the first day and we could hardly leave the poor thing at home, not with Roscoe being a rescue. But Charlotte would lose it if we took the dog to the wedding, not to mention Grandfather.
“Is everything alright Grayson?” Flair timidly stuck her head in.
The words stuck in my mouth. Her hair was windblown and casually sweeping past her shoulders, her pale lips were smiling and she wore no makeup and was clad in pajamas and she looked beautiful to me. I hated that I was about to ruin what had already been a rough morning for her.
“Flair there’s been a change of plans for today,” I told her, as I began to dig into the closet, rifling for a suitable suit that wouldn’t be over the top for the courthouse.
“Oh? Are we going somewhere?” she asked innocently, perching on the bed, while Roscoe jumped up beside her.
I turned with the suit in my hands. “Unfortunately yes we are. My Grandfather has requested that we attend Charlotte’s wedding ceremony at the courthouse today. Refusal is not an option” I said gravely, hating myself at that moment, as the light died from her eyes and her complexion went pale.
“Somebody needs to stay with Roscoe” she attempted.
“Ask Rachel if she’ll watch otherwise we’ll drop him back at the haven for the day and pick him back up.”
I was a bastard. Flair was near tears as she reached for her phone. “Grayson” she whispered, her lip trembling “I don’t want to go. Don’t make me do this. Please don’t make me do this.”
My chest hurt. At that moment I wanted to say damn the company but all those people would lose their jobs if Charlotte got given it. “Flair” my voice was cold “you agreed to help me get my hands on the company, whatever it required. This is one of those moments where you are required to assist me, whatever feelings you might have about it.”
Her eyes were suspiciously shiny. I might as well have put a hand in her chest and ripped her heart out. I had never felt so low before. I had never felt so damn callous and coldhearted. My wife was hurting and I wasn’t doing anything to comfort her. She took a deep shuddering breath.
“I’ll ask Rachel to come sit with Roscoe,” she said weakly “Hopefully he likes her.”
She turned her back on me and began to press the dial button.
“Flair, I” I began feeling like a heel.
She put a hand up, halting me in my tracks “It’s okay Grayson, I understand. We did have conditions in regards to this marriage, it’s only fair I hold up to my share of the bargain” she said coldly.
I bowed my head, feeling ashamed. Gone was the happy bubbly Flair. I listened as she quietly asked Rachel to come over and watch Roscoe, her friend quickly agreeing, hearing the tone of Flair’s voice. She hung up. Woodenly she began to get clothes ready while Roscoe whined, looking between us.
“Flair” I began and she shook her head.
“I need to get ready,” she said quietly, and took herself and her clothes into the bathroom, shutting the door. I heard the lock and knew that she was locking me out, from not just the room, but from her feelings as well. I began to get dressed, wishing I could take today back to the beginning and start over.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.