The Arrangement
Don’t Trip
ANGELA
“Girl, you’re getting married!” Em squealed, bringing me a mimosa. We were in the bridal suite of the Knight Hotel in Tribeca, the crown jewel of Brad Knight’s properties.
I forced a smile. “Yay!”
I’d told Em the same lie I’d told my dad and brothers—I met Xavier at a Dim Sum restaurant in midtown and he’d swept me off my feet.
“A toast,” Em said, clinking her glass against mine. “You’re a bride!”
A knock at the door saved me from talking about marital bliss. Em opened it, revealing a quartet of women in black uniforms.
“Hello again, Angela!”
I recognized the beautifully tanned and dark-haired woman, Sky, as the makeup artist who’d done my makeup for the engagement photo shoot.
“Sky!” I said, giving her a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. You know how to work miracles.”
She waved her hand. “Stop. You’re naturally gorgeous.”
The beauty team worked on my hair and makeup like a gaggle of angry fairy godmothers. Apparently my dress was personally designed by Vera Wang. But I felt numb. Almost like I was having an out-of-body experience. When they finished, I looked at myself in the full-length mirror, dressed in an ivory-colored corseted wedding gown meant for a queen. The way it draped and clung to my body enhanced my curves in the most flattering way.
“You look so beautiful, so royal,” Em said. “Look at that train!”
“Em,” I said, a wave of nerves hitting me. “This is happening. I’m getting married.”
Em carried my train as we left the bridal suite. I wobbled in my heels, and took a deep breath to steady my beating heart. This was it. The point of no return.
“Angie, wait!”
I turned around and saw my brother Danny running down the hall.
“Danny!” I said as he bear-hugged me.
“You look stunning,” he said. “This is fucking crazy.”
“I know.”
“I was hoping to catch you before…you know, your big moment,” he said, smiling at me. “Look, Sis. Lucas and I don’t always show it, but we’re proud of you. Dad is too.”
I nodded, worried I’d cry and ruin my makeup. Danny wouldn’t be proud of me if he knew the truth. But it felt good to hear anyway.
“Thanks, Dan.”
My brother gave me a mischievous look and winked. “Don’t trip on that train. You want me to walk you down the aisle?”
I shook my head. “And make Lucas jealous? No thanks.”
“If you’re sure,” Danny said.
He took Emily’s arm, and they waved at me as they disappeared through the double doors leading into the ballroom. And then I was alone. I clenched and unclenched my palms. A strong quartet began to play “The Wedding March”. That was my cue. I had to walk this road alone.
XAVIER
The nerve of this girl. I couldn’t believe she was going through with the wedding. White lilies covered every surface of our hotel in Tribeca, lights glittering everywhere. Dad had pulled out all the stops. Five hundred people were gathered in the ballroom to watch the spectacle. If this didn’t prove how much I wanted the goddamned title of CEO, nothing would.
And then her face filled my head. The other her. The one who made me think I was capable of love and then smashed my heart, laughing at me.
The violinist started playing. Fuck. It was time. Dad sat in the front row, tears of joy in his eyes. He was beaming, surrounded by family and friends, clients and associates. I had to admit, I liked seeing my father happy. He and Mom had been so in love. He probably thought I’d be capable of sharing the same kind of love with Angela, even though he’d orchestrated this sham of a marriage. I would never fall in love with her. I couldn’t trust her, or her motives.
The grand doors opened, and everyone rose to their feet. The thought of shackling myself to Angela for the rest of my life was as appealing as swallowing glass.
But then I saw her. And she looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Like an angel.
Every man in the room was staring at her. Single or married, it didn’t matter. If I had groomsmen, they would tell me I was a lucky man to be marrying a ten out of ten.
I clenched my jaw. Angela could rescue orphans, or puppies, and that still wouldn’t change why she was here. For my money. That was it. She didn’t fool me.
ANGELA
Don’t trip. Don’t trip.
I hadn’t had this many eyes on me since…scratch that. I had never had this many eyes on me. While I hadn’t been one of those girls who dreamed about her wedding growing up, I’d always imagined my dad beside me, walking me down the aisle. But he was miles away, in a hospital bed. After Thanksgiving, he’d gotten worse, and hadn’t been permitted to leave again.
Don’t cry, Angela.There are too many people watching.
I took my position across from Xavier, a man who despised me. His jaw was clenched, like he was being led into battle, not marriage.
The priest smiled. Then he raised his arms towards the crowd.
“Please, be seated. Dearly beloved and honored guests, we are gathered here today to join Angela Carson and Xavier Knight in holy matrimony…”
I looked at Xavier. Stubble peppered his jaw—he wasn’t even bothered to shave on his wedding day. His tuxedo had probably been designed by Dolce & Gabbana, custom-made. I hated to admit how good he looked in it.
“Angela?”
The priest looked at me expectantly, and I felt every person in the room staring. My cheeks burned. Oh, God, was it my turn?
“I do,” I said, my heart pounding.
The priest turned to Xavier. “And Xavier Knight, do you take Angela Carson to be your lawful wedded wife, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he replied with the enthusiasm of a robot.
The priest smiled.
“By the power vested in me by God, I now declare you man and wife. Xavier, you may kiss your bride.”
The wedding guests stood up and cheered. My stomach knotted. Xavier leaned forward and touched my chin, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. He brought his face close to mine and whispered, “You look beautiful, Angela.”
My heart fluttered. “Thanks.”
Then he kissed me and I felt myself soften. The feeling of his lips pressed against mine sent sparks through me. He tasted like a mixture of mint and whiskey. Xavier’s hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. I kissed him deeply, unwilling to fight our attraction any longer. This was real. It felt real.
Maybe we had finally turned a corner?
When we broke apart, the crowd went wild. Xavier took my hand, and waved at the wedding guests. I was smiling, my cheeks flushed. He dropped his voice to a whisper, and I heard the venom in his words.
“Every man here wants you, except for me, your own husband. How does that feel?”
Continue to the next chapter of The Arrangement