by Skye,Marie
He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, then reached into his pocket and pulled my ring out. I watched as he slipped the ring on my finger for the second time. “I found it this morning. Don’t ever take that off.”
I nodded. He waited. “Yes, sir.”
“Now, for your punishment.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Emmalin
“Oh my God, did you see this?” Grayson peered over my shoulder at my tablet. We had stayed an extra day, and were now flying back to Chicago. Pictures of us on the beach with him asking me to marry him were plastered on virtually every news outlet.
“Of course. This one paid a hefty price for exclusive photos. All proceeds went to my charity.” I looked at him in shock. He kissed my temple. “You’re about to become a Mandrake. Everything is going to change for you.”
I spotted another article. Grayson Mandrake Officially Off the Market. What you should know about his soon to be wife! I clicked on it because, hell, I wanted to know about me, too. Grayson took the tablet from me. “You have to learn to ignore it. Rule number one: never Google yourself. I also have my PR team handling all of your affairs and social media.”
I frowned. “I don’t have any social media.”
“You do now, and as of this morning, you’ve garnered over twenty thousand Instagram followers.” He handed me his phone, and my eyes about bugged out of my head—in addition to those photos, there were photos from my spa day and shopping trips with the girls.
“I’m sorry, but who’s been taking these pictures?”
“Security. You don’t notice them for a reason.” I leaned my head back against the seat. It was all overwhelming. “You’ll be okay. I have a whole team to help you through it, okay?”
I crossed my legs, the ache between them burning. Grayson had introduced me to edging, and oh, how I wanted to come. I couldn’t decide what was worse—orgasm denial or edging. I subtly moved against the seat. I could probably make myself come this way.
“Did I say you could do that?” I froze. “Uncross your legs. Only I get your pleasure.” I whimpered at his demand. “Maybe you need to be reminded again?” My eyes grew wide as I shook my head. “Oh, I think you do.” He smiled. I folded my hands in my lap.
“What did you learn?”
I refrained from spitting out a sarcastic remark, because who knew what his rebuttal would be. I sighed before turning to him. “The only way this ring is coming off my finger is if I’m dead.” He silently laughed. “Or if I’m making meatloaf,” I decided to add. He threw his head back and laughed.
“Always bratty, aren’t you?”
“You love it,” I countered.
“I do. And I love you.”
“Three weeks?” I nodded into the phone. I was cheesing so hard, I could barely contain my excitement. “As in three weeks from now?”
I glanced back at the calendar on Grayson’s desk. “Well, technically seventeen days, but who’s counting? It’s going to be small. Think you can make it?”
“Bitch! You’re lucky I just gave birth and don’t look like a manatee! Hell yes I will be there! I am so happy for you! It’s about damn time. Oh! And thank you so much for the bedroom furniture for Madeline. It’s gorgeous! We haven’t had time to send out thank you cards.”
“Oh it’s no problem, I know you’re busy. Just let me know your size and I’ll have some dresses sent over for you to try on whenever you’re ready.”
“Fancy life. Living the dream, girl, living the dream.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bye Edith!”
I hung up and checked that off my list. I had a few locations in mind, but I wanted to run them by Grayson first before deciding. We still needed a caterer, and a cake, and flowers, and a dress. Wedding planning was easy; I didn’t know what people were talking about. My phone dinged with an incoming text.
Grayson’s Mom: Emailing you a list of those who could make it the wedding! Found the perfect location I think you both will love. Wedding coordinator and I will be there tomorrow at noon to go over details. Love you!
I paused. List? Wedding coordinator? I hadn’t realized Grayson’s mom was helping with the wedding planning. I hesitantly opened my email and clicked on the message from Lorraine right when Grayson walked in. I could feel all the blood draining from my face.
“Hey, there you are.” He leaned over and kissed me.
“Hey. Your mom just emailed a list of people who are apparently coming to our wedding.”
Grayson made a drink at his bar. “Did she now? What’s the damage?”
I nervously swallowed. “Five hundred.”
He smirked. “Oh good. She kept it small.”
I looked at him wide eyed. “That’s small?! I mean I know you know a lot of people, but I was thinking more like…fifty. I was looking at three-tiered cakes, and venues to hold a few guests…I didn’t realize I needed to rent a stadium.”
“It’ll be okay, I promise.” I stared at him—he wasn’t concerned at all. “Oh, that reminds me. My lawyer finally drafted everything up.” I watched as he took out some paperwork from his portfolio and laid it in front of me. I’d been expecting a prenuptial agreement, knowing it would be standard for someone with such a huge amount of assets. I started flipping through it then looked up at him, confused.
“This isn’t a prenuptial agreement.”
He crossed his arms as he glared at me. “Why would you think you’re getting a prenuptial agreement?” I fumbled for the right words. I didn’t want to say Oh, I don’t know, in case this goes awry, or in case you can’t keep it in your pants. Oh God, I was accusing him of cheating already.
“What is going through your head at this very moment, Emmalin? You’re looking mighty distressed.”
I sighed. “I just thought you would have one drawn up. It seemed reasonable.” He studied me a moment before speaking.
“These are to have your name on the board for Mandrake Towers. Once we’re married, the company will be half yours. You’ll be an official shareholder.”
I shakily flipped over each page. “Are you sure? I mean, wouldn’t you rather have someone more qualified have half of your company?”
“Someone other than my wife?” He gave me a smile. “I think you’ll do. These forms here are to add your name to all the titles and deeds to properties and vehicles I own, making you co-owner. Paperwork to change your name is here, just needs your signature. My lawyers will expedite that. And one more thing.”
I watched as he flipped all the paperwork over and turned my chair to face him. “Breathe,” he whispered against my lips. “I know all of this is overwhelming, but you’re doing so well.”
“I think I’m freaking out inside a little,” I admitted.
“I would hope so.” He stood me up. “Come on. Let me relax you properly.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Grayson
“Normally we require a few months’ notice, but of course, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate. We’re on your schedule, Mr. Mandrake and Ms. Ross. Now we understand you’re still wanting all the flavor, so we’re substituting a majority of the sugar and making it diabetic friendly while still making it taste good, is that correct?”
“Precisely.” Emmalin smiled at me as a platter filled with different samples of cakes was set in front of us.
Meredith and my mom walked in just in time. “You two arrived just in time for the best part.”
“You think we would be late for cake? You must not know me very well bro.”
“Emmalin, sweetie, what did you decide on for flowers?” my mom asked her eagerly.
“Oh, I decided to go simple. Just some white roses for decorations or something.” I smiled, feeding Emmalin a bite of the chocolate. She did that soft moan that made me hard then pointed to the lemon next. I complied, happy to do it all day long if it got her to do that moan again. If she kept it up, this cake testing was going to be over soon.
“Don’t you think red would be better?”
>
“Emmalin hates red roses Mom. If she wants white, she’ll get white.”
“But red screams love! Or perhaps a different flower? They can do your cake decorations to match your dress.”
“Um…I haven’t found a dress yet,” Emmalin replied sheepishly. Both Meredith and my mother paused mid bite, forks in the air.
“You’re getting married in nine days and you haven’t found a dress?”
“I haven’t had time with the wedding planning, and your wedding list keeps growing, and you’ve changed the location three times. It’s been hard to keep up.”
Before I could interject, Franco, the wedding coordinator my mom found it necessary to hire, came in the door clapping. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic as usual. Have we decided on a cake? Do we want to do a traditional white? Oh, and Emmalin, that reminds me, who will be walking you down the aisle?”
Emmalin stammered nervously, “Um…I…I haven’t…I don’t know.”
“Sweetie, we need to know these things. We don’t have much time.” Franco looked at his watch and Emmalin gave him a small smile as she looked down at her hands. “Meredith and Lorraine, I believe you’re both due for a dress fitting in an hour.” As Franco kept talking, I truly looked at Emmalin. I had seen the trace of sadness that had flown across her face when she was asked who would be walking her down the aisle. How could I have been so fucking blind? I thought back to earlier in the week when she had shown me yet another guest list that increased the size of the event.
“Another list was sent over.”
I laughed. “I’m not surprised. Honestly I’m not. What’s it at now?”
She flipped the page over. “Seven hundred! You know seven hundred people?”
I smirked. “I do know a lot of people.”
“These seating arrangements are going to be really uneven.”
Emmalin wasn’t going to have anyone to walk her down the aisle. She didn’t have any family to be on her side of the wedding. I told her I wanted her to have a fairytale wedding, and instead, she was being run over by everyone else planning it for her. She wasn’t planning this wedding for herself; she was planning this wedding for everyone else. She didn’t want any of this, and I needed to fix it. I would fix it.
“Did you decide on a cake, Ms. Ross and Mr. Mandrake?” The bouncy cake owner came over our way.
“They were all good.” Emmalin nodded in agreement. “Your pick baby,” I whispered to her.
“I really liked the chocolate.” She smiled.
“No. Traditional white would look more elegant,” Franco interjected.
I’d had it with everyone. She couldn’t even pick her own damn cake. “Franco. You’re fired. Get out.”
He stared at me wide eyed, and started awkwardly laughing as if I was kidding. When he noted my stony expression and realized that I, in fact, was not kidding, he turned to my mom for help.
“Grayson!” my mom countered.
“Not another word. I said you’re fired. Now leave.” I turned back to the cake owner. “The chocolate, please.” It was so quiet, you could practically hear a pin drop. “Emmalin, you’re meeting up with Gwen right?” She nodded. “Great, I’ve called Luke to take you wherever you need to go. He’s outside. I’ll walk you out.” I was furious, but didn’t want any of my rage to radiate onto her. “Enjoy your day, and I’ll see you soon okay? I love you.”
“Love you too.” I handed her off to Luke and watched the car drive off before walking back into the bakery.
“This wedding is getting out of hand. I’m two seconds from hauling her off and eloping. Emmalin wanted a small, intimate wedding, and instead it’s now turned into a circus. She doesn’t want any of this. And mom, when did you turn into such a momzilla? You have sat here and undermined each and every decision. I’m starting to wonder why you even bother asking her for her opinion if you’re just going to do the exact opposite. None of this dawned on me until Emmalin said your guest list and venue keeps changing. What exactly are you doing?”
“Grayson, I just want to make sure she has the wedding of her dreams.”
“And so do I, but this isn’t the wedding of her dreams. Take the guest list you created that’s full of people she doesn’t even know and cut it—all of it.”
“But Grayson—”
“I said cut it. I’ll handle it from here.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
Emmalin
“Thanks for meeting with me. I had to get out of there.” I perused through yet another rack of dresses. I laughed wryly to myself thinking of when I’d said wedding planning was easy, and then poured myself another glass of champagne.
“No problem. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity, and I guess neither were they.” She pointed to the window as flashes from different cameras pointed in our direction went off. I sighed, turning my back. “They say it’s the wedding of the year. Is it true that members of the Royal Family are coming?”
I crinkled my nose. “I doubt Grayson even knows any of the Royal Family.”
“Why don’t you sound happy? You’re getting married in nine days, and you sound…sad, or am I picking up on something else?”
I leaned against the wall. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Nothing is going how I wanted it to. I love Grayson’s mom, I do, but I feel like she’s taken over the entire wedding. All these people are coming, and I don’t know ninety-eight percent of them. I’ll be clueless at my own wedding. I barely got to pick my own cake, and that was only because Grayson fired the wedding coordinator.”
“Hmm, sounds like you need to have a talk with Grayson about mommy dearest. Besides, it’s your wedding. Tell her to chill out.”
While Gwen talked, I watched a saleswoman bring a dress out to the rack. I slowly stood up then walked toward it. “This is beautiful.” She smiled and held it out.
“Just arrived this morning. It’s no longer in season, but it truly is gorgeous. It’s a Haley Paige. Would you like to try it on?” I reached out and touched the intricate design of the material. It was white with thin detailing on the straps and lace that flared down to the bottom. I loved that it had an open back. It was vintage, yet still had some sex appeal.
“I would, but do you think we could acquire a little more privacy?” I pointed to the cameramen outside.
She held up her hand. “Say no more.” She went over and not only locked the door, but drew some room-darkening panels. “And for good measure, we’ll take you and your friend to a back room—just in case.”
I took a deep breath as I stepped into the dress. It’s funny, I’d always imagined going wedding dress shopping with my mom, having her look on in approval as she gave me that nod, saying ‘That’s the one, Emmalin.’ I had also imagined my stepfather at least walking me down the aisle. I shut my eyes, not wanting to think of any of that. I had a new life now, a new family—one that actually loved me and would never hurt me.
“Come on Emmalin, I’m dying out here!”
I brushed away the errant tear and laughed. “I just need her help zipping me up.” The lady came in and gasped. I turned to face her. There weren’t any mirrors in the actual dressing room, so I had no idea what I looked like. “Is it bad?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Oh honey, it’s not bad at all.” She gently zipped up the back. “This dress was made for you sweetie.” I looked down at the dress, suddenly feeling self-conscious as she opened the door and led me out. Gwen’s hands went to her mouth.
“Emmalin.”
I walked up to the platform and finally got a good look at myself in the dress. I felt the tears welling in my eyes and didn’t even notice a veil being placed in my hair until it was already there. “We would just need to take it in a smidge, but otherwise, this dress is perfect Ms. Ross.”
“How do you feel, Emmalin?” I heard Gwen say off to the side.
I took a deep breath. “I’m going to marry him so hard.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Grayson
I had just gotten off the phone when Emmalin strolled past my office. I called out her name and she backpedaled.
“Hey! Guess what? I found a dress!”
Her excitement was contagious and I pulled her into my arms. “That’s great baby. What does it look like?”
“None of your business.”
“Oh really? I have ways of making you talk, you know.” My hand went up her skirt, and she squeezed her legs shut.
“That’s not fair Grayson, and you know it!”
“I know, but I don’t play fair.” I buried my nose in her neck. She had only been gone a few hours, but damn, I missed her. “Question, do you want to do engagement photos? My PR team has been hounding me about it nonstop, saying we should, but it’s up to you. I’m fine either way.” My hand inched up her skirt again.
“Well our engagement is short, so would it even make sense?”
I shrugged. “I think it’d be nice to have. Also, I’m increasing your security. I don’t like how much you’re being followed. Some asshole was posting stupid shit on your Twitter and your Instagram.”
“Can’t Hawkins just follow me around?”
“Not if he’s gushing about Gwen. If he’s too busy looking at someone else and not doing what he’s being paid for, that’s grounds for dismissal. I’m not having anything happen to you because of a fuckup.” She sighed. “Look, I know Gwen is your friend, but your safety comes first no matter what. I will not have something happen to you because of carelessness, do you understand?”
“Yeah. I invited Molly, and it was good to hear from her. She’s bringing someone. I’m not sure how I feel about that yet. I’m happy for her that she’s moved on, but at the same time, it makes me sad, because it’s not Tyler.”
I pulled her close. “I know baby.”
“And maybe your mom is right—red roses are probably a better idea, or should I decide on a different flower?”