growled, trying not to think about how I had spent the majority of that evening staring at Grace.
“We need the cash for our next big project. That is, if you still want in.”
“I do.”
“Horace is very family oriented,” Beck reminded me. “Everyone knows now that you’re married, for real.”
“Shit.”
“If you show up without your wife, Horace is going to be very disappointed in you and give you an earful, and more importantly, not give you any money.”
I ran a hand over my forehead.
“This type of activity is veering dangerously into the acting-like-a-wife territory,” Hunter warned. “The more you treat her like a wife and call her that in public, the more likely it is that a judge will award her some percentage of your assets.”
“We need a fail-safe,” I said, “to make sure that if she goes rogue, we have a way to keep her under control. Can you guys dig up some dirt on her?”
“We’ll see what we can find,” Josh said. “But you have to hold up your end and not piss her off.”
Easier said than done.
17
Grace
Stupid Chris.
I hadn’t had a relaxing morning since moving in with Gran and Zeus. When I lived in the apartment, my mornings consisted of the parrot screeching at the morning show on TV and Gran rambling on about my horoscope while I tried to drink my tea and plan out my day.
Even though Chris had kicked me out of his bedroom…
It’s for the best.
…I had still been planning to make the most of being in his luxurious, spacious penthouse. I had just set up my laptop on the terrace when I heard his alarm go off. It kept going off every ten minutes for the next hour and a half while I sipped my tea, filled out my planner, and answered emails until finally I hadn’t been able to take it anymore.
Stupid Chris.
“Married life does not seem to be agreeing with you,” Brea commented as I walked into the office after calling the moving company to come pick up my stuff.
“It’s because she’s not experiencing all that married life has to offer!” Amy joked.
“I do not want to sleep with Chris,” I said grumpily as I set my bag down on the long reclaimed-wood table in the sunlight-filled office.
“Lies, and damned lies,” Sophie said cheerfully.
“Fine. I would maybe consider sleeping with him if there were no other options around.”
Elsie raised an eyebrow.
“But he doesn’t want anything to do with me, so it’s not going to happen, and that’s that.”
“I highly doubt he doesn’t want to exercise his husbandly duties,” she remarked.
“Why do you have to make it sound so dirty?” I complained.
“Because it’s going to be hot and dirty and nasty with him!” Brea said loudly.
“We don’t have time for Grace to spend all day having hot and dirty sex,” Ivy said, frazzled. “We have a bridezilla incoming!”
We all scurried to put on tea, have sparkling water chilled and ready, and to artfully lay out our samples and several scrapbooks of other weddings for the bride to peruse.
The bridezilla arrived wearing a big fur coat, designer sunglasses, and four-inch stilettos. Linneah trailed after her.
“Good morning!” Ivy said cheerfully.
Addison didn’t return the greeting. Instead she shoved her designer bag at me when she walked in.
“Take care of this.”
I set it gingerly on a chair.
“Welcome to the Weddings in the City office,” Ivy said. “Can we offer you tea or water?”
“My maid of honor knows what I want to drink,” Addison said, taking a seat and looking critically at the samples on the table. “Make sure you coordinate with Linneah and have my beverage of preference ready next time.”
“Addison only drinks Perrier with a Meyer lemon peel,” Linneah said. “Make sure you provide it in the future.”
Ivy smiled. “Of course.”
After dealing with an entitled billionaire for the last twenty-four hours, I was in no mood to put up with a bridezilla, but these brides were my livelihood.
Because my part of the wedding wouldn’t come up until later, I let Ivy take the lead as she walked Addison through the wedding planning process while I went to the kitchenette to make more tea for everyone.
Linneah jumped up to follow me.
“I can’t believe Chris is saddled with someone like you,” she said in a low voice as I put the water on to boil. “You’re just the help.”
I forced myself to maintain my bland customer-service persona. “And we love to help brides make their wedding dreams come true.”
Linneah made an ugly face. “The matchmakers made a