Page 1 of Breaking Point

Part One

White Lies

Chapter One

Olivia

What makes a good liar?It’s a question I ask myself often… and one I feel I shouldn’t be asking myself in the middle of one of the most expensive rehearsal dinners I’ve ever planned in my life.

“I wasn’t out that late, Emily.”

A lie- An obvious one at that.

Emily, the bride, told me Derek came trampling home at four AM this morning. The evidence is clear enough on the security footage I really wish I didn’t know about.

Derek Del Monte, of course, is the groom. The self-obsessed groom who has done nothing but bitch and moan through the entire process of planning this wedding. I’ve had my fair share of nightmare brides and grooms, but Derek managed to make me simultaneously want to cry and punch him within the first five seconds of meeting him nearly a year ago.

He clears his throat while we wait for the elevator. Dragging a hand over his hair, he turns to his fiancé. “You always do this. Make a big deal of nothing. It was drinks. You go out for drinks all the time, yet when I do it, it’s a problem?”

Emily sighs. “No,” she denies before jamming the elevator button again. “Does every couple you know fight on the eve of their wedding?”

When I feel their attention shift toward me, I force a smile. “Wedding stress is a lot to handle, and you’ve both been busy.” The elevator bell dings, and I shuffle inside. They follow, though the silence is nearly unbearable. “Are you guys excited about tonight?”

“Yes” Emily answers as Derek snaps, “We’re going to talk about this.”

The doors slide shut, and I suddenly regret deciding to trap myself in the middle of this conversation with them. Derek continues, gesturing to Emily. “We’re getting married tomorrow. Is this how we’re going to handle every tough conversation?”

Emily stifles an eye roll. “You can hardly call this ‘handling.’ We’re about to see our parents and all of our friends. You really wanna talk about this now?”

Derek shakes his head. “I guess not.”

Moments pass before the doors slide open again and chaos ensues. Music roars through the venue, and dozens of people clamber about with decor for the big day. Derek steps out first, but from the frown carved into Emily's face, it’s easy to see she’s upset.

Derek sighs, rubbing his temples before reaching a hand toward her. “I’m sorry.” Another lie- but maybe a white one. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The furrow between Emily’s brows burrows deeper, but she finally relents, strolling out with him. Walking hand-in-hand, they look like the perfect couple. He oozes that old-money arrogance that he, like every Del Monte before him, has down to a science. She looks like the elegant heiress beside him, dressed in fine jewels and effortless charm. What happens behind closeddoors is another story- one I wish that planning weddings for the wealthy didn’t give me a front-row-seat to.

I linger behind, digging my planner out of my leather bag to make sure I’ve still got the rehearsal schedule handy. I’ve got two hours to get everyone ready for tomorrow. Considering both families are on opposite sides of some long-standing feud, I’d say I have my work cut out for me.

I jump when my phone dings in my pocket. When I see my father’s name flash across the screen, my heart squeezes. I add responding to my long list of tabled responsibilities. We have ambiguous plans to meet for dinner this week, and I’ve yet to give him a good time. Probably because I have weddings all weekend. Also probably because I’m avoiding him- and he knows it.

There’s not enough time in the day to get even half of these things done, and if I attempt to knock anything else out right now, I might very we lose it.

I steady my breath.

In. Out. Four counts. Six counts.

It does little to curb my anxiety, but I make a mental note to meditate later… and I shove everything else aside.

I stroll head-first into the heart of the party, and after cutting the music and clapping to get everyone’s attention, I smile as I momentarily hold the crowd’s attention.

My voice is strong. Charming. “Why don’t we start the night off with a game?”

Normally, I sleep like the dead. Wedding planning exhausts me, and by the time I trudge home and fall into bed, I’m already waking up to begin again.

Tonight, I jolt awake past two. My back is drenched in sweat, my breath heavy as I sit up. I force myself to count the stitches on my comforter.

Four counts. Six.

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