Page 20 of Breaking Point

Her brows rise. “Security? Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Of course! It’s just a precaution. Nothing to worry about.”

She still seems unsure, but when Richard appears, her worry dissipates like smoke. He pecks her lips, tapping a fork to his champagne glass for everyone’s attention. The party gently quiets.

“I’d like to propose a toast to my incredible fiancée, Eleanor. Cheers to the love of my life!”

Everyone goes wild with hoots and hollers, and I gleam as the happy couple kisses again. He bows her back in a swift dip, and everyone claps again. The party has just begun, and exhaustion is already tearing at my limbs, but I know I can’t leave just yet.

I spend an hour bouncing from group to group, greeting a few familiar faces. I’ve met most of my clients through events like these, so making the rounds is important. By the time I’m done, I’m positive I won’t be able to make it to bed.

Eleanor catches me just as I head for the elevator: “Liv, wait! There’s someone I’d like you to meet!”

It’s as I turn that I see a woman in a lemon-print sundress, complete with elegant bows at the shoulders and a martini glass in-hand. But it’s the man on her arm that makes my eyes widen.

“Aleks?”

Aleksander Benenati has become a man in every sense of the word. In the months since I’ve seen him, his stubble has grown into a neatly trimmed beard and his blonde hair is swept back. He’s swapped his usual gray suit for a black one, and when he waves, I’m still in shock. Last summer, he’d practically been a boy.

“You know each other?” Eleanor gasps, and when Aleks pulls me in for a hug, I’m finally dragged from my stupor.

“I planned his brother’s wedding,” I mention before stepping back to look at him again. “How have you been?”

His casual shrug is so unlike the Aleks I remember. “I’ve been great. Healing, you know?” Aleks pats his leg, and it’s then that I spot the silver cane glistening at his side.

The aftermath of what happened with Charlotte in Mournstead.

Guilt digs its vicious claws deeper, but he smiles, easing the tension. “Have you had the chance to meet my fiancée? This is Sofia.”

Fiancée.I rudely passed right over her.

“Hi.” I glance at the woman beside him, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you. Olivia Hughes.”

Her red lips form a sweet smile. “Sofia Vercelli. I’ve heard so many good things about you.”

Aleks gives a sheepish smile, clearing his throat as he meets my eye again. “About that… I wanted to reach out earlier, but…”

The way he leaves the sentence hanging hints at the tension between Charlotte and I. A lump forms in my throat, and I shake my head to keep my smile from falling. “No need to explain.”

“We’re recently engaged,” Aleks explains and my eyes dip to the massive, glittering rock on her finger. I can only imagine the price tag, and Sofia smiles down at it. “We were hoping you’d be willing to help plan the wedding.”

It might seem silly that I don’t see the question coming, but as soon as he says it, my mouth practically falls open.

Plan his wedding. Plan my best friend’s brother-in-law’s wedding?

“I-“

“We’re bombarding you.” Sofia squeezes Aleks’ shoulder. “We should’ve waited-“

I rush out: “No! No, not at all. I just wasn’t expecting it. Normally, I would have heard about the engagement from at least six other people by now is all.”

Aleks grins. “We’ve kept it quiet. I only proposed last night, and we haven’t known each other very long but… when you know, you know.”

I couldn’t count on two hands how many times I’ve heard that phrase, but I smile nonetheless. “If you text me the date and some more details, I’d love to help. Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” Sofia smiles, sipping her drink as Eleanor happily claps.

“See? I told you, she’s wonderful-“

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