Page 1 of White Wedding
Chapter 1
Twenty-Two Days Until the Wedding
Victoria Blackwood faced down her father, waiting for him to make the first move.
Brian Blackwood hadn’t told her why he’d summoned her into his office at ten thirty on a Friday morning. He’d merely sent her a text, assuming she had nothing else on her calendar.
Which couldn’t be further from the truth. With Christmas less than a month away, her plate was full, dealing with holiday banquets, parties, and weddings. As one of the event coordinators for the Blackwood Cellars Estate, much of the legwork fell to her. Especially since her boss, Lindsay, was on maternity leave until mid-January.
Smart woman.
Victoria loathed her father’s office. The space was dark, stifling, and aggressively male. A shrine to his achievements as the CEO of Blackwood Cellars, her family’s wine empire based in the Temecula Valley. Stuffed animal heads were mounted on the wall above rows of framed awards. A glass case displayed trophies from numerous wine competitions. On the sideboard, a decanter tray held crystal glasses and bottles of premium liqueurs. For hisimportantguests.
When her father lit up a cigar, she recoiled at the strong smell. Setting aside all pleasantries, she addressed him directly. “Why am I here?”
He leaned back in his chair. “I spoke to Ben. He told me the caterer quit.”
Even though two months had passed since Ben had left her for Missy, Victoria still flinched at the sound of her ex’s name. But she kept her cool facade in place.
“He didn’t need to call you. His assistant got in touch with me yesterday.” She allowed herself a satisfied smile, grateful her father hadn’t blindsided her. “It’s handled.”
“Why did it happen in the first place? What did you do?”
“Me? Why do you assume this was my fault?” The unfairness of his words rankled her.
“Ben thinks you’re trying to sabotage his wedding.”
She wanted to leap off her chair in a rage, but she stared into her father’s piercing blue eyes without blinking. “May I remind you that Ineverwanted to coordinate my ex’s wedding in the first place? You forced me into it.”
“I didn’t have a choice. Lindsay’s on leave until January fifteenth.”
“You could have asked June. She loves doing weddings.” As Lindsay’s assistant, June had worked on dozens of weddings. More to the point, she adored them. For a woman who’d been divorced twice, she was surprisingly optimistic about the institution of marriage.
“I didn’t think she was capable of taking the lead on such a significant event. Besides, you’d already planned so much of Ben’s wedding before he switched things up. It made more sense to keep it in your hands.”
Switched things up.Is that how they were describing it now?
She clenched her fists, digging her nails deep into her palms. Her father could justify his decision all he wanted, but that didn’t make it any less vindictive. “When Ben made the request, I begged you to turn it down. But you didn’t listen. And though I’ve hated every minute of it, I’ve given Ben and Missy the same level of service I’d show any other couple. So you’ve got no business accusing me of sabotage.”
If anything, she’d been extra gracious, even when Missy acted like a raging bridezilla.
When her father didn’t respond, she continued. “Do you want to know why the caterer quit? Heather said in all her years at Blue Willow Catering, she’s never dealt with someone like Missy. And trust me, she’s handled plenty of demanding brides. But Missy had already changed the menu five times. Then, last week, she brought two of Heather’s assistants to tears. She behaved terribly, and Heather called her on it. I don’t blame her for quitting.”
And I’d quit, too, if I could.
That day couldn’t come soon enough. But first, she had to repay her debt to her father.
She owed him thousands. Tens of thousands. All because she’d screwed up and he’d bailed her out. But he’d promised to wipe the slate clean if she coordinated this wedding.
On days like today, she wondered if the stress was worth it.
He shook his head, as if to express his sympathy. “You could show Missy a little more compassion.”
“Are you serious?”
“Ben told me she’s having a rough time of it with the pregnancy.”
She couldn’t keep her voice in check any longer. “I don’t care. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be the one getting married. She didn’t just steal my fiancé, she stole my whole damn wedding.”
