Page 23 of The Phoenix (Spy Girl 6)
“Maybe run our father’s company?” I suggest.
She waves her hand at me. “He told us last night that he wasn’t interested in that. Besides, it’s not like he needs to work.”
I stop speaking, knowing I’m not going to win this conversation and not caring to try. I have more important things on my mind.
When I enter the chapel, all thoughts of conspiracy theories, poisoned grain, and secret societies fly out the window. And there’s a good reason for that.
Lorenzo is standing at the altar and looking ridiculously handsome.
His eyes stay locked on mine as I walk down the aisle toward him. It was something we didn’t do at our own wedding. We simply stood in front of the captain and spoke to each other. Now, I understand why it’s a time-honored tradition. Although, physically, it’s not that long of a journey, emotionally, it is.
I remember the day I waved at him from the palace balcony when I was just twelve. I recall the sultry sound of his voice when he spoke to me for the first time. I remember the firmness and urgency of his lips on our first kiss and so many other magical moments that we’ve shared since.
While Ari and Allie recite their vows to each other, Lorenzo holds my gaze. I know we’re both remembering our wedding and all that it meant to us.
After the couple is announced as husband and wife, they kiss and then happily make their way down the aisle.
Lorenzo walks toward me and holds out his elbow.
“Although I confess to barely remembering the words I spoke to you, I remember every single one you said to me,” he whispers. “‘Lorenzo, you see my flaws as strengths. You love me without condition. You have made me feel as carefree as a cloud on an endless summer day. When I first met you, I thought you were easy on the eyes, but it turns out that you’re easy on my heart. I promise you my love for all the days of my life.’ I’m going to hold you to that promise. Just so you know.”
When we get to the end of the aisle, he pulls me behind a massive wall of roses.
“And you said to me, ‘Whatever our future holds, Lee, you must know that you and only you hold my heart. You give my life beauty and joy. You’re like a song, the melody of you playing within every beat of my heart. I will love you until the end of my days. That is my solemn vow to you.’ And, while the sentiment is beautiful, I fear our promises and our love will be tested in the coming days. It already has been.”
“I swear, I will never disappoint you again.” His eyes hold mine. “I want to kiss you so badly right now.”
I take his hand and shake it as the guests start spilling out of the little stone chapel. “This will have to seal the deal for now.”
The party and dancing are in full swing with music by a famous French crooner. As he ends his song, it’s announced that it’s time for the garter and bouquet toss.
The single girls all line up. There aren’t very many, just Allie’s two younger sisters, Isla, a high school friend of Allie’s, a couple of her model friends, and Blair Bessemer.
Usually, girls claw their way, trying to catch the bouquet, but it appears they are out there just as props when they let it drop into Blair’s hands without trying to snatch it away. Blair holds up the bouquet in victory.
“You know what they say, Blair,” Allie says loudly. “That means, you’ll be the next to get engaged.”
“Well, in that case,” Peter says from the crowd, moving to stand in front of Blair and then dropping to one knee, “will you marry me, Blair?”
Blair’s eyes get huge. She starts shaking, then crying, and finally nods through her tears. He has the ring on her finger before she actually mutters an acceptance.
Everyone cheers and congratulates them, and a champagne toast is made in their honor.
“Better hope I don’t get the garter,” I hear Viktor say, teasing Isla, who he has been practically attached to all night. “You’d have to propose to me.”
“And, of course, you would say yes,” she flirts.
Later in the evening, I catch Peter coming off the dance floor and congratulate him. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were going to propose tonight!”
“I was trying to keep it a secret, although her whole family knew. What did you think of the ring?”
“It’s amazing. Where did you find it?”
“It’s a family heirloom.”
“But your dad told me that he wasn’t raised with money.”
“Her family, not mine,” he clarifies. “When I asked her father and grandfather for their permission, Royston offered a ring that was his grandmother’s.”
“It’s massive.”
“And cheap for me.” Peter laughs. “But it means so much to her.”
“Because it was her great-great grandmother’s?”
“Because her family never offered the ring to Ty. Actually, come to find out, Ty never asked for their permission before proposing to her.”
“They like you,” I say in a singsong voice.
“Yes, they do,” he replies with a wide grin. “That makes the ring even more special.”
“There you are,” Blair says, wrapping herself around Peter. “Come dance with me.”
I’m about to follow them when I notice Royston standing alone at the bar.
I head over there, planning out a conversation that will get him talking along the way. But, when I get there, I’m stunned into silence.
Royston’s right hand is resting on the bar, and on his finger is an emerald Echelon ring.
He catches me looking at the ring. I quickly turn around, trying to hide both my shock and recognition.
I look around the room and wonder why I didn’t think of it before. We’re at Ares Von Allister’s son’s wedding. Would Echelon members wear their rings in his honor?
Since I’m dying to know who I can trust, I make a beeline for Aleksandr, who is lounging on a pink fur sofa and nursing a drink.
“You’re close to the board members,” I start.
His eyes narrow, and his smile flattens slightly before he replies.
“I can tell by your expression, that’s not the case.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” he says. “I greatly respect and admire their business acumen, but I wouldn’t consider any one of them among my closest friends.”
“Why not?” I ask.
“Maybe jealousy,” he says, replying with an answer I never considered. “You know that Jack, Gio, your father, Malcolm, and I were good friends.”
I nod, not wanting to interrupt whatever he’s about to say.
“Ares wasn’t close to his own father. I never really knew why, but Jack’s father sort of took him under his wing. Introduced him to all his buddies. Your father started moving in the circles of the ultra rich. Don’t get me wrong; we were best friends with Prince Gio, and we were wealthy in our own right but still young in our careers and certainly not billionaires yet. Of course, your father eventually took us all along f
or the ride. But your father could also be very secretive about their relationship. While I was jealous at first, once I got to know the men—”
“You weren’t impressed?” I ask.
“I know you think I’m hard on Viktor, but I am aware of the money he donates to environmental causes, and I allow it. I also know he had more chemistry with Clarice than he ever did her sister, and I never understood why he would ask Ophelia to marry him. Do you know?”
“I think you should ask your son that question. And I think you should tell him you support any cause he’s passionate about.”
“Did you get along with your mother?” he asks, a question I wasn’t expecting and one that sort of knocks the wind out of me.
“Uh, um, yeah. We got along,” I stutter out.
“Really?” he replies in a mocking tone. “I’ve seen your tenacity in action. I find it hard to believe you never butted heads.”
“Okay, fine. Yes, I could be stubborn, but I always tried to be respectful about it.”
Aleksandr lets out a laugh. “You were a handful; I’m sure of it. Your mother must have been smart though. Somehow, she nurtured that quality, which is part of who you are today—an extremely confident young woman, who isn’t afraid to fight for what she believes in.”
Tears unexpectedly fill my eyes.
Aleksandr reacts to them by pulling me into a fatherly hug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to up—”
“No. Thank you. Actually, you’re right. My mother did allow me to rebel, to a point.”
He grins sheepishly.
“That is exactly what you’re allowing your son to do,” I say in understanding.
“Bingo,” he says, tapping his index finger on my nose twice.
“Are you part of it?” I blurt out, my emotions completely out of control.
“Part of what?”
“What’s in the old book in Malcolm’s office, the one my father was obsessed with.”
“You already know I’m in The Society,” he says softly, “as is everyone here with the exception of the bride’s family.”
