Page 13 of Bridesmaid for Hire
Excuse me?
Before I can open it, I receive a text from my assistant, Everly. Thoughts of Brody are quickly pushed to the side as I read.
Everly:Sorry to bother you, but did you say you were staying at the Saint Hopper?
Maggie:Yes, why? Know someone who’s here too?
Everly:Do I know them personally? No. But my hunch is YOU’RE going to want to know them personally.
Maggie:Please tell me it’s a single Chris Evans with a beard.
Everly:It’s Reginald Hopper and family. Did you get the Google alert?
Maggie:Just got it but haven’t read it yet. What does it say?
Everly:The wedding is going to be at the Saint Hopper…this week. How cool is that? You’re going to be at the same resort as the wedding of the century.
I sit up straight in my chair, a gasp falling quietly past my lips.
Reginald Hopper is going to be here? At this resort? For his daughter’s wedding?
Oh my God!
Reginald Hopper is the owner of Hopper Industries and, word on the street is, he’s retiring soon, leaving the business to one of his three children: Hudson, Hardy, or Haisley. From what I’ve heard, Reginald is very old-school when it comes to his business. He’s been making some modern changes recently thanks to his children’s suggestions, and largely because Hopper Industries is starting to be upstaged by Cane Enterprises—yes, I follow billionaire gossip. And since Hopper Industries owns a large share of the hotel industries market, which in return offers up a wide range of wedding venues, I’d basically trade my best friend for a chance to make a connection with this man. I’m a businesswoman after all, and being a recommended wedding planner for Hopper Hotel weddings would beverygood for business.
Please don’t tell Hattie I’d trade her.
Instead of texting back, I call Everly and slink in my chair, looking around to see if anyone can hear me. From the looks of it, because I’ve landed in the valley of couples, no one seems to be disturbed by me.
“Please tell me you just saw them,” Everly says into the phone. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Instead of bumping into Brody, it could have been one of the Hoppers. Once again, just my luck.
“No, but I need the details. Are they really going to be here?”
“Yes. I read that it’s been Haisley’s dream to get married in front of the Lagoonarium in the middle of the resort.”
“It’s weird that they wouldn’t close off the whole hotel for the wedding. I mean, that would be the first thing I’d do if I was planning it.”With the millions at my disposal if I was a Hopper.
“I thought the same thing, but Haisley was adamant about not ruining people’s pre-planned vacations for her wedding. Remember, she’s the down-to-earth one.”
“Right and she’s marrying the contractor, right? Rags-to-riches type situation?”
“Yes,” Everly says. “It’s such a sweet story.”
I glance around the pool, my mind spinning with possibilities. “Hmm…I wonder if some of the people around me are attending the event.”
“Maggie…what are you planning in that head of yours?”
“Nothing,” I say even though the wheels are turning.
“Maggie, you’re on vacation. The only reason I even mentioned it was so you weren’t caught off guard should you accidentally run into one of them.”
“Which would be absolutely ideal,” I say. “What I wouldn’t give for at least five minutes with Reginald.”
“Why does that sound dirty?”
Ignoring her, I say, “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to at least introduce myself, don’t you think?”
“It wouldn’t hurt, but what are you going to do? Stalk the resort looking for him? Doubt he’s going to be out and about for the public to approach him.”
