Page 76 of The Unwanted Bride

–Emmett: Where are you? I thought we were going to have our final Huxley-as-a-bachelor dinner?

–Me: Stuck at the airport.

–Grant: Maybe he thinks it’ll be boring?

–Noah: We can’t do strippers. I’m keeping my eyes faithful for Bobbi.

I snort. Normally, Noah’s absurdity would make me laugh, but right now, tension has me wound too tight.

–Sebastian: Huxley wouldn’t skip it for a lack of strippers.

–Griffin: The traffic in L.A. is shit today. Hux, can we order and start eating? I haven’t had lunch, and I’m ready to eat these goddamn plates.

–Noah: Jesus, eat the bread, you sociopath.

–Me: I’m in London. Heathrow.

–Nicholas: London?! What are you doing in London? The wedding is tomorrow!

–Me: I know.

Another set of group texts arrives, this time from my cousins.

–Bryce: Dude, you gonna get here?

–Ares: TFs are getting anxious.

Of course the elders are worried. They are terrified that I might not show after all. I’m that big of an asshole to them.

If the bride weren’t Grace, I might actually leave them hanging. But for reasons I don’t want to delve too deeply into, I don’t want to humiliate her like that in public. She and I didn’t have the best start, but she seemed sincere when she spoke of her mother, and I…

I let out a long breath, half affectionate, half exhausted. The plain fact is I wish she were here. If she didn’t take her job so seriously, I might’ve asked her to take some vacation days and come with me to London and shop while I was working. Hopefully, she splurged on facials and pedicures and…stuff. Amy and Lucie swear by that crap every time they’re stressed.

–Me: I’m in London.

–Ares: Doing what? London’s not that interesting.

–Bryce: No stripper is worth it, cuz!

–Josh: If you miss the wedding, your mother’s going to disembowel you. Unless Grandma gets there first.

My wrathful gaze swings to Madison, who’s already biting her lip. “Well?” I demand.

“I’m really sorry. But we can’t take off until we receive permission to land.”

“I don’t care what’s missing. I want the jet in the air or you’re going to put me on the next flight to Los Angeles that will ensure I arrive in time for the wedding.”

“I’m trying.”

“I don’t pay you to try. I pay you to accomplish your tasks.”

Madison’s snafu with the paperwork is infuriating. And shocking as well—she’s never failed me before. Regardless, it’s unacceptable. It’s her job to double-check all my flight schedules and paperwork to make sure my jet can take me wherever I need to be at whenever I need to go. If she’s no longer capable of doingher job, I can always get a new assistant. No one at the agency is irreplaceable.

My phone buzzes.

–Grace: Are you sure about having no dress rehearsal whatsoever?

Her annoyance is palpable. She thinks my being in London and unavailable is a sign that I’m snubbing her. But this trip was unavoidable. The 4D Agency is opening a new office in London, and my presence is needed to finalize the deal. Even in the digital age, some things have to be done in person.