Chapter 1: The Wedding Planner
The soft hum of violins filled the air, blending harmoniously with the rustling of silk gowns and murmured conversations. Ava Lee stood at the edge of the grand ballroom, clipboard in hand, scanning the crowd with the precision of a hawk. The Chandlers’ wedding was her latest masterpiece: gold-dusted centerpieces, a towering cake that defied gravity, and floral arrangements so perfect they’d make a florist cry.
"Perfect," she murmured, checking off yet another item on her meticulously curated list. "This is how you plan a wedding."
"Excuse me, Ms. Lee?" A nervous waiter approached, holding a tray of champagne flutes that seemed seconds away from disaster. "The groom just—uh—requested a change to the toast order. Something about a, uh, ’special announcement.’"
Ava’s pen paused mid-air. Special announcements during weddings were never good news. They ranged from "We’re having a baby!" (awkward) to "I’m leaving you for your cousin!" (catastrophic). Either way, they were landmines she wasn’t getting paid to handle.
"Special announcement?" Ava’s voice tightened, but her smile remained in place, a masterclass in professionalism. "Where is the groom now?"
The waiter gestured toward the champagne fountain, where the groom, Bradley Chandler, stood suspiciously close to the maid of honor. The two were laughing—too loudly and too intimately. Ava narrowed her eyes. The maid of honor’s sequined dress shimmered like a disco ball under the chandelier, and her hand lingered on Bradley’s arm a beat too long.
"No," Ava muttered under her breath, striding toward them. "Not on my watch."
Before she could intervene, Bradley tapped a knife against his glass, the sharp ting ting ting cutting through the chatter. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the couple. Ava’s stomach sank.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bradley began, his voice slightly slurred from too much champagne. "I have something to say that can’t wait."
Ava’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she rushed forward, but before she could grab the microphone, Bradley pulled the maid of honor into a side hug and beamed. "I’m in love."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.