Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Organizing….” I frown, a little lost as to what he’s talking about.
“What with the wedding being in four weeks.”
“Four weeks?” I squeak. “Umm…. That’s not happening, Philippe.”
“Oh.” Philippe’s face falls, worried that he has spoken out of turn. “My mistake, I must have misunderstood Mr. Prescott.”
“No, you probably didn’t.” I shrug as I stare out the window. “You know how he is; Edward wants everything yesterday.”
“He does,” he agrees.
Poor fool has no idea…. Nobody can organize a wedding in four weeks.
Not even him.
Ten minutes later we pull in beside my store and park the car. “I’m just going to race and get a coffee next door; do you want one?” I ask them.
“No, thanks.”
“See you inside.”
“Okay.”
I climb out of the car and with my purse over my shoulder I walk around the corner and run smack-dab into someone. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.” I glance up to see a familiar face.
“Pascal.”
“Hi.” His eyes drop to my hand as it holds my bag strap that’s over my body.
Fuck.
“What are you doing here?” I try to discreetly put my hand behind my back. “Have you got the day off?”
“What’s on your finger?” he asks, seemingly annoyed as he shoves his hands into his suit pockets.
“Oh, just a costume ring,” I stammer. “I have to get going.”
His eyes search mine and guilt runs through me.
Fuck.
“Actually, Pascal…. This is probably a good thing that I ran into you because I want you to hear it from me anyway. Edward and I got engaged last week.”
A frown flashes across his face as he processes my words.
“I know it seems sudden, but—”
“It does.” He cuts me off. “You know he’s using you.”
“Pascal.”
“You think it’s a coincidence that suddenly in a few weeks he wants to be a respectable husband when he’s been nothing but a player for years? You can’t be this stupid, Alora.”
“Pascal….” I sigh. “Don’t be like that.”
“Like what? A realist?”
I roll my eyes, annoyed. “Can’t you just be happy for me?”
“No.” His eyes hold mine. “So… knowing Prescott the way that I do, my guess is that he’s involved in some sort of scandal that’s about to break and he needs a cover to hide behind. What better disguise than being happily married.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
ALORA
I step onto my back foot, surprised by his prediction. “That’s ridiculous,” I fire back.
Wait….
There is a scandal brewing…could his story have some merit?
“He doesn’t love you, Alora.” He twists his lips. “Not like I did.”
“Pascal, we haven’t been together for months.”
“Eight short weeks and you’ve already promised to marry someone else? You don’t even know someone in eight weeks.”
My eyes hold his.
“Did our relationship mean so little to you that you would marry someone like him just to get back at me?”
“This has nothing to do with you,” I whisper.
“Wake up, Alora. He’s going to throw you aside as soon as he gets bored, because that’s what Prescott does. Speak to his long list of broken-hearted ex-girlfriends; they were all promised the same things as you and look where they are now.”
“Pascal.”
“Edward Prescott looks after Edward Prescott…. But I guess you’ll find that out the hard way.”
I feel Philippe walk up behind me. “Everything alright here?”
“Yes,” I lie. “I’m coming now.” I look Pascal dead in the eye. “Goodbye, Pascal.”
“Is it?” he replies sarcastically. “It doesn’t feel so good to me.”
I brush past him and walk into my store, rattled by his accusations. I put my purse out the back and sit at my desk. My heart is racing and my face is flushed.
Damn it.
Why did I have to see him…. This is supposed to be a happy celebratory day.
Why did he have to put that into my head?
I know his accusations are utterly ridiculous because we are in love and I know that Edward wouldn’t do that to me.
Adrenaline pumps through my bloodstream as alarm bells scream in the distance.
Would he…?
3 P.M.
“Oh my god.” Jonty waves his arms around in excitement as he holds his phone. “Here it is, here it is.”
“Shh,” I mouth, and I gesture to Philippe, who’s reading his book at the front of the store. “Come in the office,” I mouth.
Don’t ask me why…. But since I saw Pascal this morning, I don’t want to be openly gushing about the engagement.
On one hand, I know that Pascal’s a jilted ex and I’m not going to let it come between Edward and me, but the truth is that it has taken the shine off my excitement.
In fact, it’s kind of filled me with dread.
What if he was right? What if this is all some elaborate plan to hide from the story about Hermione that’s going to blow up?
It’s not….
“It says…” Jonty reads the story from the newsroom. “The casino king Edward Prescott has announced his engagement to a mystery woman, Alora Sorenson.” He hunches his shoulders up in excitement. “It says here, Edward Prescott, who has been noticeably absent from social gatherings for an extended period of time, has re-emerged a taken man. He made a statement this morning. ‘Alora and I dated years ago and she was always the one that got away. We reconnected and are very much in love. We are very excited to be planning a life together and would appreciate privacy at this special time.’ Oh my god.” Jonty reads on. “There’s a picture of the two of you.”