Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Of course, between the haberdashery and performing, she had to leave her job at the hospital. That was a blow to both Dinah and Harrison, but they still see each other on the weekends. The five of us and Vanya are often having dinner at each other’s places. And she visits the hospital from time to time to play music for the patients, so St. Charles won’t see the last of her anytime soon.
Maddox and Alissa’s wedding reception is being held in the same place as their ceremony, and as soon as we all walk back down the aisle, the guests move to the tables in the rear of the room. At Harrison’s suggestion, they had the reception catered by Brassica Rex, complete with chilled oysters aplenty and a magnificent seafood tower. Balsamic glazed salmon and blackened sea bass will be served as the dinner. Several varieties of hot and iced tea—emphasis on Earl Grey—are available, as well as specialty crafted cocktails for the bride and the groom. Alissa’s is a dirty rosewater martini, and Maddox’s is an elderflower-infused gin and tonic, the drinks they shared their first night at Aces.
Harrison looks so handsome as the best man. He’s dressed in the same style suit as Maddox, but with a red necktie instead of a bowtie. He still works at the hospital with Dinah and recently led a massive effort to make sure all the organs that St. Charles patients receive are from legitimate, consenting donors. I’ve noticed him fidgeting with a small object in his pants pocket quite a bit throughout the day, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to propose to me at the wedding reception. We already live together—I gave up my apartment in the Loop and moved into his house in Oak Park a few months after the events at Rouge’s place—so it won’t be a big change, but I can’t wait to be Mrs. Bianca O’Rourke. I’ll be the last person to bear the Montrose name, and I’ll be happy to be rid of it.
Speaking of me, I’m in charge of Aces Underground now. I still sing there every night, but I have a rotating repertoire that keeps things fresh, including lots of my favorites from my musical theater days. I’ve kept all of Rouge’s theming—though I allow the servers to use temporary tattoos on their shoulders and give them the option to wear less revealing uniforms if that’s their preference—but all club employees receive a living wage and are not required to offer themselves as sexual playthings to the patrons. Everyone is allowed to speak now, too. The servers who’ve come from overseas have drastically improved their English since they’re practicing it constantly while on the job. They can work as long as they want, but most of them have made it clear they’ll move on with their lives after they earn enough money to start a stable life. I also just got an exciting email from a regional theater company called the Windy City Players—I’ve been cast as Johanna in their production of Sweeney Todd. Rehearsals start soon, so I’ll be auditioning substitute singers who can cover for me while I’m unavailable.
Some of the club patrons didn’t like these changes, and we lost a lot of the old guard in the first few months. They demanded the club remain the same, and I informed them they were free to leave. But for every patron we’ve lost, we’ve gained two or three. We’ve loosened the requirements for membership and are bringing in more money than my sister could have ever dreamed of. Everyone who works at Aces is much happier, and the environment is much improved.
The Jade Sanctum, Second Star, MINOS, and the Noir Parlor have all been sold back to their original owners—Aus Waverly, Scythe, Zebulon Minos, and Lucille Vivienne respectively.
I’m plucking a few shrimp off the seafood tower when Harrison takes my hand. “Do you have a moment?”
I give him a smile, knowing what’s coming. “Of course.”
He holds my hand and guides me out to a private courtyard behind the ballroom. A light dusting of snow covers everything, and I can’t help but think about the time we made love in the courtyard behind Brassica Rex at the beginning of our relationship.
We can’t do that right now. We’re expected at the reception.
But Harrison leads me to the center of the courtyard and places his hands on my exposed shoulders. “Bianca, to say our relationship got off to a rocky start would be the understatement of the century.”
I grin. “Agreed.”
He grabs both my hands. “But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I would go through all that bullshit a second time—all of it—if it meant meeting you.”
“Harrison…” My lip begins to tremble.
He slowly drops down to one knee and reaches into his pocket. He produces a small silver oyster shell—of course!—and pries it open, revealing a sparkling diamond surrounded by small emeralds set on a stunning white-gold band lined with tiny inset pearls.