Chapter 3

I stood outside the largest hotel I’ve ever seen. I immediately understood why dinner was held here instead. The place was high calibre, extremely high caliber.

I walked into the lobby, “Hello, the Aldridges please.” I asked like I’d been told to do.

The receptionist nodded, “Take the elevator to the top floor.” She instructed.

I followed the receptionist’s instructions and stepped into the elevator. The mirrored walls reflected my face back at me. My ironed blouse, was now slightly wrinkled from the plane ride, and my hair had now gone frizzy. Initially, I’d taken out my bags to change my clothes but paused. Why did I need to do that? It wasn’t as though I wanted to give the best impression nor was it like I was actually here for the wedding.

If I wanted to ruin their wedding, I’d start now.

The doors slid shut, and I pressed the button for the top floor. A sharp ding made me jump, and the doors opened just a fraction, letting in two large figures.

“Excuse me, this is a private elevator,” one of the men said, eyes flicking over me.

Private elevator? Rich people really did do things differently. Eat the rich…clearly they weren’t being eaten.

I rolled my eyes irritatedly, about to step out of the elevator but before I could retreat further, a hand carrying a cup of coffee swerved, and hot coffee splashed across my blouse.

I froze, my cream coloured shirt stained with coffee. I know I said I didn’t care about first impressions but this was hell…

I shut my eyes, fists curled tightly. “What are you—“

“Are you blind?” A deep velvety voice cut me off sharply. I opened my eyes to see a man, way taller than me standing opposite me, holding the spilled coffee.

My eye twitched “What?”

“Are you blind? First you get into a private elevator and then you make me spill my coffee? Do you know how hard it was to get? What sort of people do they allow into the hotel now—“ The more he spoke, the more my eye twitched.

His coffee? HIS COFFEE? I am fucking soaked in coffee HE spilled on me and yet…

“Your coffee?” I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose, I couldn’t feel the frustration I’d tucked away since my mom’s announcement coming back. “Your coffee? You self centred, insolent, entitled bastard. You spilled your cheap stupid coffee on me and instead of apologising, you berate me? How dare you? Do you know who I am?” I snapped angrily, pointing my finger at him.

I might not be an Aldridge yet but my mom was going to be one. Might as well start flaunting the name.

“You’re so full of yourself. Who the hell cares about a cup of coffee? Hello? You can get that anywhere but your lazy, incompetent and incapable self cannot make it, can you?” I spat out, pulling the handkerchief one of the man had out and dabbed at my shirt.

The man blinked at me, expression unreadable a second, then he smirked faintly, almost amused.

I pointed my finger at his chest. “And FYI, they didn’t write private elevator on it. If they didn’t write it then how would I know it’s one?” I hissed out, ready to leave.

“Oh, but they did?” The man replied calmly.

I scoffed, “Oh really, where?”

We both stepped out of the elevator and right on the wall, written in bold letters was. “PRIVATE ELEVATOR.”

My face reddened at the sight. The man turned towards me, smirking triumphantly. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

I turned towards him and grinned mockingly. “Fuck you and your private elevator. I hope you get stuck in it.” I walked away.

I tried not to imagine what my mother would say if she saw me like this, frizzy hair, wrinkled blouse, coffee stains, and attitude turned all the way up.

I trudged toward the hotel suite where dinner was set to be, mentally rehearsing the apology I’d have to mumble.

The doors to the grand dining space opened, and the aroma of expensive food hit me first. The room was gigantic, chandeliers hanging from impossibly high ceilings, walls lined with art that probably cost more than my apartment.

And, There she was. My mother, Vivienne. Dressed radiant in a designer gown that made her look ten years younger and twenty times wealthier. Her brown hair let loose. She looked even more beautiful than I imagined. She spotted me immediately, and smiled, it was perfect, the kind that could charm a president.

“Amber darling, you made it.” Even her voice had changed. She sounded much sophisticated.

She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me. “Didn’t you get to the house? Why are you dressed like this? You could’ve at least changed your shirt.” She muttered into my ears.

I rolled my eyes. I knew the hug was a farce.

She pulled back slightly, still holding my arms. “You got a chubbier… and your hair? I’ve told you constantly to make sure they’re always sleeked back. A lady must be—“

“Sugar-pie, is that Amber you speak so much of?” A man spoke up, I looked ahead to see a middle aged man walking towards us, smiling.

Sugar pie? Oh please

“Yes darling.” My mother replied, face turned innocent like she couldn’t hurt a mouse.

The man stood next to her, he was tall, brown eyes. I stretched my hand forward, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Al—“ my words were cut off and he pulled me into a hug.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amber. Your mother has said quite a lot about you. It seemed like I know you too.” He said with a small laugh.

“Ah yes, laugh at me all you want, darling.” My mother said but her cheeks redden.

I looked ahead to see two other men behind Charles. “And these are Charles sons. His second and third. Sebastian and Theo.” She introduced. Sebastian gave me a quick, assessing look while Theo nodded.

“I’m sorry she took such a long time..The flight must’ve delayed.” Mother said.

Charles chuckled, waving it off. “It doesn’t matter. My eldest is late as well. You’re fine.”

Just as the words left his lips, the door opened with a groan. “Speaking of the devil, here he comes.”

I turned around to see the eldest son and for the umpteenth time today, I froze.

The man from the elevator is the first son of Charles Aldridge. My blood ran cold as he glanced across the room, eyes meeting mine.

He stopped in front of us, “Hello father.” He greeted but his eyes remained stuck on me.

Fuck!