Chapter 5 The Wedding

║Two Weeks Later. Chicago, Illinois, US║

It was a busy day, but somehow this elevator wasn’t moving as fast as usual. I’d been waiting for more than two minutes, but not a single elevator had any room left for me once the doors opened. My taxi driver was already waiting; hopefully, he wasn’t grumbling too much about the wait. Even if he was, I figured I’d just pay a higher fare to lessen his irritation.

The elevator dinged, and I lowered my head to check my watch. I really hoped there would be space for me in this one because there was no way I was taking the emergency stairs down from the 65th floor wearing heels and a complicated long gown.

“Well, well, I just found out that the café where you work uses party dresses as uniforms.”

I looked up when I heard a familiar voice. I blinked, surprised by what I saw in front of me.

Just before the elevator doors closed, the man inside reached out his hand to stop them.

I realised I had been standing there too long—staring at the man now standing in a sharp suit, complete with a red bow tie.

“I also just realised that an OB-GYN’s uniform can be so cute and charming. Why didn’t you wear that outfit during my checkup?”

“Do you want to come to my clinic again? There are lots of things we can do there. One of them might even get us rich if we record it.” Daxton winked.

I burst into laughter at his joke.

Over the past two weeks, I’d only run into him twice—both times when we randomly crossed paths in the apartment lobby, me heading to work and Daxton just coming home from the hospital. During those brief meetings, we shared secrets per our previous agreement—a silly game that made us look like a couple of teenagers laughing our way toward the elevator.

Well, at least sharing secrets was much more fun than Daxton’s other game offers. For now, I wasn’t ready to change my principles by repeating a one-night stand with the same man.

That day, Daxton told me about his first day in college, when he asked a professor to date him, thinking she was a fellow student.

Meanwhile, I told him I used to put too much salt in the soup I cooked for my father, so he wouldn’t ask me to cook in the mornings.

Those ridiculous secrets made us grow closer. And yes, Daxton always cracked dumb jokes every time we met.

“I’m not interested in getting rich. I also don’t want to record any movies with you.”

“All right, we can do it without any recordings.”

“Damn!” I narrowed my eyes playfully. “Are you trying to seduce me now? Did you forget that I’m a divorcée?”

“Someone once told me that divorcées are irresistibly attractive women. I wouldn’t mind doing it anywhere you want. Besides, I have to keep flirting with you until you change your mind about the game.”

I rolled my eyes as Daxton threw the same joke again. “Someone once told me that OB-GYNs get too bored seeing vaginas every day, so they don’t think dirty thoughts anymore. But clearly, that’s a lie, because I can see how filthy your mind is right now.”

Daxton laughed loudly at my comeback.

Thankfully, it was just the two of us in the elevator.

Weird. Wasn’t it always crowded lately? I had to wait so long earlier.

“So, tell me, where are you headed this morning, Miss Keaton? Don’t tell me you’re going to work dressed like that.” The man looked me up and down as if evaluating me, but after a moment, his gaze locked on mine.

“Does this dress look bad?” I frowned.

“Is it easy to take off?”

“Daxton!” I stomped my foot in frustration.

“I’m just kidding.” He laughed. “You look stunning. Are you going to a party?”

“Yes, a friend of mine is getting married and I was invited to the wedding. She’s a good friend, and of course I’m trying to show up in my best outfit.”

“Honestly, your look caught me off guard because you look so different from our last encounter. Do you want me to tell you a secret since we met today? Or maybe you’d prefer to play a different game?”

The elevator doors opened, revealing the apartment lobby.

“Sorry, I don’t have time for that. My taxi driver’s already waiting, and I think he’s grumbling.” I showed him my phone screen, which was buzzing with the driver’s call. I walked out of the elevator quickly, leaving Daxton still standing there for some reason.

Feeling like I was forgetting something, I stopped and turned back to look at him. “Well, it’s a nice suit. I like your tie,” I said, eyeing the color that matched my dress.

What a coincidence!

***

I stepped out of the taxi and couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping when I realized where I had arrived.

Oh my God. Maisie really is a rich woman who lives in a massive mansion.

No wonder she seemed so carefree when shopping for café supplies. She didn’t even flinch at spending large amounts of money.

My boss turned out to be rich—very rich.

I glanced around the enormous mansion yard with wide eyes, not even bothering to hide my awe. The place was filled with neatly parked cars—guests arriving for the wedding ceremony.

A few people were walking up the grand staircase that connected the front yard to the large doors, now left wide open to welcome every guest. Of course, I didn’t know them, but I didn’t care. I was only here to see Maisie.

“Oh, Ann, I haven’t seen you all day, and it made me sad. I’m so glad you came,” Maisie hugged me the moment I opened her bedroom door.

The vow exchange ceremony would be held in the enormous garden of Maisie’s mansion. It was her parents’ house; apparently, it was more than big enough to accommodate the many invited guests.

After the vows, the celebration would continue on a yacht for a three-day trip around Lake Michigan. That party would begin later this evening, though not every guest had a special invitation to attend.

Well, I should’ve already known Maisie was wealthy just from the fact that she was hosting her wedding reception on a yacht.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“No worries. What matters is that you made it before the ceremony,” she said with a smile.

“I got delayed because the elevator in my apartment was packed. Thankfully, my taxi driver didn’t leave me behind,” I explained briefly. “By the way, can I use the bathroom, Maisie?”

“Of course,” Maisie nodded quickly. “The door on the right after that hallway,” she said, pointing toward a hallway that I assumed was still part of her enormous room.

Well, this woman truly lives in outrageous luxury.

Without waiting any longer, I headed to the bathroom and took care of my business there.

Maisie had actually offered to let me get my makeup done with her makeup artist at the house, but I turned her down out of politeness. I wasn’t comfortable with heavy makeup and preferred doing my own look simply.

I knew I couldn’t stay in the bathroom too long—Maisie might need my help since she had chosen me as one of her bridesmaids. So, I stepped out as soon as I was done.

“Oh, you finally made it. I thought you’d forgotten today was my wedding and decided to work all day.”

I could faintly hear Maisie talking to someone as I walked down the hallway.

Was someone else here? Maybe... one of the other bridesmaids?

“I wouldn’t miss a three-day yacht vacation. My skin needs sunshine.”

Oh, that was a man’s voice.

I hesitated for a moment. Should I step out and go to Maisie now, or wait a bit until she was done talking with her guest or… maybe a close friend?

“And I need you because you’re one of my bridesmaids!”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course, you need me. Since when haven’t you needed me?”

“One day you’ll need me too, like when you’re about to marry some poor girl. And I’ll warn her the moment she accepts your proposal, because marrying you is the worst curse she could ever face!”

“I’ll do the same. I think we both need to rescue that poor girl before I propose.”

“Asshole!”

I took a deep breath. I couldn’t just stand here, looking like a clueless woman frozen in place. Sooner or later, I had to walk out and find Maisie.

Well, I hoped my arrival didn’t interrupt their conversation too much.

“Oh, you have to meet my friend.”

I faintly heard Maisie’s voice as I got closer. She must’ve heard my footsteps, which is why she said that.

I was actually ready to greet her friend once I arrived, but when I saw the person sitting on Maisie’s bed with his back to me, I frowned slightly in doubt.

“I hope you’re not uncomfortable with a man in our room, Ann.” Maisie, who was facing me, gave me a slightly awkward smile when she saw me approaching.

“Well,” I was still frowning as the man who’d been sitting stood up and turned his head.

“Ann?” Someone said my name hesitantly.

His eyes looked at me in disbelief, and I was sure mine were wide with shock too.

Oh God, what kind of coincidence is this now?