All Chapters of Torn Between Vows: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4

The bride was going to be twenty minutes late.Catherine Hayes stood in the ceremony staging area of the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom, her tablet clutched against her chest, watching her latest client—a hedge fund heiress with excellent taste and terrible time management—argue with her hairstylist about the precise angle of her cathedral veil."It needs to float," the bride insisted, her voice climbing toward hysteria. "Like I'm walking on clouds. Like I'm an actual angel descending from heaven."Catherine stepped forward with her professional smile firmly in place, the one that had salvaged seventeen near-disasters this month alone. "Lauren, you look absolutely breathtaking. But the string quartet has been playing for forty minutes, and your guests are getting restless. What if we do one final adjustment while walking toward the doors? That way your entrance will be perfectly timed with the music swell."It was a complete fabrication—the quartet could play for hours—but it gave Laure

Robert Cho arrived at the Meridian Hotel forty-five minutes later with a leather briefcase and the unflappable demeanor of someone accustomed to drafting unusual contracts at unusual hours. He was in his late fifties, Korean-American, with silver-threaded hair and sharp eyes that assessed Catherine with obvious curiosity."This is highly irregular," Robert said, setting up his laptop on the conference room table. "Even for you, Harry.""Irregular situations require creative solutions." Harry had removed his tuxedo jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves, looking more human and somehow more dangerous in the partial undress. "Ms. Hayes needs a standard contract for temporary services rendered. Six months. Specific terms regarding public appearances and compensation."Robert's expression suggested he knew exactly what kind of "services" they were discussing, but he was too professional to comment directly. Instead, he turned to Catherine. "Ms. Hayes, I need to ask if you've consulted with