The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 2

by Sandi Lynn

  I sighed.

  “Fine. We’ll go Friday at one o’clock.”

  “Good. You know you’re running out of time? It takes months for the dress to come in and then more time for alterations.”

  “Yes, Mom, I know.”

  “Have you and Wyatt picked where you’re getting married yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Laurel, you have to book these things well in advance.”

  “I know, Mom. We’re working on it.” I placed my hand on my head.

  “Okay. We’ll talk more about this when I visit. By the way, I’ll be staying with you and Wyatt.”

  My stomach twisted in a knot.

  “We have plenty of room. Oh, Mom. I have to go. I have a meeting with Eric and I’m late,” I lied.

  “Alright. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

  I ended the call, opened up my desk drawer, and grabbed the Motrin bottle.

  “Not feeling good again?” George spoke as he walked into my office.

  “Just got off the phone with my mother. She’s coming into the city and staying with me and Wyatt. Did I mention that she made an appointment at Kleinfeld’s to look at wedding dresses on Friday?”

  “Please, by all means, take those pills.” He smiled.

  “Thank you.” I smiled as I popped them into my mouth.

  After George and I were finished talking, I facetimed Wyatt.

  “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he spoke.

  “Bad day?” I asked as I stared at his sexy self.

  “Sort of. What’s up?”

  “I know this is last minute, but I’ve scheduled some interviews with wedding planners for tonight starting at five. Can you be home?”

  “How many did you schedule?”

  “Three.”

  “I’ll be there.” He smiled.

  It was four fifty-five when my phone rang, and Wyatt was calling.

  “Hey, babe,” I answered.

  “Are you almost home?” he asked.

  “I’ll be leaving here in about thirty minutes.”

  “What? You haven’t left yet?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Sweetheart, you scheduled interviews with wedding planners tonight, starting at five o’clock. You asked me to be here.”

  “Oh shit. I’m sorry. I’m leaving now.” I grabbed my purse and flew out of my office. “I’m sorry, Wyatt. I’ll be home as quick as I can. Just start the interview.”

  “Laurel, I don’t know what to ask. Shit. Someone’s here. Just get home as soon as possible.”

  “I am. I’m already getting into a cab.”

  How the fuck could I forget that?

  I was home at five thirty, and when I stepped off the elevator, I saw Wyatt and a woman sitting in the living room.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late,” I apologized as I extended my hand. “I’m Laurel.”

  “I’m Bree.” She smiled.

  I set down my purse and took a seat next to Wyatt. We asked her a few questions, looked at her portfolio, and ended the interview. As she was walking out the door, another one was walking in.

  “Hi, I’m Hannah.” She smiled. “You must be Laurel?”

  “Yes, and this is my fiancé, Wyatt.”

  She graciously extended her hand to him and he lightly shook it before leading her into the living room.

  “I’m going to be very honest with you. I’m surprised you called me.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because I’ve only done a few small weddings. I mean, I know who Mr. Coleman is and I’m a huge fan of your article, Everything Laurel, and I’m shocked you’d want to interview someone like me.”

  “Let me ask you something, Hannah. Why have you only done a few small weddings? It said on your website that you’ve been a wedding planner for a couple of years, and yet the weddings you’ve done, people have raved about.”

  She nervously looked down and began playing with her hands.

  “Every time I get a lead for a big wedding, someone sets out to sabotage it for me.”

  “Who would do that?” Wyatt asked.

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “It’s okay, Hannah, you can tell us,” I spoke.

  “You’ll just think I’m making it up like other people do. Nobody believes that Rori LeMay would ever do something like that and then they say I’m jealous.”

  “Excuse me?” I cocked my head. “Did you say Rori LeMay?” I glanced over at Wyatt.

  “Just forget I said anything,” she spoke.

  “Trust us when we tell you that we believe you,” I said.

  “You do?”

  “Why would Christina, I mean Rori, sabotage your leads?” Wyatt asked.

  “Because she knows I’m better than her. When she first started her business, she hired me as her assistant. I gave her ideas and she stole them as her own. For two years, I kept quiet, then I couldn’t stand by and watch her take all the credit for everything I did. So, I quit and told her that I was going to start my own consultant business. She told me good luck and that she’d see to it my business never got off the ground. And so far, she’s kept her promise.”

  “That dirty little bitch,” I spoke as I slowly shook my head. “Hannah, you’re hired. Wyatt has given our wedding a million-dollar budget, but if we go over, it’s fine. Right, baby?”

  “Yes. It’s fine. Anything Laurel wants, she can have, no matter what the cost.”

  “Oh my gosh. Are you serious? You want to hire me to plan your grand wedding?” She beamed with excitement.

  “Yes, and once you’re done with our wedding, you’re going to be so booked, you’ll be hiring people right and left to help you. And there’s also another bonus to helping us plan our wedding.”

  “What?” she asked with excitement.

  “I’m going to feature you in Daily Fusion. A big spread, right in the middle of the magazine. Everyone is going to know that Hannah Reid is the wedding consultant for the Holloway/Coleman wedding.”

  “I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much!” Tears welled in her eyes. “Oh my gosh, there’s so much to do since the wedding is in nine months. Where do you want to get married? Church, park, hotel? We need to start looking and calling places. June’s a very popular month for weddings and things book up at least a year in advance.”

  “Wyatt and I will discuss some options tonight and I’ll be in touch with you tomorrow,” I spoke.

  “Thank you again. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” She smiled as she got up from her seat.

  I walked over and gave her a light hug.

  “I know you’ll do a fabulous job.”

  Chapter Nine

  Wyatt

  “You’ve got that look.”

  “What look?” Her perfectly manicured brow arched.

  “That look like you’re plotting something against Rori LeMay.”

  The corners of her mouth curved upwards into a sly smile.

  “I already told her that karma’s a bitch.”

  “Laurel, you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Don’t add Rori LeMay to it.” I kissed her forehead.

  “You heard what she said to me, Wyatt. That woman needs to be knocked off her throne. Plus, she stole Hannah’s ideas and sabotages her career.”

  “We’re only hearing Hannah’s side of the story, sweetheart,” I spoke as I walked over to the bar and poured myself a scotch. “Just write your article on Hannah, plan our wedding, and leave Rori LeMay alone.”

  “Okay,” she spoke as she took a seat on the couch.

  Okay? It wasn’t that easy, and I knew she was shutting this conversation down for one reason or another.

  “Can I pour you a glass of wine or something?”

  “No. I’m fine.” She brought her knees up to her chest.

  It still bothered me that she forgot about the interviews when she had asked me to be home just a few hours before.

  “Laurel, aren’t we supposed to have one more inter
view?” I asked. “You told me over the phone you scheduled three for tonight.”

  “That’s strange. She should have been here by now. Let me call her and tell her that we’ve already hired someone.”

  Grabbing her phone from the end table, she dialed the woman who was supposed to be here, and she didn’t answer, so she left a message.

  “Oh, before I forget yet another thing, my mother is coming for a visit in a couple days and she’s staying with us.”

  “Oh.” I took a sip of my drink. “Any particular reason why she’s coming?”

  “She made an appointment for Friday at Kleinfeld’s to look at wedding dresses. Bella is coming along too.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, sweetheart.” I reached over and ran the back of my hand down her cheek. “You’re going to look so beautiful.”

  She took hold of my hand and brought it up to her lips.

  “Do you know what I’m looking forward to the most on our wedding day?”

  “Becoming my wife for all eternity?” I grinned.

  “Besides that.”

  “What?”

  “Our wedding night.”

  “Mhm. That sounds delicious. I’m looking forward to taking you out of your wedding dress.”

  “And I’m looking forward to taking you out of your tuxedo.” She smirked as her hand planted itself on my growing cock.

  “Maybe we should get some practice in right now,” I spoke as I set my glass on the table, leaned over, and stroked her neck with my tongue.

  She let out a light moan.

  “I think we should.”

  She got up from the couch and slowly started stripping her clothes off, leaving a trail as she walked up the stairs.

  ****

  “Tell me why you had a bad day?” she asked as her head rested on my chest.

  “One of the negotiations we were in for a piece of property fell through. I’d been working on that for almost a year.”

  “I’m sorry.” She softly stroked my chest. “But everything happens for a reason.” Her lips pressed against my skin. “It probably would have turned out to be disastrous in the long run.”

  “Maybe. We need to start discussing wedding venues. Have you thought about where you’d like to get married?”

  “I have, and I would love the ceremony to take place on Cherry Hill in Central Park.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Yeah. It’s where you spilled your heart to me. That place marked the beginning of our relationship and I’ll never forget that night.”

  “I would be honored to marry you at Cherry Hill.”

  She lifted her head from my chest and looked up at me with a smile.

  “Now we need to find a place for the reception,” she spoke.

  “I actually have somewhere in mind and I’d like to take you there tomorrow.”

  “Tell me.” She grinned.

  “No.” I tapped her nose. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

  “What if they don’t have our date available?”

  “It’s available. I already checked.” I smirked.

  The next morning, I walked into the kitchen and saw Laurel reach up into the cabinet and take down the bottle of Motrin.

  “Why are you taking Motrin?” I asked with concern.

  “Because it’s for pain.” She smirked as she held up the bottle and shook it.

  “Smart ass.” I grinned.

  “I have a little bit of a headache, and I don’t want it to get worse. I have a busy day and no time for a headache.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel better, I have a busy day as well.” I walked over and kissed her lips. “When are Craig and Maddy coming back from their honeymoon?”

  “I think they got back last night. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

  “Speaking of honeymoons, where do you want to go?” I asked as I poured a cup of coffee.

  “I want you to surprise me. I’m leaving that all up to you.” She poked my chest. “In all honesty, we could just stay locked up in here for a week and I’d be the happiest woman on earth.”

  “As nice as that sounds, we’re not staying in New York for our honeymoon.”

  “Like I said, you’re in charge.” She smiled as she grabbed her coffee cup from the island and walked out of the kitchen.

  “I love hearing those words come out of your mouth!” I shouted.

  Chapter Ten

  Laurel

  I had just put the finishing touches on the article I was working on when my phone rang, and Craig’s face appeared on my screen.

  “Welcome back!” I spoke with excitement.

  “Hey, Laurel.” A wide grin appeared on his face.

  “How was Belize?”

  “Amazing. We had a great time. Kind of hated to leave.”

  “I bet. How’s Maddy?”

  “She’s great. She’s still sleeping. We got in late last night. How’s Wyatt doing?”

  “He’s perfect.” I smiled. “We set a wedding date.”

  “Great! When is the big day?”

  “June 8th of next year. That was Wyatt’s mom’s birthday.”

  “Aw, what a great date. Have you decided where you’re having the wedding?”

  “Actually, Wyatt and I talked about it last night. We’re going to have the ceremony on Cherry Hill in Central Park if it’s available, and then the reception, I’m not so sure yet. Wyatt is taking me to a place to look at after work.”

  “Sounds like you guys are on the ball. I’m so happy for you, Laurel. You look great.”

  “Thanks. So do you. I can definitely tell married life is agreeing with you.”

  “It is.” He chuckled. “And now with the baby on the way, things are really going to change.”

  “They sure will, but for the better.” I grinned.

  “Definitely. Hey, I have to run. I need to get to Rosie’s and make sure they didn’t burn down the place while I was gone. I just wanted to check in with you.”

  “Rosie’s is fine. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  “Hey.” George popped his head into my office. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Go where?” I asked in confusion.

  “To lunch. You told me to swing by your office at noon.”

  “Oh yeah.” I waved my hand in front of my face. “I didn’t realize what time it was.”

  ****

  I left the office around five o’clock and climbed into the back of the limo, where Wyatt was waiting for me.

  “Hi, sweetheart. How was your day?” His lips gently brushed against mine.

  “It was good. How was yours?” I hooked my arm around his.

  “Not bad. I have a surprise for you.”

  “What is it?” The corners of my mouth curved upwards.

  “I booked us Cherry Hill today for our wedding ceremony.”

  “Oh my God, Wyatt. It was available?”

  “It was.” He grinned.

  I planted several small kisses against his cheek.

  “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He chuckled. “Now I’m hoping you’ll like where I’m taking you for the wedding reception. Once we get that squared away, two of the biggest things are done. Then we can let Hannah handle the rest.”

  Ryan pulled up to Gotham Hall, and Wyatt took my hand and helped me out of the limo.

  “Gotham Hall?” I asked.

  “Have you ever been here?”

  “No. I haven’t.”

  “Then let’s take a look inside.”

  Wyatt led me to the Grand Ballroom, and as soon as he opened the doors, I was blown away.

  “Oh my God, this is amazing!” I spoke as I looked around the seventeen-thousand-square-foot room with the inlaid marble floors.

  “Isn’t it?” He smiled.

  The focal point of this gorgeous room was the three-thousand-square-foot stained-glass ceiling.

  “So what do you think? Ye
s or no?” Wyatt asked.

  “Abso-fucking-lutely!” I exclaimed as I threw my arms around him. “How the hell is this place available on our wedding day?”

  “My company bought it.” He smirked.

  “And I don’t know this, why?”

  “Because it just became final a couple of weeks ago. I was saving it as a surprise.”

  “God, I love you so much.” I kissed his lips.

  “And I love you. Let’s go grab some dinner.” He hooked his arm around me.

  We pulled up to the curb of a restaurant called Daniel. As soon as we stepped inside, I looked around at the elegance of it.

  “Wow. This place is so nice,” I spoke.

  Wyatt glanced at me as the hostess was leading us to our table.

  “What do you mean? We eat here all the time.”

  “I know. It just looks different tonight for some reason.”

  “Maybe because it’s not as crowded as it normally is.”

  The moment we sat down, I opened up the menu.

  “I think I’ll try the sea bass,” I spoke as I picked up my glass of water.

  “Try it? You always get that. It’s your favorite dish here. Sweetheart, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I didn’t mean ‘try it.’ I meant that’s what I’m having. It’s been a hectic couple of days, especially with my mother coming to the city tomorrow.”

  “Maybe you need to slow down a bit,” he spoke. “With that being said, we’ve secured the two most important things for our wedding, so that should take the pressure off.”

  “Did you hear what I said? My mother is coming tomorrow.”

  “I heard you.” He smiled. “It’s all good, Laurel. Don’t let her get to you. Things are different now since the two of you made up.”

  “True. But she still gets under my skin.” I sighed.

  Chapter Eleven

  Laurel

  My mother blew into town, and surprisingly, our first night was pretty good. I expected her to make some sort of snide comment about where we were getting married, but she didn’t. She genuinely smiled and told us that we had excellent taste in venues. The next morning, as Wyatt was getting ready for work, I went downstairs and made a pot of coffee. When it was finished brewing, I grabbed a mug from the cabinet, and as I was pouring coffee into the mug, I missed and poured it on my arm.