I blushed slightly, knowing I was going to say yes. I had been waiting for Jason to ask me out for days now, but he seemed to be taking his sweet time.
“I’ll tell him I’ll think about it,” I teased Jennifer, laughing as I watched her huff at me.
“Let’s hurry, please, we have so much to do today,” I said, trying to change the subject as my blush deepened.
“Okay,” Jennifer said, rushing toward the door. I followed behind her, checking her dress to make sure everything was perfect. We hurried downstairs where the driver was waiting to take us to the photoshoot. While Jennifer and Luca took their pictures, I kept getting calls about the lunch arrangements.
“Emily, where are you?” Irene asked, as soon as I picked up her call. It was the fifth time one of Jennifer’s bridesmaids had called me from the venue, and I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
“I’m with the bride and groom, and they’re taking pictures,” I explained to Irene, who sounded panicked.
“Why? What’s going on?” I asked, feeling my anxiety rising.
“It’s the cupcakes. They’re not here yet,” Irene said, and my heart sank.
“What?” I exclaimed. “What do you mean? I thought the decorator was handling the cake?”
“No, that’s the wedding cake. These are the cupcakes from the bakery near the hotel,” Irene clarified, and I sighed in frustration.
“Have you talked to the planner?” I asked. Jennifer’s father had hired an event planner, but it felt like I was doing her job, managing everything on my own.
“She’s busy here. The lunch has already started,” Irene explained.
“Fine, I’ll get them and bring them myself,” I resolved, realizing that was what she wanted all along.
After hanging up, I excused myself from the photoshoot, making sure to remind Jennifer and Luca that they were expected at the hall immediately afterward. Knowing them, they could easily take a detour for another quickie.
“Please, Jennifer, if you’re late, they’ll have my head,” I pleaded. “Luca, no detours, please,” I added. They both grinned mischievously but nodded, and I rushed out, hailing a cab to the bakery. It was over ten minutes from the lunch venue but just a few steps from the hotel where the ceremony had taken place.
When I arrived at the bakery, I asked why the cupcakes were taking so long. The baker informed me she had only baked a few, and the rest were still in progress.
“Why?” I found myself yelling in frustration. “Why didn’t you make them yesterday or this morning?” I
“You specifically instructed that they be freshly made,” she said, her nonchalant tone only increasing my frustration.
“Freshly made could have been this morning. It’s 3 o’clock!” I snapped, glaring at her but she only rolled her eyes, looking unprofessional and provoking me more.
“So, what’s going to happen now?” I asked, sinking into a chair by the counter.
“You’ll just have to wait for the rest” she replied rudely and I glared at her, how incompetent.
As I glared at her, I felt like pulling my hair out. I sat there, running my hands through my hair, my heart pounding with frustration.
“Is everything okay?” A familiar voice asked, cutting through the silence. I looked up to find Ethan standing by the door, and as soon as our eyes met, I quickly looked away, my heart stopping for a moment.
“Emily,” Ethan said softly, and I slowly turned to face him, trying to keep my expression neutral.
“Mr. Marcel, good day,” I said formally, standing up. “You must be here for the wedding. The lunch is currently going on at the Love Garden,” I informed him, keeping my voice professional.
“Mr. Marcel?” Ethan chuckled, surprised by my formality.
“Yes, Ms. Sanders, I know. I was just about to head there when I saw you nearly pulling your head through the window,” he said, his tone mocking as he pointed outside.
“Oh,” I mumbled, adjusting my hair.
“Are you okay?” he asked again, and I nodded.
“Yes. We ordered cupcakes, and they’re not ready yet and this woman here is being so careless and unprofessional about it” I sighed, frustration seeping through my voice as i continued to glare at the baker who glared back at me.
Ethan greeted her with a warm smile, excusing himself to talk to her privately, and before I knew it, the bakery staff was walking out with boxes of cupcakes-most of what we had ordered, along with a few extra flavors that looked better than what we ordered.
“What did you do?” I asked, feeling a bit more relaxed, amazed that Ethan had solved the issue in seconds.
“I just bought everything she had,” he said, and I rolled my eyes. Once again, he thought money could fix everything.
“If money was all she needed, she could have told me,” I muttered under my breath. I had money too-finally a successful artist with a big jewelry store in the heart of New York. Sure, Ethan was richer, but I had millions in my account too.
“What do you say we ride together and make sure the cupcakes get to the lunch safely?” Ethan asked. I hesitated but eventually nodded.
“Fine,” I sighed.
“Goodbye, sir. I’ll send the rest when they’re ready,” the baker said, waving only at Ethan while practically rolling her eyes at me.
“I see you still have your charms with the ladies,” I muttered jealously. As we got into his car.
Ethan chuckled lightly, “the only person I want to charm is you” he flirted and I rolled my eyes.
“How have you been, Emily? I’ve missed you,” he said in a hushed, almost seductive tone. His words made my heart flutter, and I turned my gaze to the road, ignoring the feelings stirring inside me.
“Did you miss me?” Ethan asked, and I shook my head.
“No, Ethan. I didn’t,” I lied, my voice stiff. What did he want from me? I could feel his intense gaze on me as he spoke again.
“Well I did, The past few years without you have been unbearable. I only stayed away because I wanted to get my affairs in order. I never want to put you in danger again, Emily,” he explained,
“Keep your eyes on the road,” I snapped, dismissing his statement.
“Are you angry with me?” Ethan asked, and I furrowed my brows. How could he ask me that when he had chosen his criminal life over me?
“I don’t care enough to be angry,” I spat, folding my arms as we pulled into the garden’s parking lot.
“I’ll get out here,” I said, not waiting for him to park properly as I opened the door and practically jumped out. I just needed to be away from him.
I rushed over to the bakery van, instructing the staff to unload the cupcakes and showing them where to store them in the kitchen next to the garden. I made sure everything was in place and that Ethan was nowhere in sight before walking back out.
“All you have to do is avoid him all day,” I told myself, trying to suppress the fluttering in my chest. As I walked out of the kitchen, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror by the door. My eyeliner had smudged, and my hair was disheveled.
“I need to fix this,” I sighed, heading toward a small changing room at the corner of the garden. Just as I approached the room, I felt strong arms pull me toward them, my body crashing into Ethan’s chest.
“Talk to me, Emily,” he breathed. his warm body engulfing me, as his arms wrapped around my waist, the heat of his body making my breath seize. I stared into his eyes, my mind freezing for a second before I shook off the tempting thoughts.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said, trying to break free from his grip. But before I could finish, Ethan’s lips crashed against mine, and he kissed me, passionately.