Everything has to be perfect she thought as she rearranged the flowers on the table, motioning for the other organizers to the same for the other tables. She stood at the center of the hall, looking around her at the decorations and the hall in general. She walked towards the stage, her brown eyes soft as the focused on the CONGRATULATIONS banner that hung from the ceiling. Turning to face the hall, she gave everything one last look, as though to make sure everything was in its proper place. Today was going to be amazing. Her fiancé John Clarkson was celebrating the multi-million dollar deal they'd just close and they were also going to announce their engagement, she was giddy with excitement. She was lost in the moment before the buzzing in her pocket snapped her out of it.
"Hello?"
"Hi darling, it's your mum. Your sister seems to be in a bit of a pickle, she needs you to come help her out."
"I would mum but I can't leave, I'm still organizing the venue, the caterers almost brought the wrong food, the seating chart needs to be rechecked, I just have so much to do."
"Well give it to someone else to do, like the planner you paid thousands of dollars to. You mustn't stress yourself out, tonight is your big night after all."
Michelle gave a soft smile, musing over her mother's words. "Fine, I'll rush over to help her, what's the emergency anyways?"
"She needs your opinion on something, says her world will end if you don't help her."
At that Michelle and her mother laughed, "Really mom, if Lucy's world ended every time she said it would, she'd have no world a long time ago. Let her know I'm on my way."
"I'll do that, thanks love." She ended the call.
Michelle signaled the planner who came scurrying over.
"Yes Miss. Hart?" He asked his voice eager and his stance alert.
"I have to step out for a bit, make sure to check the seating chart again. I don't want the Leroys and the Penns seated together, also make sure that roses aren't placed at the Geofreys' table, the wife is allergic."
"Of course ma'am, I'll be sure to check everything." He nodded already making notes in his notepad.
Casting one final glance at the hall, she hurried out the hall to her car. It wasn't wise to keep Lucy waiting- despite being almost thirty Lucy Hart's tantrums were not for the faint of heart. Driving to her sister's place Michelle found herself thinking back on her life and how she'd run into John Clarkson.
She'd met him at a company retreat, she thought him to be pleasant enough company for that night and had removed from her mind believing she'd never run into him again. However, that was not the case as a series of awkward coincidences had them meeting each other again and again. Her favorite was when he finally got the courage to ask her out. They'd bumped into each other at a line in her favorite coffee shop;
"Miss Hart?" The insistent tone of the voice pulled her attention away from the email she was drafting on her phone. She turned around in confusion as to whom the voice belonged to, "Miss Hart!" The voice called out again, an arm raised from a booth. She squinted her eyes, and then widened them in recognition.
"Mr. Clarkson! Hello." She replied smiling in surprise. The barista handed her her order and he waved her over. Smiling hesitantly she made her way to his booth and sat opposite him.
"Fancy running into you here." He began as he stirred his coffee before taking a sip, "I didn't know you came here."
"I could say the same of you. Coffee Heart has been my favorite coffee place for years now, I've been coming since they first opened up and I've never once seen you here. Why is that?"
John chuckled at that, "We must have missed each other I suppose. Things like that do happen Miss. Hart."
"Please you have got to stop calling me that. I'm sure I remember telling you you can call me Michelle."
"Of course, only if you call me John then."
"Alright, John."
"You know, it's good I ran into you. I've wanted to talk to you since the last time we met."
"You mean when we ran into each other at that book signing? I'm still amazed you were a fan of that author, not many people are aware of her books."
See, that's what I mean. We are so alike it's insane. Alright, I'm going to just come out and say it, I would like to take you out."
"Like on a date?" She replied baffled.
"Yes, on a date. I really like you and I'd love to know more of you." He paused a moment before continuing, "But I understand if you don't feel the same way."
He was asking her out on a date, it had been so long since she'd been on a date, work had her in a chokehold. The more she thought about it the more she realized that going on a date with John wasn't a bad idea. From what she could see, they had the same interests and she knew about his work ethic because he worked in her family's company. She could go on a date nothing could go wrong.
"So what do you say?" His voice brought her back and as she stared at his expectant blue eyes, she found herself nodding.
"Definitely, let's do it."
"Yes!" He let out a small cheer, "How does Saturday 8pm sound?"
"It sounds great."
"Just let me get your number so I can text you the address of the restaurant, unless you'd rather I pick you up, then you can text me your address instead?"
"Um, just text me the restaurant address." She wasn't so naïve as to let him know her address- charming as he was and he was charming- safety came first always.
The day came quickly, it was what she could only describe as the best date she'd ever been on. They seemed to just instantly connect. Thus began their romance, dating for two years after which he'd asked her to marry him. She said yes with no hesitation. And now four years later, they were about to announce their engagement to the world.
She arrived at Lily's house- a small mansion that was attached to their family so technically Lily still lived with their parents. She opened the door and from the main hall she could hear her sister' shrill voice as she expressed her distress over the color and fabric of the dress.
"No! This is all wrong, I can't attend the event like this, in this washed out, last season's ugly ball gown."
Sighing, Michelle mentally prepped herself and entered the room. It looked like fashion had vomited all over it and she could see some of Lily's friends as the scrambled up the stairs to her room, probably to bring down more dresses. Kicking away some clothes, she sat on the sofa facing her sister.
"Mom said you rang, all hysterical and everything. Apparently I'm the one who can save the day."
"Sis!" Lily called out excitedly from her place on the stand, she turned with much difficulty to face her sister, "You're here, finally, I called mom thirty minutes ago, why did it take you so long to get here?"
From the event center it was a thirty minute drive, so some could say she got there right on time, but Michelle didn't have the time nor the energy to explain any of this to Lucy so instead she changed the subject.
"That doesn't matter, I'm here now. What do you want?"
"Ok so look," Lucy began gesturing to herself, "Dad got me this on his last trip but I don't think it looks eye-catching enough. What do you think?"
The dress in question was an off-the-shoulder neckline, framed with soft lace that highlighted her collarbone; the bodice was form fitting with delicately embroidered intricate lace patterns and pearl beadwork; it cinched at the waist before cascading down into an elaborate skirt of layered tulle and organza. Michelle was shocked- her sister wanted to wear what was practically a wedding dress to her engagement ceremony.
"You can't be serious." Michelle said voice breaking in shock. "You don't plan on wearing that, do you?"
"Of course I am. There's nothing wrong with it."
"It's hardly appropriate Lucy."
"What do you mean appropriate? My sister is announcing her engagement; I intend to look my best."
"And you can't do that without wearing a wedding dress?"
Lucy scoffed at that and folded her arms over her chest, the movements making the dress catch the light and glitter, "It's not a wedding dress. It only looks like one."
"You shouldn't be wearing anything that even remotely resembles a wedding dress Lucy, today is not about you. It's about John's and I's engagement. Do you not understand that? Please find something else you can wear, I don't care if it's the most sparkly dress in the world, just as long as it doesn't look like a wedding gown."
Adamant, Lucy responded, "You don't get to dictate what I can and cannot wear."
"Find something else or you're not coming to the event."
"You're very funny, mum and dad already said I'm coming, nothing you can do about it." Lucy replied smugly.
"I see. Since you'd already made a decision, why'd did you involve me then? Why did you ask me to come here?"
"I just wanted you to get a first look at the unfinished look."
"Wow, you are unbelievable Lucy."
"What's going on in here?" A deep gravelly voice said at the entrance of the room, the women turned to look- it was Mr. Hart, dressed smartly in a grey suit.
"Daddy, Michelle doesn't want me wearing this to the event." Lucy said.
"Let her wear what she wants ok Elle, there's no time for her to change, the event starts in about an hour, shouldn't you head back?"
"Fine but I can't believe you'd want to do this to me Lucy, it's so unlike you." With that she left the room, leaving her father, sister and friends.
Arriving back at the venue, she was pleased to see that everything was in place, now she needed to go get dressed in preparation for the arrival of the guests. She headed into the dressing room and changed out of her jeans and shirt into a backless, straight red velvet gown, for jewelry, she wore the ruby set John got her and her engagement ring. Her hair was quickly styled by the hairstylist into soft ringlets that fell down past her shoulders; her makeup done as well. Soon after, she hurried out to the entrance where she joined her two younger brothers in welcoming the guests, later with everyone seated, she and her brothers made their way to their table in front of all the others, there she found John already seated.
"Hello, you look absolutely stunning today." He said as he kissed her check, drawing out the chair closest to him.
"Thank you, you look amazing as well." She replied.
"You went all out for this event, darling. Everything looks perfect."
"Yeah sis, this looks great." Her immediate younger brother, Logan, said excitedly.
Leo, his twin, chimed in as well, "Yep, amazing." At just twenty-six years old, the twin were well on their way to making names for themselves in the business world- Logan had started a small startup company and with his family's backing it was working out splendidly, Leo remained in the family company working in the product design team.
"Thank you," Turning to John, "Are you nervous?"
"A little bit." He replied smiling softly. "This day is a huge one. I don't want to mess it up."
"Hey, you won't" She held his hand softly. "You worked hard for this and your work is getting the acknowledgement it deserves. So when they call your name, I want you to go up there with your head held high and enjoy the fruits of your labor."
Squeezing her hand, he stared at her and said; "You always know what to say, thank you."
The ceremony started with the MC warming up the crowd and soon the main event began:
"Ladies and gentlemen" The MC began his voice echoing through the speakers, "The moment we have all been waiting for. Let's welcome to the stage John Clarkson as we all congratulate him for helping Hart Industries secure a multi-million dollar deal. Let's all give him a round of applause as we welcome him to the stage."
With applause trailing behind him, John strutted to the stage a wide, self-satisfied smile spread on his face, collecting the microphone he turned to the audience.
"Thank you all so much for taking the time to come here and celebrate with us. This deal will take Hart Industries to heights it's never reached before. This is only just beginning. To more success." Taking a pause, he stared at everyone seated before him his gaze lingering on Michelle who stared at him encouragingly. "Of course this deal is not the only reason the Hart family has brought you here. Today, I implore you to join me in celebrating my engagement to a one of kind woman, who supported me through everything and brought me to where I am today. Everyone, I am pleased to announce that I am now engaged to a daughter of the Hart family- Lucy Hart."
The whole room exploded into cheers as they stood up in great applause, everyone except Michelle that is. She sat there in shock unable to comprehend what she'd just heard.