Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Paid
The island doctor arrived six minutes later.
Not because my parents called him.
I did.
Dr. Patel examined Mia inside my private villa while I sat beside her.
She had a deep bruise along her hip.
Her wrist was badly sprained.
The cut on her forehead required three small stitches.
No fracture.
No concussion.
No internal injury.
Those words were the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
Mia squeezed my hand.
“Mom?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is Aunt Sarah mad because I ruined her wedding?”
I looked at my daughter.
“No.”
“She is mad because she made terrible choices.”
“You made a mistake.”
“She made a choice.”
Mia thought about that.
“Are we going home?”
“Soon.”
A knock came at the door.
Mr. Bennett entered.
He was the island’s general manager.
To my family, he was simply another employee.
To me, he was the man responsible for managing a property held by Hartwell Coastal Holdings.
My company.
Technically, one of my companies.
The “accounting job” my family loved mocking was real.
I was a certified public accountant.
What I had never bothered explaining was that I also managed the investment structure my late grandfather had created.
After years of restructuring, I controlled the majority interest in a hospitality portfolio spread across several countries.
This island was one of its smallest properties.
Mr. Bennett placed a folder on the table.
“The first cancellations have been processed.”
“What was still outstanding?”
“Tomorrow’s farewell brunch.”
“The yacht excursion.”
“The fireworks display.”
“The private aircraft upgrades.”
“The additional floral contract.”
“The musicians scheduled for tonight.”
“And Mr. Mercer requested an extension for the presidential villa.”
Greg.
Of course he had.
“Denied.”
Mr. Bennett nodded.
“There is something else.”
He opened the folder.
“Mr. Mercer has been charging additional expenses to the master wedding account.”
I frowned.
“How much?”
“Approximately one hundred eighty-six thousand dollars.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
“Luxury watches for the groomsmen.”
“Designer gifts.”
“Additional alcohol.”
“Jewelry.”
“And a private gambling excursion for several guests.”
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
“Who authorized those charges?”
“He signed them.”
“Against my account?”
“Yes.”
That changed things.
Greg had been told the wedding account covered approved wedding expenses.
Nothing more.
“Freeze it.”
“Already done.”
My phone rang.
Mom.
I ignored it.
Then Dad.
Then Sarah.
Then Greg.
I turned the phone facedown.
Mr. Bennett hesitated.
“The wedding coordinator has been informed that services are suspended.”
“How did Sarah react?”
“She believes there has been a billing mistake.”
For the first time that day, I almost smiled.
“There has.”
Mr. Bennett waited.
“The mistake was mine.”
“I should have stopped paying months ago.”
Another knock came.
This time the door opened before I answered.
Mom marched inside.
“Elena!”
She stopped when she saw Mr. Bennett.
“What are you doing here?”
Mr. Bennett remained professional.
“Assisting Ms. Hart.”
Mom pointed toward the hallway.
“Sarah’s reception has lost half its staff.”
“The band stopped playing.”
“The champagne service is closed.”
“And someone just told Greg his villa extension was canceled.”
She turned toward me.
“Do something.”
I looked at Mia.
My daughter had fallen asleep.
May you like
Then I looked at Mom.
“I already did.”
