Chapter 118
Ella POV
The phone buzzed in my hand as we strolled through the shopping center. Elizabeth and James exchanged knowing looks when they saw Alexander's name flash on the screen. I answered, trying to sound casual. “Hello, Alexander.”
“Having fun?” His voice, smooth as ever, carried just a hint of amusement.
“Yes,” I replied, glancing at Elizabeth and James. “We’re having a great time. I’m glad you suggested this.”
“And I’m glad it worked out. I assume you’re planning to stay in the capital a while longer?”
“Yes,” I said. “I’m not in any rush to get back.”
“Good. When you have a chance, stop by my office. I’ve found a solution for the venue problem, but I’d like your approval before I finalize it.”
I froze mid-step, staring at my phone in disbelief. “What do you mean, you’ve found a solution? We only discovered the problem this morning. How could you have solved it already?”
“As I said, it’s nothing to be concerned about. There are plenty of other options.”
“I understand, but for you to explore those options in such a short amount of time…” I trailed off, still incredulous. “It seems almost unbelievable.”
He laughed softly, the sound sending a flutter through my chest. “If you think that’s unbelievable, wait until you see the venue I’ve arranged.”
“Are you teasing me, or is it really that impressive?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“‘Impressive’ is one way to describe it,” he replied thoughtfully. “We’ll discuss everything when you get here. For now, enjoy your day out—and send me a text when you’re on your way. I’m expecting a guest any minute, so I can’t talk much longer.”
“Okay,” I said, smiling despite myself. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Have a good time,” he said, his voice warm before the call ended.
As I slipped the phone back into my pocket, Elizabeth looked at me curiously. “Well? What was that all about?”
“Alexander says he’s found us a new venue. An impressive one, apparently.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. “Alexander has a lot of contacts and business partners. I’m sure someone was willing to help, given the circumstances.”
“I’m not aware of any event spaces he has ties to,” I said, more to myself than to her. “Do you know of anything like that, James?”
James shook his head. “No, but I don’t work in that area of the business. It’s not impossible, though.”
Elizabeth’s excitement was contagious. “I can’t wait to find out what it is. I’m sure it’ll be something even better than what you originally planned.”
“I hope so,” I agreed, though I wasn’t certain what could outdo the newest, most impressive venue in the city. “I know Alexander will want to show David that his scheming won’t derail things for us.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, her tone turning playful. “But surely sending a message to David isn’t as important as giving you the wedding of your dreams?”
My cheeks warmed as I hesitated. “That… might be a factor.”
She laughed, nudging me gently. “It’s definitely a factor. Let’s find out about that gift before you head off to meet him.”
We made our way to the topmost floor of the shopping center, where many of the larger, high-end shops were located.
The tailor shop’s exterior was understated, with nothing more than a simple black-and-white sign above the door to indicate its presence. It lacked the riches one might expect, but there was a quiet confidence to its simplicity, as if it didn’t need to draw attention.
Inside, the small lobby exuded a sense of exclusivity. Two plush chairs sat to one side, and a sleek, polished desk dominated the center of the room. Behind it stood a young woman in a custom-tailored cream gown, her appearance as immaculate as the shop’s design. She smiled warmly as we approached.
“Welcome,” she greeted us in a cheerful tone. “How can I help you today?”
“We don’t have an appointment,” Elizabeth began smoothly, “but we were hoping to speak to someone about a custom order.”
The woman opened a large, leather-bound notebook and began flipping through the pages. “I believe we have some availability today,” she said. “Was there a specific tailor you were hoping to see? We employ several.”
“Oh,” I said, faltering slightly. “I don’t actually know their name.”
“That’s quite all right,” she reassured me with a kind smile. “That’s actually common here. Many clients come in knowing which celebrities we’ve worked with but not the name of the tailor themselves. You know what I mean.”
“Yes, that’s kind of the situation,” I admitted, my nerves showing. “I’m looking for the person who makes clothes for Alexander Black.”
Her cheerful demeanor faltered for a fraction of a second. “Ah,” she said cautiously. “I’m not sure I can help you there. He’s very selective about his clientele and books up weeks—sometimes months—in advance. For a walk-in client…”
“This is Alexander Black’s fiancée, Ella Rowan,” Elizabeth interjected, her voice firm.
The woman froze, her face paling slightly. Her eyes flicked to me, and I saw the exact moment recognition dawned.
“Oh! I—I am so sorry,” she stammered, her fingers flying through the notebook pages more frantically now. “Please forgive me, Miss Rowan. I didn’t recognize you at all. I believe he’s in today, but I’m not sure if he’s back from lunch yet. Let me check for you right away.”
“I’d really appreciate that,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile.
Her nervous energy seemed to settle slightly as she returned my smile and disappeared into the back, leaving us alone in the quiet, elegant space.
Alexander POV
“Sir,” August said as he stepped into my office. I had just ended my call with Ella and hastily wiped the smile from my face, hoping to avoid one of his comments. Lately, he’d made a habit of pointing out my lighter moods.
“Yes?” I asked, meeting his gaze expectantly.
“Mr. Slater has arrived. Shall I bring him up to the office?”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” I replied. “Let him know I’ll meet him in the lobby shortly. We’re going out for drinks to discuss the details of our arrangement.”
August hesitated, his frown deepening. “Are you certain you want to get involved with him? There are plenty of other locations we could consider for the wedding.”
“David Lake attempted to humiliate me,” I said, my tone sharp with purpose. “Undoing the damage he’s caused isn’t enough of a response. I need to ensure he’s the one left humiliated.”
Though his concern was evident, August didn’t argue further. He was well aware of the risks tied to this arrangement. Slater and I hadn’t worked together in years, and when we last parted ways, it wasn’t under friendly terms.
Still, the property Slater owned—and that I was confident I could convince him to offer—was unmatched. The leverage it would provide was worth any discomfort. This was the best option available, and I wasn’t about to let personal grievances cloud my judgment.
“I’ll inform him,” August said finally, his tone resigned as he left the office.
For a brief moment, I allowed my thoughts to drift back to Ella’s voice on the phone. That same flutter of determination returned, steeling my resolve.
No matter how distasteful dealing with Slater might be, it was a necessary move—and one that would set the stage for something far greater than David Lake could ever anticipate.
