Page 1 of Accidental Orc Daddy
CHAPTER 1
Meiko
I do.
Ever since I was a little girl, they have been the two words I have longed to say. I’ve plotted and planned every detail, then re-plotted and re-planned until every detail was perfect. It’s a far cry from the ceremony I’d play out with my dolls as a child. But then, I am a far cry from that little girl these days.
And now it has finally arrived, just like I have at the beautiful and expensive venue where all my dreams will be played out in perfect taste and sparkle.
I smile so hard at the sight of the venue that my cheeks ache. The thought of bursting from the doors in my husband-to-be’s arms makes my heart skip a beat. How I wish it was already happening, that I didn’t have to wait any longer.
“Here we are, miss,” the unshaven and heavily scented taxi driver says as we pull up outside the venue.
“Thank you,” I reply, looking in my purse from my credit card.
“Holiday?” the man asks.
“Wedding,” I reply, finally finding my card and holding it towards him.
“I love a good wedding. Especially the bridesmaids, can’t get enough of them. Stars of the show. No disrespect to the brides, of course, but they’re normally taken,” the taxi driver says, waving his little machine in front of my card.
“Can you do me a favor?” I ask.
“Certainly, miss,” he replies.
“Take a bath,” I say as I open the door and inhale the thankfully fresh sea air. I stand tall as I signal to the concierge to get my bags from the trunk of the taxi and make my way towards the entrance, leaving the taxi door wide open. The fresh air will serve it well.
I know I’m early, and the wedding is still a week away, but I feel the need to be here, in control, making sure everything goes the way the little girl in me wanted it to. I owe her that.
The doorman opens the door for me, and I stride into the lobby. The sound of my high heels on the floor signals my elegance, and the binder under my arm, filled with all the finer points of the big day, signals my efficiency.
I strut my bride-to-be stuff over to the reception desk, where I am greeted by a slight little man in a very tight suit. A sudden gust of wind, I fear, would blow him away. But he has a pleasant smile and beautiful hair.
“Welcome,” he says with a tone that would soothe a baby to sleep.
“Thank you.”
“I’m Victor, and may I ask your name?” Victor smiles serenely, and I return the gesture.
“Miss Fanning,” I reply with pride.
He gasps. “Oh, how wonderful, the bride-to-be. Look at you, just stunning.”
I blush a little and almost giggle but don’t. “Why, thank you, Victor, call me Meiko.”
“Oh, I shall, Meiko, I shall,” Victor replies.
“I’m a little early, but I did phone ahead and speak to…” I can’t remember his name.
“Mr. Haystock,” Victor reveals. “Don’t you worry a tiny bit. All is arranged for your premature arrival.”
“You are very kind, Victor,” I tell him. “I am just going to pop in and see the wedding planner if you don’t mind pointing me in the right direction?”
“Certainly. If you just go through those doors and follow the corridor until the end, it’s the last door on the right. In the meantime, I’ll magic your bags to your room,” Victor says, giving a little wave of his skinny arms. I must admit, he is quite a spirited little man.
I smile and make my way towards the doors as instructed. The repeating click of my heels on the marble floor shoots off the walls until it is the only sound to be heard.
When I stop, though, the sound of my heels is replaced by muffled laughter coming from what must be the wedding planner's office. Someone sounds like they are enjoying themselves. And as I listen closer, it sounds as if they are enjoying themselves a little too much for three o’clock in the afternoon.