Page 86 of Strictly Business
Chapter Forty-Five
MICHAELA
“THIS IS THE NASTIEST combination, who thinks of this?” I grimace as Raeanne crosses the threshold of the suite.
“Davina Villa, that’s who,” Rae laughs. She clings to a bottle of Dom Perignon and two bags of Chick-fil-A trying not to get any grease on her dress. Grease and chiffon don’t mix well.
“Where have you been? She’s about ten seconds from ripping my head off.”
“I had to wait for the food, it’s a Saturday! Do you know how busy CFA is on a Saturday afternoon?”
“If only she had decided to get married on a Sunday.”
Raeanne stifles a giggle as we walk into the living room of the enormous suite. The living room boasts one-eighty-degree views of the Alderidge estate grounds and the surrounding mountains. Vintage-style floral paper covers the top half of the walls, met with warm mahogany wainscoting. A deep navy-colored couch with cream toile pillows sits across a coffee table from two khaki armchairs. A new desk made to look old with a cream chair behind the couch is littered with last-minute Villa Inc. things she had been working on this morning. I swear, the woman never stops working. An oversized oriental rug sits beneath it all covering the deep mahogany floor. A kitchen off the living area features a breakfast bar with navy bar stools — it’s built out of the same wood as the wainscoting, and the wallpaper carries over. Navy drapes have been drawn to allow the October sun to warm the room. A glow surrounds Nina as she stands in the center and thumbs the pendant around her neck. Her long dark hair loosely braided has been pulled back into a bun, with a golden leaf headdress resting on top. She pushes a stray piece of hair from her eyes weaving across the letters on the page in her hands. “Everything okay, Nin?” Raeanne asks when Nina wipes a tear from her cheek.
“Nick wrote her a letter,” Romy says walking out of the bedroom.
“I don’t know how I got this lucky.” Nina folds the note and tucks it in her purse on the breakfast bar. “You have the stuff?”
"What are we, drug dealers?" I joke as Raeanne raises the goods in the air, and a smile spreads across Nina’s burgundy lips. I pop the champagne and let bubbles fill the flutes before handing one to the bride as she shoves a chicken nugget in her mouth. “Seriously, what made you think Chick-fil-A and champagne was a good idea?”
“You’re not pregnant, are you?” Rae asks. She’s joking, but under normal circumstances, I’d probably think the same.
Nina’s body stiffens. You’d hardly notice if you weren’t looking. She recomposes herself. “Alcohol,” Nina says raising the glass of champagne to her lips.
"Nina!" Elizabeth's voice carries down the hall. "Please tell me you're ready. It's 2:45."
“Shit!" Nina downs the rest of the bubbles.
“I’ll go help.” Romy follows her into the bedroom muttering something in French. I was surprised when she walked into dinner on Thursday, not because she was here, but because she was with Enzo. Yes, Enzo Vitali, co-owner of Bacami Estate! Elizabeth said they’ve been seeing each other. They hit it off when we visited back in May. Nick later confirmed that he told me they were in New York a few weeks ago — a fact I must have completely glazed over considering everything that has happened.
I hand Elizabeth a glass of champagne and fall on the couch with a heavy sigh. This weekend has been nonstop, I don’t know how Nina is still standing. From the moment we arrived Thursday afternoon, we’ve had a full schedule — “we,” meaning Nina and the girls. From spa trips, salon trips, vineyard tours, hikes, and multiple meals a day…our schedule has been packed. I’m not sure how Nick and the guys managed to get out of it, but I’m kind of jealous. I shouldn’t complain, it has kept me away from Finn. I haven’t seen or talked to Finn in a little over two weeks, I was sure he was going to jump at the opportunity to talk, but he’s kept his distance. I’m not sure if I’m more disappointed or relieved about that fact.
Relieved.
That’s the right answer. David and I are back together. He was a little disappointed I wouldn’t wear my ring this weekend. He understood why I couldn’t though, I think. I’m not supposed to want Finn to talk to me.
After the rehearsal dinner last night, the bride and groom treated the wedding party to a night out, resulting in only a few hours of sleep before the makeup and hair team arrived this morning. Once again, something the guys didn’t have to worry about. Lucky bastards.
"You okay, MJ?” Elizabeth breaks through the light sleep I’ve been drifting in and out of and I notice Eileen and Lydia have finally joined us.
“Where is she?” Eileen asks. “We have to get going.”
“Getting dressed,” I yawn, “she’s been too busy crying.”
“It hasn’t even started yet,” Lydia laughs and pours champagne for them.
“Nick wrote her a letter,” Raeanne explains trying to stifle her own yawn.
“And if he messes up Sarah’s work she’ll kill him,” Elizabeth grumbles.
The double doors swing open to reveal Romy with a proud smile and twinkle in her eye. “May I introduce Mrs. Villa-Davis.”
When she steps aside, I feel a prick in the corner of my eyes watching Nina glide through the threshold. The chiffon boatneck dress has a short train that trails behind her bare feet. Long flowing sleeves end a few inches above her wrists with ivory lace trimmings that match the outline of the backless design. She looks like a Greek goddess. (Sorry, Italian. Roman? You get the idea).
“You look stunning," Eileen smiles.
“If Nick doesn’t cry, I’m suing,” Lydia jokes behind her glass.