Page 25 of Not His Bride

“Keep up, Latrice. Two. As in me and one other person.”

I hear her shift something around on her desk. “You want a full professional production of Phantom, with a full cast, orchestra, costumes, scenery, technical crew, the chandelier…for two people.”

“Great. You’re all caught up.”

I walk around the desk and drop into my chair, rubbing my thumb along the edge of my cufflink.

“Do you want the press involved?”

“Absolutely not. Nothing with my name on it. Nobody posts where we are, and nobody takes her picture.”

She’s typing again now, faster. “Does Lilith know about any of this?”

I’m not surprised Latrice figured out who I’m taking. Actually, I’d be worried if she hadn’t.

“She knows I’m planning something, but not what exactly.”

“Okay, fair enough.” Then, “I have a feeling I’m going to regret saying this, but it can be done. The question is, how many people I have to annoy first.”

“Annoy all of them.”

I hang up and put my phone facedown on the desk.

For a minute, I sit there looking at nothing. My request sounds insane, but I don’t care. There’s nothing else for me to do with it today. Latrice has calls to make, contracts to chase down, and probably a dozen people to convince that yes, the billionaire really does want an eight-hundred-seat theater for an audience of two.

So I leave her to it.

Over the next few days, while my team works on Phantom, Lilith gives me something else to think about without even knowing it.

Her new company has more buzz than most of the startups that get backing from my friends. The first time I hear it, I’m having an espresso with a guy who manages one of the city’s top hotels. “You’ve heard of Velvet Masquerade?” he asks offhandedly.

Naturally, I’ve been keeping up with all things Lilith.

“Yeah,” I told him with a giant smile. “I know the founder.”

By late Friday afternoon, Latrice got it done. The dollar figure is absurd, easily six times what it costs to put on the show for a packed hall. By the end, I’m not even reading the little lines. I skip to the only two things that matter. The full graveyard sequence and chandelier drop are confirmed. Really, the entire thing is, but I wanted to be sure.

I send the payment without comment.

A phone call comes two hours later. The coordinator has a voice like she’s still not sure this is real. I ask her if it’ll feel like the real performance.

“It’ll be identical.”

That’s all I’ve been asking for. All that’s left now is to invite Lilith.

Chapter 12

Lilith

It’s barely eight in the morning when my phone goes off. The sound slices in a single chime, but still manages to make me jolt.

The message is from Kelsey Ellison. Confirmation. Cortez signed and returned all originals. You’re untied as soon as the judge rules, unless you’re reversing. Doubtful, but I’m obliged to ask. Let me know if you need anything for today.

I thumb up the message.

Gallagher didn’t call or tell me he turned in his copy. He only handled it. Mostly, I’m relieved. He gave me what I asked for and left the rest up to the court. Still, it doesn’t make the situation hurt any less.

Lost in a momentary daze, I stare at the red velvet curtain in my living room and wonder what could have been. Don’t get me wrong, my life is good right now. I have three sample candles on my prized shelf that are launching next week. They’re mine in the company that I own. For once, I’m going to get all the credit because I’m the founder and CEO, and my family can’t take credit.