I Do

Josie shook her head.

“I don’t have a venue yet. Just a few photos of some venues Ethan mentioned.”

Ann nodded.

“Good and do you like these venues?” she asked.

Josie took a sip of her champagne and nodded.

“Actually, yeah. I do.”

“Okay, describe one of them. Whichever you want.”

Josie nodded before she took another sip.

“Okay, it is this beautiful property on a lake. The green grass is a perfect contrast for the white Chiavari chairs and the white petals gracing the aisle.”

Ann nodded.

“So, we are looking for a Bohemian theme?” Ann asked and Josie shook her head.

“Not exactly. A beach wedding also tickles my fancy.”

Ann smiled.

“I think I have an idea of what you would like.” She stood up. “Why don’t you come with me?”

They made their way to the back where Ann picked out three dresses. There was a vintage lace gown, a strapless mermaid gown with a sweetheart neckline and the dress that took Josie’s breath away–a perfectly tailored fitting floor-length satin dress. The satin dress was simple but there was an elegance in its simplicity.

“I think this is it,” she said as she stood on the fitting stand.

“It is beautiful,” Ann said. “And you definitely have the body for it.”

“Thank you,” Josie said in a soft voice.

“I think I have just the earrings for that dress,” Ann said as she walked to the back and then came back with a small black case. “I got these from Tiffany’s some time back but I never got around to wearing them.” She opened the case to reveal the most beautiful diamond studs.

“Oh wow… they are perfect,” Josie said in a whisper.

“Carbon in its most beautiful form, right? Three carats each.”

Ann handed the box over to Josie.

“How come you never wore them?” Josie asked and Ann shrugged.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I think I just never found the right outfit or even the right event.”

Josie closed the box and shook her head.

“I can’t take these,” she said in a soft voice as she gave the box back to Ann who shook her head.

“No, it is no trouble. Really.” Ann stood behind her as she adjusted the pins. “All we have to do is make a few adjustments and you will have your dream dress. Just let me record these measurements and you should be home free.”

“Take your time,” Josie said as Ann reached for a pen and notepad.

“So, tell me something,” Ann started as she took a tape measure. “You and Ethan. When did it all start?”

Josie shrugged.

“Well, you heard him. Five months ago when I started working for him.”

“Oh, so yours was an office romance, huh?”

Josie nodded.

“I guess you could call it that. But then again, the only people you ever meet are the ones at work when you are working fifty hours a week, right?”

“I guess. I was actually wondering how a low breed like you managed to bag a billionaire.”

Josie looked at her in the reflection of the mirror.

“Excuse me?”

“No offense, of course. I just meant that people wonder when a handsome billionaire suddenly starts dating a girl no one knows about. You know, like me. No one knew anything about me either,” Ann said in a soft voice and Josie wondered if she had just managed to talk herself out of the terribly insulting comment she had just made. “You know, girls like us have to be smart when it comes to the men we decide to go after, right?”

“I didn’t go after Ethan. He pursued me.”

Ann nodded.

“Of course, he did and it is a great thing that you are sticking to the narrative.”

Josie turned around and looked at Ann.

“Careful. You still have pins in your dress!”

“I doubt that the pins will do as much damage as your words are right now… I mean, what’s with the cheap shots?” Josie asked and Ann looked at her. “I mean, I know that I am with the man you used to date and I am going to live in the house you used to visit him in but for God’s sake, I didn’t go looking for him. Life just turned out this way.”

Ann nodded.

“I know and I am sorry that it sounds like I am taking shots at you. That is not what I am trying to do… I think it is just surprising that he moved on.”

Josie rolled her eyes.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah, at first I thought I was going to have a future with him and then his career and mine kept on taking different directions and pitting us against each other… When the relationship didn’t work out, I thought it was because of the scheduling conflict but something tells me that I was just a place holder. I mean, I am not even the right color, right?”

Josie shook her head. She’d heard enough.

“I’m sorry but I can’t listen to this bullsh*t anymore.”

She pulled the dress up and stepped off the stool.

“Careful… I think…” Ann started before Josie put a hand up.

“I think you and I are done here. Thank you very much.” She turned to one of the assistants. “Would you help me get out of this please?” she asked and the woman nodded before she rushed to the back, closely following Josie.

It was a miracle how Josie managed to maintain her composure as they made their way to the back. She changed out of the dress and back into her dress and ankle boots. She was fuming when she walked back to where Ann was.

“I’m sorry, Jessie. Was it something I said?” Ann asked as Josie walked to the door.

“Yes, it was everything you said.” She opened the door and then turned around to look at Ann. “I don’t know why you asked me here in the first place and I should have done my due diligence before I came but quite honestly, you cannot go blaming the world and unloading your hurt on people who have nothing to do with it. And you know damn well that my name is Josie and not Jessie. It’s not that difficult.”