9781631054631ChoiceAffairsSalisbury Read Online Free Page A

clear?”
    “No, I’m leaving. You
know, you’re a pompous, arrogant ass, Apolo. One of these days, brother. One of these days… We’ll see who has
the last laugh.”
    I ignored his attempt
to get a rise out of me. I knew better th an to fall
into his pathetic trap. Instead, I opened my laptop and watched him storm out
of the room. The same way he’d come in.
    Damn, meddling
relatives.
     
    * * * *
     
    Caitlyn
     
    My
wedding day. The day every little girl and young woman
dreams of. Like in a story book, I had found my prince charming. We’d
fallen in love, and now, we were set to get married.
    Izzie had spent the
night. We decided it would be easier after my mother’s shenanigans. I knocked
on the doorof the bedroom she was using. Sinc e the
house would be bustling with activity, I’d had breakfast served in a library on
the same floor.
    She came to the door,
opening it with a huge smile. “Good morning, Caitlyn. Did you sleep any?”
    “Barely. But Apolo somehow managed to sleep like
a baby. Did you?” I asked, motioning her to come with me. “I’ve had breakfast
brought upstairs, so that we can have some peace.”
    “I slept like a baby,
too. I want one of these mattresses. I’ve never felt so good lyi ng in bed…”
    We entered the
library. There was a table filled with food. Buffet style. Coffee, assorted
juices, milk. “Grab a plate, Izzie. We need to get something in our stomachs
before the champagne flows.”
    “I have to agree with
you there, girlfriend. Wh ere’s Apolo?”
    “Locked in his office,
I’m sure. His parents went out in search of something, and my father went along
with them. I’m sure everyone’s making themselves scarce since mother will be arriving any time.”
    Izzie laughed. “Yes,
and knowing Susan, sh e’s going to be wide open.”
    “Yes, but Apolo said
he intended to have a little sit down with her when she arrives. You know?
Remind her of her place. To leave
the details to the wedding planner. Let the help alone. Stay away from the
press. That sort of thi ng. Not that she’ll listen.”
    “He could lock her in
a bedroom.” Izzie giggled as she filled a plate and brought it, along with a
steaming hot cup of coffee, to the small table.
    “That’s his backup
plan.”
    Izzie snorted, staring
at me. “Are you serious?”
    “As
a heart attack. She’s done enough damage with her
meddling. Just wait until she finds out she —”
    And there she was, voice larger than life. I couldn’t make
out the words, but I knew she’d been to see Apolo. The door opened and in she
came. Quiet time over. S he glared at
me, and then Izzie, before slamming the door shut behind her. I looked at Izzie
out of the corner of my eye. Show
time.
    “Caitlyn, thank God!
Here you are! Do you know your fiancé kidnapped me? I was forced to wear an
ankle monitor and not allo wed my cell phone or
anything else,” she ranted, without taking a breath. “Do you know he just
demanded I stay in my room until the ceremony? And that I’m to choose one of
two dresses to wear? Said my gown upstaged yours?”
    “Mother,
calm down and sit. Consi dering what you’ve done,
you should be thankful you’re even getting to attend.”
    “Calm down? The man is
trying to ruin my day.”
    Wrong
choice of words . “ Your
day ? Your
day ? What in the hell do you mean— your
day ? Today is my wedding day. Mine and Apolo’s. You ’ve done
nothing but try and upstage us at every move. Going to the press when you were asked not to. Whatever you can do to put yourself in the limelight. Well, he’s right. You need to stay in
your room until the ceremony. You’re nothing but a self-center ed bitch, Mother.”
    As usual, nothing I
said seemed to phase her in the least. “Caitlyn, I’m the
mother of the bride. I have certain roles I’m supposed to play. But Apolo is
trying to take that all away from me. I won’t stand for it.”
    “Mother, you lost all claim to your roles when you went behind our backs and