Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas)
The look between Clara and her mother didn’t go unnoticed by the wedding planner who then picked up the tension in the air. It had been there when she arrived but didn’t give it much thought until now.
She asked awkwardly, “Is there a reason why the news is not out, or is there a reason the news shouldn’t be out. I can keep a hundred percent confidentiality for my client, however, I work with people at the top of the social hierarchy and my presence alone spells wedding bells. ” She hinted that she wouldn’t be held responsible if the news were to leak.
“No,” Clara stood out before her mother could say a word,” The wedding announcement would be made in due time, however, I want the comfort of secrecy at the moment. You should know how crazy it gets when news like this is released, especially when it involves a prominent family like ours.” She chuckled nervously.
“Of course, I do understand your fears. Nothing can be more hectic than planning a wedding but then…” Alexi laughed loudly, pressing her hand on her chest, “That’s why you have me. It’s my role and occupation to take the weight off your shoulder.” She said before looking around the room and that was when Clara realized she was still standing.
“Please do, have a seat, refreshment is on the way,”
“Oh, thank you,” Alexi squeaked, sitting down immediately.
Diana sat beside her daughter on the same couch while the wedding planner sat on the next one. Alexi looked the part and was quite young and fashionable in her attire and that was what Clara wanted. She needed a wedding planner who understood what she wanted and she could communicate with and be understood. Moreover, Alexis was an experienced wedding planner.
“I see that you’re doing your research already,” Alexi said, reaching for one of the magazines on the table.
“Ah, yes,” Clara answered, her back straight and formal, “I was hoping to get inspiration from the magazines and form an idea of what I want and communicate it to you. That way, your job would be far easier and I would be much happier.”
…..
“Aww, that’s so sweet. You’re kind and considerate and would be added to the list of my favorite clients.” Alexi complimented her and that warmed Clara’s heart. This wasn’t as hard as she thought it would be.
She was creating a clean and free environment, Diana noticed and didn’t say anything. At least, her daughter chose a good wedding planner. She couldn’t wait for this to be over so she could talk to Lukas and give him a piece of her mind. As much as the Luciano’s were responsible for their protection, the Alberta’s were not pushovers either.
“So, where is he?” Alexi suddenly asked.
Clara’s brows raised questioningly, “He?”
“He, your fiancé? Husband to be? Love of your life? The man you are going to spend the rest of your life with in the astonishing wedding I plan to throw? ” Alexi intentionally teased her.
“Oh,” Clara finally got what she was saying and laughed awkwardly, tugging the tendrils of her hair to the back of her ear, “He’s kind of urm… busy?”
“Eeh…” Alexi licked her lips, “In that case, that’s going to be a little setback in our plans.”
“How so?”
“As a Wedding Planner, my responsibility is to establish a planning timeline and work with you, the bride, and your groom, to choose everything from attire, to ceremony and reception venues, music, and food. In one word, I’m here to Interview both you couples and parents to identify your needs. “
“Is that so?” Clara realized how messed up this was right now. Lukas had told her to plan the wedding herself and now this wedding planner was trying to tell her that Lukas needed to be present. It didn’t sound like a great idea.
“Is his presence really necessary?” Clara asked, and that question made Alexis’ brow furrowed in confusion as she too began to suspect something was wrong here.
Yet, Alexi went ahead to explain to her, “Although the bride’s needs are known to overshadow the groom’s, however, this is not only your wedding, it is our wedding, meaning you and your husband. It is your special day to him as much as it is to yours. So getting a clear feel and understanding of both your taste and overall vision is important for my work.”
Clara took a deep breath, how was she going to deal with this? But then, as much as Lukas told her to go ahead with the preparation, he promised to be here if she needed anything. Well, she needed him now.
With a new surge of confidence, Clara told Alexi proudly, “Don’t worry, I’ll call him and he’d be here as soon as possible and we can start with the arrangements,”
She had a feeling that Alexi was beginning to suspect that something was wrong with this marriage of hers, after all, this was her occupation – planning happy weddings. So she would prove her wrong once Lukas arrives.
At the mention of arrangements, Diana’s eyes shone with anger and resentment. Lukas had not officially told her about the marriage, how dare he show his face here to plan a wedding she hasn’t approved.
But Clara didn’t take her mother’s feelings into account and as soon as Alexi said, “Sure, go ahead.”
She stood up from the conch and went to a corner of the room to make the call.
“Come on now, don’t fail me, Lukas,” Clara took a long, shaky breath as she called him.
She must have forgotten how to breathe because she held her breath the entire time the phone rang. By the time the call ended with no answer, Clara was beginning to tremble on the second ring.
However, even when she called the fourth time, there was still no answer and she couldn’t control herself anymore. With great anger, she tossed the phone on the floor with a guttural scream like a wounded animal scaring both women who had no idea what was going on.
“Clara!” Diana went to her daughter having a feeling that this had something to do with Lukas. The woman made up her mind at that moment, she was going to end this stupid engagement. Lukas was not worthy of her daughter.
Make Lukas’s Life Miserable
Music recommendation – Glass Heart (feat Sam Tinnesz)
“Clara!” Both women shouted and reacted at the same time. However, before the wedding planner, Alexi could even stand to her feet, Diana had already reached her daughter.
Clara fell into her mother’s arms, breaking down in tears while the other woman watched in confusion, with no clue on what to do.
With the way Diana was holding onto her daughter, it was obvious that this wasn’t the first time Clara was having a meltdown and Alexi felt like a stranger invading something private. It made her feel uncomfortable.
Hence, before she could be asked to leave, Alexi said to the woman, “I would take my leave and perhaps, schedule the meeting for another day,” when everything was under control, she didn’t add that part.
Diana didn’t say a word but she nodded her head in understanding and the wedding planner took her leave. This wasn’t the first time she’s seen drama in her line of work, but this one? She would make a miserable bride. The marriage was doomed before it even began.
However, it was none of her business whether her client married the wrong partner or not. Her business was to give them the wedding of their dreams and up her reviews. Moreover, marriages these days weren’t even guaranteed. It was a game of luck.
Back in the receiving room, Diana knelt by her daughter’s side. Clara placed her head on her chest bawling her eyes out while her mother rubbed her back soothingly, trying to comfort her.
…..
“He said he would be here when I needed him, yet….y-yet… he’s not even picking my calls….!” Clara cried out.
She felt humiliated and disappointed. Why must Lukas treat her this way? She bet he was with that other woman. What was so special about that ugly duckling?
Clara might not have graduated from Harvard, but she attended one of the prestigious Universities in the world and graduated from it summa cum laude. She had her own booming business and came from a respectable family, a royal one at that. Why must he disgrace her like this? Lukas made her a laughing stock and she bet that other women must be celebrating her victory. But not for too long.
Clara’s resolve to be with Lukas strengthened upon thinking about the mistress her fiancé was keeping. She has come this far, there was no going back.
She tried to conjure the woman’s face but all Clara could remember was the shock of red hair. Right now, it wasn’t a matter of whether she liked Lukas or not anymore, this was now a challenge. She was determined to own Lukas.
Her pride was on the line and she couldn’t let some city pumpkin take her place. Who was she? She was Clara Louise Alberta, a blueblood descended from a long line of royals. If the anarchy were still in power, she would be the queen and everyone else would be nothing but ants that she could easily squash beneath her feet.
Thinking about it, what would her ancestors say if they were to see her in this pathetic condition. They would think of her as weak and unworthy of the name, unfortunately, no princess with the Alberta bloodline was known to be a weakling. She would not be the opposite.
While Clara had plans, her mother thought otherwise. Hence, after she managed to calm her down and there was nothing but silence between them, Diana finally said, “I think we should call off the engagement or marriage. Whatever, I don’t care.”