CHAPTER EIGHTY–TWO–The Heart’s Final Decision
Laura filled him in, watching as Aiden’s eyebrows climbed higher with each word.
“Holy shit,” he said when she finished. “That’s… wow. You sure about this, Laura?”
“Not entirely,” Laura admitted. “But I’m going to do it anyway.”
“Well, count me in for moral support,” Aiden said. “And maybe some stiff drinks after the ceremony.”
Laura laughed, grateful for her friends‘ support. She glanced over at Kira Volkov’s desk, noticing that her usually chatty coworker was suspiciously quiet. Kira was bent over her computer, seemingly engrossed in her work, but Laura could see the tension in her shoulders.
Before she could dwell on it, Bo Chen emerged from her office. “Laura, can I see you for a moment?”
Laura followed her supervisor into the small office, closing the door behind her.
“I couldn’t help overhearing,” Bo said, gesturing for Laura to sit. “About Ryan’s wedding.”
Laura nodded, suddenly nervous. “Is it going to be a problem?”
Bo shook her head, “Not necessarily. I just want to remind you to keep work and personal matters separate. This situation has the potential to get… complicated.”
“I understand,” Laura said. “T’ll be professional, I promise.”
“I know you will,” Bo said with a small smile. “Congratulations, by the way. It’s an honor that Ryan values your friendship so much.” Laura left Bo’s office feeling a mix of relief and renewed anxiety. She’d just settled back at her desk when a commotion at the entrance caught her attention.
Julia Florent, Ryan’s fiancée, was striding through the office, her high heels clicking on the polished floor. Laura’s stomach dropped as Julia made a beeline for her desk
“Laura,”
“Julia said, her voice cool but not unfriendly. “Do you have a moment to chat?”
Laura nodded, standing up. “Of course. Should we use one of the conference rooms
Julia agreed, and they made their way to an empty room. Laura’s mind raced, trying to imagine what Ryan’s fiancée could want to discuss.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Julia turned to face Laura. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a determined set to her jaw.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Julia said.“Ryan told me about asking you to be part of the wedding party.”
Laura nodded, unsure how to respond. “I hope that’s okay with you. If it’s not, I completely understand-”
Julia held up a hand, cutting her off. “It’s fine. Actually, that’s why I’m here. I wanted to clear the air between us.
Laura blinked in surprise. “Oh. Okay.”
Julia took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “Look, I know there’s been… tension between us. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little threatened by your history with Ryan and how close you two are.”
Laura opened her mouth to protest, but Julia continued.
“But I’ve realized that’s my issue, not yours. Ryan loves me, and I trust him. And I know how much your friendship means to him.” Laura felt a lump forming in her throat. She swallowed hard before speaking. “Julia, I… I appreciate you saying that. Ryan’s friendship means a lot to me too. But I want you to know, I would never do anything to come between you two.”
Julia’s expression softened slightly. “I believe you. And that’s why I’m here. I don’t want there to be any awkwardness on our wedding day. I want us to be… if not friends, at least friendly.”
Laura nodded, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. “I’d like that too. And Julia… I’m really happy for you and Ryan. Truly.”
A small smile tugged at Julia’s lips. “Thank you, Laura. That means a lot.”
There was a moment of silence, neither woman quite sure what to say next. Finally, Julia straightened her shoulders.
“Well, I should get going. I have a fitting appointment. But I’m glad we had this chat.”
CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO The Heart’s Final Decision
“Me too,” Laura said. “And Julia? You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
Julia’s smile widened. “Thanks. And who knows? Maybe you’ll catch the bouquet.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Laura standing alone in the conference room, her emotions a tangled mess.
The rest of the workday passed in a blur. Laura found it hard to concentrate, her mind constantly replaying her conversations with Ryan and Julia. By the time she met Jessie for dinner at their favorite Thai place, she was mentally exhausted.
“Spill,” Jessie said as soon as they sat down. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer.”
Laura laughed weakly. “You have no idea.”
She recounted the events of the past two days, watching as Jessie’s eyes grew wider with each revelation.
“Holy crap,” Jessie said when Laura finished. “That’s… a lot.”
Laura nodded, taking a long sip of her Thai iced tea. “Yeah. I’m still trying to process it all.”
Jessie leaned back in her chair, studying Laura. “How do you really feel about all this? Being in Ryan’s wedding party, watching him marry someone else?”
Laura sighed, pushing her pad that around her plate. “Honestly? I don’t know. Part of me is honored that he wants me there. But another part…”
“Is dying inside?” Jessie supplied.
“Maybe a little,” Laura admitted. “But I made my peace with Ryan and Julia’s relationship a while ago. Or at least, I thought I had.” Jessie reached across the table, squeezing Laura’s hand. “Just be careful, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Laura squeezed back, grateful for her friend’s concern. “I will. I promise.”
They finished their dinner, the conversation turning to lighter topics. But as Laura lay in bed that night, sleep eluded her. She stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of tuxedos and wedding bells, of Ryan’s smile and Julia’s determined eyes. What had she gotten herself into? And more importantly, how was she going to get through it with her heart intact?
