Secrets of a Billionaire

Chapter 8

Amanda’s POV

Everything about Marks mother practically screams old money. Her designer beige suit and hat, while perhaps not the latest fashion trend, is well fitted and timeless. Her jewelry is tasteful and most like real. Her makeup and accessories are on point. Her hair is done elegantly in a classic updo. The man standing next to her is quite a bit younger, and is also well very well attired.

“I wonder what mysterious errand my son is up to?” Eleanor Shipton muses out loud, while looking me over just as I had done her. We don’t really know each other all that well, and I haven’t actually seen the woman in several years. It’s possible she might not recognize me, but I’m very certain she would recognize my name. I’ll “I certainly didn’t expect to see him here today, and in the company of someone so… very interesting.”

“Does Marcus even know the Langley’s or the Donohue’s?” Her companion asks suddenly.

“Well, he obviously knows me!” I tell them cooly. “Mark is here at my brothers wedding as my plus one.”

“I see,” Eleanor says, grabbing my hand and bringing it up to her face to look closely at my engagement ring. “This is some fancy rock you have here, my dear. That diamond is at least 3 carats, and set in platinum if I’m not mistaken. Did my Marcus perchance give this to you? His tastes do tend to run to the excessively vulgar.”

“Umm…,” I have no idea what to say to that, but then Mark is back and ushering us into the ministers study. Apparently the minister himself thought it would be more friendly and intimate to perform the marriage rights in his office.

“My dear, what about the…uh…” Eleanor says just before the minister begins to speak, laying a hand on her son’s arm and then dropping her voice very dramatically as if I wasn’t listening in. “Other wedding… to that Davenport girl… this afternoon?”

“Well, it turns out that Corina Davenport and I are not at all compatible,” Mark says dryly. “Apparently I’m a decent human being, and she’s a cheating b***h. Amanda and I will be heading there together later. Feel free to join us if you like. I’m sure it will be quite an interesting show! And of course there will be good food, dancing, and an open bar! Unless my ex fiancé absconded with the funds as I suspect she has.”

“Are we ready, then?” The minister says, clearing his throat and sounding as if he disapproves of Marks language. Or maybe he just doesn’t wish to be here all day? One could hardly blame him, as it was a particularly fine day in June.

“Carry on, then!” Eleanor says with a dramatic wave of her hand. “Pay no attention to a concerned mother, who wishes for nothing but the best for her only son!”

Everyone in the room is having trouble keeping their composure over Eleanor’s theatrics. Her companion puts his arm around her waist, and I decide to turn and listen to the minister.

“Do you have your own vows?” The minister asks, but neither Mark not I have any. Mark asks that the minister use the standard service, and we just get on with it.

The minister speaks a few words about the sanctity of marriage, asks me and then Mark to repeat the typical love honor and obey stuff. Mark grabs a couple of wedding rings out of his vest pocket which we take turns slipping onto each other’s fingers, a quick kiss, and then we are basically done. We all just have to sign our names on the marriage license form, and we are good to go join the party down the block.

The four of us silently walk the half block to the hotel where the reception is located, the last few people to enter. I was just about to open my mouth and suggest keeping the quickie marriage a secret for now, when my mother is suddenly right there in our business.

“Darling, where have you been?” She exclaims happily. “I thought you were just behind us. Ah, but I see that you’re here with your future mother in law as well, splendid!”

“There’s no future about it at all,” the old besom Eleanor complains. “It is fait accompli! Done! Finished! Without a single by your leave! I was never so astonished in all my life.”

“What?” My own mother asks, her face falling faster than an avalanche, and just as destructive. “What do you mean it’s finished? What’s finished?”

“Let’s go find somewhere private to talk, before we draw too much attention to ourselves,” I suggest, grabbing onto my mother’s hand and trying to lead her someplace, anyplace!

“No, I demand to know what Eleanor means immediately!” My mother replies, standing her ground.

“Not here! I don’t want to ruin Derrick and Lindsey’s day!” I plead, and then I head for the lobby, dragging Mark and along with me. The two mothers follow along, but we don’t quite manage to reach the hotel lobby before my mother is in hysterics. Apparently Eleanor had told her what we had done.

“What! My only daughter is already married?” She starts railing bitterly, and I honestly feel pretty bad about it. “With no wedding guests, no registry, no church and no party afterwards? How could you do this to me, you selfish little b***h! You completely destroyed that one special day I’ve been dreaming about since your birth! My only daughter! And on the same day as Derricks weeding? Oh, I can’t bear it! You just wait, your brother is going to be so upset that you’re trying to upstage his day on purpose!”

Mom runs back into the reception, screaming her head off. I dare not go in there. Everyone inside is sure to figure out what happened within seconds, and blame me for mother’s temper tantrum. Seeing my face will just set her off more. And it’s all my fault. I’m a horrible daughter, and sister. I’ve given enough ammunition to keep mom angry with me for months probably. She might not ever speak to me again. Or Derrick and Lindsey.

I sink down onto a nearby couch like I have no energy left to stand.

“We should have gone to the courthouse later this week, instead of trying to do this today of all days!” I sniff, taking the handkerchief from my little purse and blotting at the tears that were threatening to fall. “How did I let you talk me into this?”

“It’s all going to work out fine, you’ll see!” Mark tells me, sitting down beside me. “Besides, we won’t have any time to get married this week. We will be on our honeymoon in Hawaii.”

“Oh, I nearly forgot about that!” I reply. I wish the idea of Hawaii would cheer me up a little. Only it doesn’t.

“We should probably head back in to the reception,” Eleanor suggests, surprising me. “If I know your mother, she’s wasted no time in making a fool out of herself. She makes our family look positively normal!”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” my new husband says, as he pulls me up from my spot on the couch.

“Oh, god,” I say as we follow Eleanor and Donny into the reception hall. I hope it’s not too bad, even as I know how futile that wish is. It’s utter chaos in there!