Secrets of a Billionaire

Chapter 7

Mark’s POV

I think Amanda is stressed out because I spilled the beans that we are getting married. Her mother, whom I believe is named Susan, seems to be quite a piece of work. I almost laughed out loud when Amanda was acting surprised about her mom’s white dress. I knew for a fact she wasn’t surprised at all!

But I kind of get the feeling that Amanda is in hot water now with her brother, who started to act icy towards us as soon as Susan mentioned wanting me in photos. And I notice the bride looking enviously at Amanda’s engagement ring. I hadn’t intended to cause a rift in the family, although Amanda did whisper to me at one point that her mother would have found some way to disrupt the wedding or make a spectacle of herself in some manner, despite her best efforts. Unfortunately, it’s looking as if Susan is making it look as if it’s somehow all Amanda’s fault. I feel badly that I’m the reason for that.

After being sat in the front pew for the ceremony, I feel a buzzing coming from my trousers. I recall I had put the phone on silent. We aren’t doing anything just now, so I pull my phone out to see more text messages from Robert and Corina. My mood is instantly spoiled when I see their words. Robert telling me Corina is untrustworthy (pot, meet kettle), and Corina is asking if I have cold feet. Like either of them actually care? But I play along as if everything is fine and that I’ll see them later, just as planned.

Once Susan is seated in our pew, she starts loudly talking about our wedding plans, as if this were the time or place for it? An old aunt of hers sitting behind us taps me on the shoulder and asks if I’m getting married to her favorite niece Mandy, and I just nod, while Amanda and her father whom I was told to call Bill try to shush Susan just as Derrick and his groomsmen enter along with the wedding officiant.

I take Amanda’s hand in mine once the processional starts. She gives me a small smile, and then turns to watch as the bridesmaids slowly make their way to the front, followed by Lindsey and her father.

Does Amanda wish for a big church wedding just like this? I suppose once I break up with Corina, we could still do something like this. But I don’t see how we could invite her friends and family to another wedding just after this one without highjacking her brother’s wedding completely. It wouldn’t be fair. And I don’t want to cause any further strain between Amanda and her family, my future in laws!

Most of my family will be there, though, at the ‘wedding’ that’s not going to happen 5 miles away from here. Well, what few family members that can actually stand each other for more than 5 minutes. And probably a few that can’t, as long as there’s an open bar and an audience to air their grievances to about the unfair treatment they get at grandfathers hands, since the old curmudgeon holds the purse strings. Tightly.

From what I’ve heard over the years, my grandfather grew up poor and he continues to live in fear of becoming poor again despite being the 3rd richest man in the state!

I was one of the few fortunates that escaped the odd family dynamics when I inherited my father’s rental properties upon his death several years ago. I hadn’t had a lot to do with my father’s extended family since he divorced mom when I was a small child. But that was mainly due to the fact that he hadn’t had a good relationship with his own family, either. I generally spent only a couple weekends a month with him, and summers. His latest wife and daughter had been killed in the same car crash that took his life 6 years ago, so I ended up inheriting everything that was his.

At that point I had managed to take my father’s property holdings from near bankruptcy to profitability in just a few short years. I sold off a few properties in underperforming markets, and invested money to bring sub par apartments up to luxury standards and raised rents appropriately. Soon there were waiting lists of people wanting to live in my buildings.

Suddenly, a grandfather whom had been absentee in my life up until then was taking notice. He thought I had a lot of potential as a businessman. He wanted to take me under his wing and make me his sole heir! But only if I found and married a suitable woman who would love me as I am. One who didn’t know how wealthy I was about to become. And I had a deadline to find this paragon of perfection, or Grandfather wouldn’t change the will in my favor, and it would all go to his spoiled rotten grandson from his eldest son. My dreadful cousin, Elliot Reynolds III.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed as the vows were said, and the unity candle was lit. Derrick and Lindsey do look happy together, and I notice Amanda dabbing happily at the tears leaking from her eyes. She obviously loves her brother, and is happy for him. Amanda’s father Bill is looking on with pride. Susan is moaning quietly, yet still audibly, about losing her ‘baby boy’.

Would my mother do that at my wedding this afternoon? I know she loves me and is proud of me, but she’s never really coddled me or been effusive with her affections. I’m not even sure if mother is even planning to attend the wedding this afternoon! She hates all of my father’s family, and my grandfather most of all!

It’s obvious that Amanda’s family loves each other, even if her mom has a couple of issues. No family is perfect. But I think I wouldn’t mind being a part of her family. Doing family things, like celebrating holidays and special occasions together.

Soon the wedding ceremony is complete, and we all stand as Mr. and Mrs. Derrick Langley exit the chapel, followed by the entire wedding party. Then the first row is sent out behind them. As I walk down the aisle I look at all the happy wedding guests, and I am surprised to spot someone I know as I pass on by.

“Marcus?” I hear my mother address me, looking as shocked as I feel. I can’t stop to chat, though, so I just give a nod in recognition. I’m sure we will run into each other again at the reception just down the street.

Well, now I know where mother was going in the limo today.

How am I supposed to explain what I am doing? And why? I can’t imagine that socialite Eleanor Shipton will approve of her only child marrying a stranger just to make Elliot Reynolds happy, and for something as tacky as money, that’s for sure!

Eleanor Shipton-Reynolds never had to struggle for money, since she was born into it, and then married into even greater wealth. Then she divorced my cheating father and took him for half his wealth, alimony, and child support. And yet she would deny being hypocritical in her views about money!

I noticed she was on the grooms side of the church. I hope that doesn’t mean I’m related in any way to Amanda Langley. Most probably she is friends or business acquaintances with the Langley’s. They are of an age.

Once we reach the vestibule, I step outside of the swarm of guests exiting the building and following the wedding party to a hotel at the end of the street, and I sort of drag Amanda with me.

“Do you know Eleanor Shipton?” I ask her. She looks confused for a moment, and then her face brightens up.

“Oh yes,” she replies. “She’s one of mother’s high society friends, I believe. They are in some sort of club or sorority, the Royal Rosarians. Why do you ask? Oh, right! Shipton! Are you related?”

“She’s my mother,” I reply. “Listen, do you want a big wedding production like we just sat through with all your family attending, or would you prefer something more private?”

“Honestly?” Amanda starts, looking as if she is thinking hard for a second. “I’ve always dreamed of a big wedding, but I know mother is going to take it over and spoil it, mainly to impress her high society friends. Anyway, I don’t think we have time to plan anything like that if you’ve only got a few weeks to get married.”

“Alright then,” I say, coming quickly to a decision. “Let’s get back inside the church and see if the minister is willing to do the deed for us!”

We begin to push our way back inside, and I come across my mother and her current boy toy Donny who were just about to exit. I pull them all back into the vestibule.

“Wait right here and get to know each other,” I request of them. “I should be back in a moment or two!”

Then I manage to catch the minister just as he was getting ready to leave. I explain my purpose to him, and at first he’s reluctant.

“This is highly irregular!” He informs me with a sour frown on his face. “And without the marriage license, I simply cannot do it.”

“I have the license right here,” I tell him, pulling it out of my vest pocket. I nearly laugh at the surprised look on the old buggers face. Then I take out my wallet and pull out several hundred dollar bills. “And I have $1000 right here and ready to donate to the church!”

“Well, in that case, where is the bride?” He asks, taking the license to check everything was in order, and also looking over the bills to make sure they weren’t counterfeit I suppose. I usher my bride and my witnesses inside, and we get started.