Page 56 of The Bridesmaid

A ripple of shock had gone through all of us. We all knew head bridesmaid was Leopold’s choice. Why had he pickedher?

If I hadn’t have been so blindsided myself, I might have enjoyed watching Silky and Ophelia attempt to hide their horror.

It was common knowledge that Simone wanted to cover Adrianna’s kidnap forWrongly Accused.

‘We need a lawyer to determine the prenup,’ Georgia explained to the girls. ‘The issue of Elysium’s ownership is complicated.’

‘But property isn’t Simone’s area of law,’ said Ophelia, looking betrayed. I wondered if Adrianna had hinted she would be head bridesmaid. We all knew Georgia couldn’t do it – she can’t pose for a picture to save her life.

The evening had passed in a blur, as I struggled with all the questions and emotions of being in the same room as Simone. Westaged pictures with bowls of popcorn, and had a fake pillow fight. When the photographers left, we all excused ourselves to our rooms along the same corridor. Simone grabbed my wrist as I pressed my gold key card to the door.

‘Bunny.’

‘It’s Petra now,’ I snapped. ‘I’m nothing like the girl you knew at school.’

‘I hate what happened between us,’ she said quietly.

I shook my head in disbelief. ‘You had ten years to apologize. Why are you here, Simone?’ It was still strange. Saying her name aloud after all the years apart.

She’d glanced back along the hotel corridor.

‘Penance,’ she said.

My stomach lurched. ‘What?’ It came out as a whisper. As a grown-woman, Simone was tiny, to my model height. But somehow, I still saw her as the bigger, older girl.

‘Why would you owe Adrianna Kensington penance?’

She shook her head, frowning. ‘Bunny. Don’t you see? The kidnap. Silky’s court case. It’s all connected.’

The call to my editor, Max, connects, breaking my thoughts.

‘Petra? What’s up?’

‘I think I found the NYPD undercover.’

‘OK.’

‘He’s with the new bridesmaid. Pretending to work as her PA. She must be in on it too.’

‘Did they find anything yet?’

‘I don’t know.’ I raise my camera and take a snap of Holly and her assistant. Then zoom in. They both seem to be looking at … my heart skips. A birthday invitation. I remember seeing thoseTiffany blue cards like it was yesterday. I never got one. Leopold had to make a call to get me on the list.

‘Maybe,’ I correct myself. ‘It looks like they might have been searching the island. Found something.’

‘Watch and find out.’

I nod, wondering how to use this information to my best advantage. Wouldn’t Leopold be interested to know there’s an NYPD undercover? And I was the one to point him out?

Either way, I need to get that invitation.

Chapter Forty-Four

HOLLY

Back at Fortune House, I’m just in time for the cake tasting. Georgia takes me to a private room to pick a dress from a selection Ophelia has collated, then whisks me past a dining room, with a long table at the center, in the same lushly decadent style as the reception area. Golden plates have been set among jungle leaves in deep colors. There’s a dark fairytale feel to it, like dining in a forbidden forest. The hardwood table is set with Roman banquet-style foods. Grapes and whole fish.

‘Are we having a late lunch?’ I suggest hopefully.