Billionaire's Secret: Exposing Jay: A Chicago Suits Romance (Loving Jay Book 2) (12 page)

It was only six am Chicago time, but it was my wedding day, I couldn’t sleep any longer.

Jay opened his eyes and smiled. He pulled me into a bear hug and kissed my hair.

“I love you Beautiful. I'm going to make you the happiest person alive.”

Room service brought a huge assortment of food to our suite. As I spooned fresh passionfruit into my mouth, Jay made us mimosas. He passed me a glass and raised his in the air.

“To the best day of my life.” He chinked his glass on mine and I filled with emotion.

“Stop it. I don’t want to spend the whole day crying.” He reached over and clasped my hand.

“I need to you to understand how much I love you.” My cheeks flushed at the intensity of his eyes.

“When are we getting married?” I couldn’t contain myself any longer, Jay hadn’t given me any indication at all.

“This evening.” My shoulders dropped.

“That’s so long, what are we going to do all day?”

“You are going to get a gown. It’ll take them awhile to make the alterations. Then you are going to the spa for a six hour pamper package, a facial, body wrap, massage and some other girl stuff. Get your hair, nails and make up done. By the time you do all that it’ll be time for the ceremony.”

I spooned more passionfruit, trying to digest his long list of things he’d planned for me.

“Where do I get the dress? Is there a boutique nearby?” The idea of picking out my wedding dress brought me back to the dreams of my childhood, when I used to cut pictures of them out of magazines.

“In the suite. I am going out, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

“What, here?”

“Yes, they'll bring an assortment for you to choose from. If you don’t see any you like, they’ll bring up some more.” Wow. Will I ever get used to the different life of a billionaire?

“What are you going to do all day?”

“Think about all the ways I’m going to fuck my wife.”

“
H
i
, I’m Virginia, Mr McAllister has arranged for me to be your minder today.” Her severe black bob stayed motionless as she moved. A minder? Oh well, at least I’ll have someone to talk to all day.

“Come in.” I stepped aside, and she walked past. I watched in amazement as three men followed, each wheeling a clothes rail full of dresses. Another two women followed them.

“This is Portia,
the
bridal gown specialist in Vegas,” Virginia said gesturing to one of the women. She didn’t introduce any of the other people. Unsure what to do, I looked at each of them, trying to give a welcoming smile.

The men pulled the garment bags off all the dresses. There must have been over three dozen. Which seemed like a lot but at the same time not enough to choose a wedding gown from.

“This rail is Vera Wang, these ones Christos and these Theia.”

I ran my hand along the dresses, my fingers tingling at the contact with silk, satin and lace. Most of them were white though a few were ivory and one had a pink tint.

This whole situation was crazy. Yesterday morning, I had no clue I'd be picking out my wedding dress today. Let alone to get married this evening. Giddy, I could barely contain my girlish excitement. I only wished Jenny and Sam were here with me.

“What are you thinking? A big skirt? Strapless? Backless? Lace?” Portia walked passed the dresses, touching an example of each as she walked past.

“I don’t think I want a big skirt.” I would feel silly in it since it’s only going to be the two of us.

“Good.” She waggled her hand at the men and they moved all the poofy dresses to one rail.

“I think I need something low key.”

“Long? Short?”

“Long.”

“Let me show you this Vera Wang.” She pulled out a dress made of sheer fabric, with some lace detailing on the chest. Decorative lines that went from the top to the hem glittered in the sunlight. I could see straight through the dress.

“That’s pretty,” I said, unconvinced.

“This is Mr McAllister’s favorite. He’d like you to wear it.”

“But,” I said looking at all the other dresses. Maybe there’s one I like better. I’ve never heard of a groom picking the bridal gown before.

“He said you can pick any you want, it’s just he likes this one best.”

My brow furrowed and I stood motionless, waiting for something to happen.

“Do you want to try it on?”

I looked to Virginia, my minder, hoping for some support.

“There’s no harm in trying it on,” Virginia said.

I took the dress into the bedroom and closed the door behind me. How was I supposed to put on a sheer dress? I went into the adjacent dressing room and through my underwear drawer until I found some plain white panties and a white bra.

I pulled the dress on, the fabric light and airy against my skin. Nervous, I took a deep breath and stood in front of the full length mirror. My eyes darted all over me. I turned to see myself from all angles.

I can’t deny it was a beautiful dress, but it seemed like something that would be confined to wearing in the bedroom and not out in public. The plunging back meant I had to take my bra off. The plunging neckline meant major cleavage was going on. At least the lace detailing hid my nipples.

“Come out and let us see,” Portia called.

Right. I was essentially nude and about to walk into a room full of people waiting to check out my dress.

“I think it’s too revealing,” I said through the door.

“Let us see, and we’ll tell you.”

“I’m not sure.”

“Don’t be shy Abbie,” Virginia said.

I took a deep breath and walked into the living room. The dress moved with me, its skirt swishing about my legs.

“Oh. My. God. You look stunning. That dress was made for you,” Portia said clapping. She rushed over to me and fussed with the dress, assessing it for alterations.

“She’s right Abbie, you look amazing,” Virginia said.

“I think I want to try a few others on.”

We went through a few dresses, most of them revealing to some degree though none as much as the first. But none had the reaction of the first one. Either by me or the people in the living room. It would help if I knew where the wedding was taking place. If it was in private I’d consider it.

“Do you know where the wedding is?”

“It’s next door,” Virginia replied.

“Next door like the Bellagio?” I glanced out the window to the large hotel outside.

“Yes.”

At least she’d answered my question, but I wasn’t any closer to knowing if the ceremony was in public or not.

“I’m sorry honey we really have to decide on a dress now, so there’s enough time to do the alterations,” Portia said.

“I can’t decide,” I said, exasperation in my voice.

“The sheer Vera Wang suits you best,” Virginia said.

I kept taking out my phone to text Jenny and Sam for their opinions on dresses, but decided I needed to tell them in person. It would be far too weird for them to get a text out of the blue asking them to tell me which wedding gown I should choose. For my wedding today. Today. It seemed so crazy, but Jay made everything seem so natural.

“Okay. I’ll go with the sheer Vera Wang.” I tried not to think too hard about it, it might be the kind of decision I’ll regret later.

* * *

I
spent
the rest of the day being a princess. Six hours in a spa has that effect. Virginia kept me company for a spa lunch of a quinoa and super food salad and green tea.

The spa workers treated me like a VIP, doting on my every need. By the time I left, I think I’d have every treatment they offer. My skin felt amazing, my muscles were nice and loose and my hair and make up perfect.

Virginia and I made our way back to my hotel suite.

“Jay gave me these to give to you, to wear this evening.” She passed me a small box gift wrapped in black paper.

I ripped open the paper, no longer concerned about saving the paper for later. Inside was a pair of ivory lace panties. Obviously they were intended to be worn under my sheer wedding dress. At least it wasn’t a thong.

Virginia nodded at me and I blushed. What must she think of me?

“There’s more.” She passed me another box. This one square and squat.

I ripped open the matching black paper. A jewelry box. My fingers trembled as I held in on my palms. I cleared my throat and opened the hinged lid.

My heart stopped at the sight of the necklace. Small diamonds lined the chain, which ended in a beautiful pendant. The pendent was rectangular, and would sit just above my cleavage. It was about as long as my finger and slightly wider. Scallops of small diamonds formed a pattern over it, with a larger diamond in the arc of each scallop. I ran my finger over it, tracing the pattern.

“It has an art déco vibe, like the dress,” Viginia said proudly. I wonder if she selected it.

Matching earrings sat in the center of the necklace, drop earrings with smaller versions of the pendant. A bracelet laid alongside the necklace, a chain of small diamonds that matched the chain of the necklace.

“Here, there’s one more.” She passed me what was obviously a shoebox.

I ripped the paper off and opened the lid. A pair of Louboutins. These ones mesh, dotted with rhinestones with glittery sky high heels. At least I assume those are rhinestones.

* * *

P
ortia
and her crew arrived with a garment bag.

“We’ve altered it to fit you perfectly, here, put it on.” Portia directed the man holding the dress to give it to me. Why were all these men here anyway? And who was the other woman who acted like Portia’s shadow?

I took the dress from them, and the panties Jay had sent and retreated to the bedroom.

Butterflies fluttered like crazy in my stomach and I sat down on the bed to calm myself. I was about to get married. I shook my head, not that I had any doubt. There was not a shred of doubt in my mind that I wanted to marry Jay. It’s just, I wanted my mom. I at least wanted Jenny.

Once I felt a little better, I pulled on the lace panties and wedding gown, careful not to mess up my hair.

Unlike the first time I’d tried on the dress, I strode with confidence into the living room. Into the view of all those people, those anonymous men.

“Oh. My. God. You look ravishing. Mr McAllister is one lucky man,” Portia said. I assume she gushes like that to everyone she sells a dress to.
I stood like a mannequin while they put the jewelry on me, had me step into the shoes and did a bit of last minute fussing over the dress and my hair.

Virginia passed me the bouquet I had selected over lunch, a few simple strands of Calla lilies.

* * *

“
R
eady
?” Virginia said.

I took a deep breath. Filled with both nerves and excitement, I nodded my head.

“Here, hold your dress like this until you get there,” Portia said, pulling my dress up so it wouldn’t drag on the ground.

Virginia offered her arm for support, and I hooked my arm around her in, my bouquet in that hand and my dress in the other.

While we waited for the elevator Virginia said, “Oh, by the way, I just got a message from Jay to tell you he’s written his own vows. He says you don’t have to, but he wanted me to let you know.”

My head whipped away from her, as if she had slapped me. Our own vows? She tells me this as we’re walking to the altar? What do I say?

I didn’t have time to think, she hustled me out of the elevator, across a parking garage and to the Bellagio. Every person we passed stopped to stare at us, including a crowded craps table. We didn’t go inside the hotel, instead walked toward the fountain.

“You’re on your own from here,” Virginia said and pointed toward the fountain. I peaked around the corner and saw Jay and the official standing in an alcove beside the iconic fountain.

Virginia took the bunched up dress from my hand and smoothed the fabric, pulling and tugging it until it laid perfectly on my body and around my feet. She freshened my lipstick and stepped back.

“Good luck.”