Page 1 of Black Lace

CHAPTER 1

PARTY TIME

(TIFFANY)

I lookup as my sister, Jasmine, walks into the café where I sit and wait to have lunch. She’s wearing a knee-length red dress with elbow-length sleeves and walking in ridiculously high black heels. I ordered our food twenty minutes ago, and I was starting to worry she wouldn’t arrive before it did.

“You took your sweet time getting here, Jasmine Carter,” I say, raising an eyebrow at her.

Jasmine smirks at me before flicking her long, brown hair behind her as she sits down. “Yeah, Teddy called just before I left the office. Melanie’s throwing some sort of hissy fit. Again.”

Theodore Richardson’s girlfriend has a history of serious dramatics, so I’m not surprised. I roll my eyes because I’m well and truly used to our friend’s relationship issues.

“Do I even want to know what it’s about this time?”

“Probably not.” Jasmine shakes her head, then her face brightens as she smiles at me. “Anyway, let’s talk weddings. Are you excited?”

I grin down at the large diamond ring on my finger. My fiancé, Benjamin Littrell, proposed to me last week. We’ve been dating for ten years, and I’m thrilled to finally plan a wedding. I’m used to planning high-profile events for my family because, with mom gone, that kind of social organizing has mostly fallen to me. This event will be all about celebrating my relationship with Ben, and I’m excited to swear my love for him in front of everyone we know.

“I can’t wait. Will you be my Maid of Honour?”

I eagerly wait for her reply. I’ve already planned this out in my head. I just need her to say yes, which I know she will.

“Sure. Will Crystal be upset you didn’t ask her, though?” Jasmine looks thoughtful.

Our youngest sister has been away at college for the last four years. She chose to go to Stanford University and openly told us that she did it because she wanted to go somewhere no one knew who she was.

“I don’t think so. She probably won’t even want to be a bridesmaid since the pictures will be all over the magazines.” I shrug.

I plan to ask her, just in case, but it’s unlikely she’ll say yes. I couldn’t not ask her, though. My sisters and Ihave always been close, but it’s more important to me that Crystal’s happy on my wedding day than having her be a part of my wedding party.

A waiter arrives with our food and interrupts our conversation, delivering our meal as we thank him before he leaves again.

“So, are we going to a club tonight?” Jasmine asks before shoving a forkful of salad into her mouth, making me laugh.

“We can. I’m sure Ben will be up for it. Do we want to invite Dec and Teddy, as well?”

I figure that if we’re going to party, we might as wellparty.

“I’ll send an invite to the chat. If people come, they come. If they don’t, they don’t. As for Teddy, we’ll see if Melanie lets him out to play.” Jasmine smirks at me.

I roll my eyes. “There’s probably a fifty-fifty chance.”

We finish our lunch and walk together back to the offices of Carter Group. I wave to Jasmine as she gets out on the marketing floor. Carter Group is the media conglomerate our grandfather started fifty years ago, and he’s been grooming me to take over the company since I was five.

I can’t remember a time when my life wasn’t about marketing, revenue, and spreadsheets. I’ve worked in every department on my way to the top because my grandfather wanted me to learn every aspect of the business.

Our dad shunned the company and went into medicine. He’s a surgeon, and a highly respected one, at that. Even when Gramps threatened to write him out of the will and refused to pay for his college education, Dad stood firm about having no part in the business. He allowed Gramps to train me, though.

I sigh as I walk through the office, noticing people scurry away from me as I approach them. They all look very actively busy, a little too busy, whenever I walk by. I tried to make friendships while I was working my way up the corporate ladder, but there was always the fact that I’mTiffany Carterin the way. Nobody in the company ever seemed to really want to let their hair down around me, but they also didn’t want to piss me off. So it made for strangely cordial “friendships” that have long since fallen away now that I’m the Vice President.

I nod to my assistant as I walk into my office, where I settle into work. I’m only mildly distracted by the group chat with our friends, confirming that we’re going to party tonight. It’s after nine when Jasmine appears at the door to my office.

“Come on, sis. It’s time to go. Your work will still be there on Monday.” She winks at me.

“Wow, I’d forgotten how easy life is in the Marketing department. Imagine leaving work on Friday and not thinking about work again until Monday. Remind me what that’s like, slacker,” I tease her.

“You’re such a bitch. Turn off your computer, and let’s get out of here. Your work will still be there tomorrow, I guess,” she laughs.

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