Page 76 of Elevator Pitch

“I just like that song; I didn’t know you were doing it intentionally.”

“Please explain the humming and then tell me what you were going to say about her.”

Eric says, “Audrey has a habit of humming when she doesn’t have anything nice to say.”

“Well, you wouldn’t be the first person that had something unkind to say about her. My friends have their opinions as well,” I admit.

“Are you sure you want to hear my take? You two seem cordial.”

“Go for it,” I urge.

“This is better than any reality show,” he adds, placing his head on his chin and waits for her to share.

“Remember what you asked for. Last chance before I open the floodgates.” She looks to me for permission and I grant it with a nod.

“I’ve worked with a lot of brides in my career, so I’ve seen it all, but Aileen, she’s one for the books,” she says with a scoff. “The past eight months working on her wedding have been interesting to say the least. She’s manipulative and there’s a motive foreverythingshe does. Even if it doesn’t make sense to question her actions, you should. I’m not sure how she was when you were married because she said you were young, but if she behaved anything like she does now, I’m not surprised that you’re divorced.

I haven’t had the pleasure of working with Daniel often, but I’ve seen enough to wonder why he’s marrying her. He loves her, without a doubt. I just don’t think he reallyknowsher.”

She sips her coffee before asking, “Would you like for me to continue?”

“Absolutely,” I say, crossing my arms in front of me.

I’d love to take a bite of cake, but I fear she may say something that’ll cause me to choke, so I’ll wait.

“In this industry people tend to show their ass in ways you wouldn’t imagine inpreparation for a wedding. I get paid an awful lot to oversee things, mostly bullshit. All they need to do is show up, say their vows and get on with their lives. However, she insists on tagging along for meetings, as if she doesn’t trust me to honor her wishes. Most brides hand it off to me because they’ve got better things to do.

I assumed she was just needy or lonely with Daniel working in the UK currently, but she likes to show me off to her friends like a show pony. Even makes posts on her socials about me being her new ‘bestie.’”

Eric is vibrating with excitement, and I am still along for the ride.

“This woman has also had the balls to ask me if she can stay at one of my family’s resorts forfree. As if herbillionairefiancée can’t afford it. When I asked her why she would expect something like that from me, her response was ‘I thought we were friends.’ I informed her that I’ve been hired to do a job and have a strict policy against mixing my business life with my personal life. She didn’t love that, but she backed off.”

Pausing to sip her coffee again, she says, “Last chance before I go for the jugular. You can opt out now.”

I grab a bite of cake and shake my head as I swallow. “I can handle it.”

“Finish her,” Eric chimes.

We break out into a fit of laughs, before settling down.

She continues, “I’m not going to say I’ve never had a bride that I’ve wanted to drag outside and fight in the street before, because that would be a lie. I will say that your ex-wife is one of my top three brides I’d love to get in the gloves withorgo bare knuckles. I’m not sorry,” she adds with a shrug. “Oh, and I think you should bring Selah to the wedding so she can see how much better you can do. Any questions?”

Well, fuck.

She really went for it.

Am I surprised to hear these things abouther? Not really.

“I have a few, actually. Though I’d like to process everything you just said.”

“Understandable,” she says.

I look to Eric and ask, “was that entertaining enough for you?”

“Sure was. I hear a lot about her on the rides home from the office, but I’ve sat in on a few meetings and can confirm everything she said is true. Now that I knowyou’reher ex, I fully support you moving in on Selah. Hell, I’ll even help.”

“That’s whatI’mdoing,” she says.

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