Page 1 of Riding with the Secret Billionaire

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TRISH

I'm staring at my phone in the middle of Toronto Pearson International Airport's Terminal 1, my left eye twitching uncontrollably.The email from the airline might as well be written in hieroglyphics because I read it three times and still can't process what it's telling me.

We regretto inform you that Flight AC7654 to Las Vegas has been canceled due to mechanical issues...

Canceled?My perfect, meticulously planned first-class ticket that I splurged on specifically to arrive for dress fittings before Jordyn's wedding in Foxfire Valley, Nevada?The one I spent an obscene amount of money on because I promised my best friend I wouldn't miss a single pre-wedding event?

That flight.Canceled.

"Excuse me," I say, approaching the customer service desk where an exhausted-looking agent types furiously at her computer."I need to get to Nevada. Today.It's an emergency."

The woman barely glances up. "Everyone here needs to get somewhere today, ma'am.We're rebooking all passengers as quickly as possible."

"You don't understand," I lean in, lowering my voice to what I hope sounds urgent but not crazy-person desperate."My best friend is getting married in two weeks.I'm the maid of honor. I have to be there for the final dress fitting on Saturday."

Her fingers pause over the keyboard."Wedding emergency. Got it." She types for what feels like seventeen years."I can get you on a flight Sunday afternoon..."

"Sunday afternoon? Today's Sunday.Do you mean seven days from now?" My voice rises enough that several fellow stranded travelers look my way."That's not going to work."

The agent gives me a look that says she's dealt with a thousand women like me today."I'm sorry, but with the mechanical issues affecting some of our fleet, we've had to cancel over thirty flights.There's nothing available until Sunday."

I grip the counter, calculating the possibilities."What about other airlines? Other routes?"

"You're welcome to check, but most carriers are affected.It's a cascading problem. The storms across the Midwest last week grounded so many planes that maintenance schedules are backed up everywhere.If it helps, we're providing hotel vouchers for tonight, then we'll reevaluate tomorrow."

The dress fitting is at 2 PM on Saturday at the Heirloom Rose Hotel in Foxfire Valley.Even if I made a Sunday morning flight, I'd be too late.

I'm already pulling out my phone, ready to drop even more money I don't have."I'll keep checking other options."

"Good luck," she says, sounding genuinely sympathetic as she hands me a hotel voucher.

Great. That'll explain to Jordyn why her maid of honor isn't there to help with last-minute wedding details.

I move away from the counter, dropping onto the nearest uncomfortable airport chair.This is a nightmare. I scroll through flight booking apps, finding exactly what the agent warned, nothing available to get me anywhere near Nevada before the weekend.

My phone buzzes with an incoming call.Jordyn's smiling face lights up my screen, and my stomach drops.

"Hey!" I answer with forced cheer."How's the bride-to-be?"

"Freaking out in the best possible way," Jordyn laughs."Please tell me you're about to board your flight.Talia is already here, and she's driving me crazy with her 'organizational suggestions' for the reception seating."

I close my eyes, swallowing hard.Even her brother's new unofficial girlfriend got there before me.I could tell her about the cancellation, watch her try to pretend she's not disappointed, listen to her insist that missing the dress fitting isn't a big deal... but I know better.Jordyn's been dreaming of this wedding since we were twelve, planning every detail with military precision.The last thing she needs is one more complication.

"Actually..." I scan the departure board one last time."Everything's fine! Just waiting to board."

The lie slips out before I can stop it.

"Thank God," she sighs. "I need you here, Trish.Silas's brothers are all arriving early, and I'm pretty sure Noah is about to murder the wedding planner for suggesting we change the table arrangements."

"Don't worry, I'll handle everything when I get there," I promise, already knowing I'm completely screwed."You just focus on being a beautiful bride."

We chat for a few more minutes before hanging up.I stare at my phone, panic rising in my chest.I've got approximately six days to figure out how to teleport from Toronto to Nevada.

Wait.

What if I don't fly? What if I drive?

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