Page 23 of Treasured By 3

“Did you get a dress?” he asks.

“I got two,” I answer.

“Good, then the celebration dinner will have a reason,” he says with a bright smile.

Before I can pay for my dress, Vanya and Josefine split it, saying they never got to do it for a daughter, then we’re off to dinner, laughing and enjoying the best New York offers, including the best company I could ask for.

NINE

Chase

“Okay,”I say with a sigh as I look at the wedding list with Hunter, Lief, and our fathers. “We got our tuxes, we have the venue. We have the caterer, the florist, the photographer, and the cake. We’ve got the list of people to invite, so I think we just need to send out the invitations, write our vows, settle on security locations, and find an officiant.”

“Plenty to do in just over two months,” my father says.

“Not too much,” Hunter argues. “How hard can invitations be?”

“There’s also the seating arrangement, choosing the first dance song, the other major dances, like Valerie with her father, you three with your mothers, who’s walking who down the aisle, if you’re doing flower girls, whether you’re inviting children,” Roger points out.

I share a look with Hunter and Lief. Lief handles this one. “Valerie’s parents aren’t invited to the ceremony. We invited her mother to the reception. I believe Tristan will walk her down the aisle.”

“Her parents,” Father huffs.

I narrow my eyes at him, and he holds his hands up. “We can figure out everything on the list. There’s only one question I have.”

“What?” Hunt asks.

“Why hasn’t Valerie asked Chase to go with her to get a marriage license?”

The room stays quiet. I’ve never assumed Valerie was going to choose to marry me on paper. I’d like it. I know that. Each of us would. However, I have a feeling she’s still deciding, considering she was talking to Sophia about it.

Roger nods. “She hasn’t decided who’s she’s marrying.”

“It’s obvious. She has to marry you, Chase. You’re the boss,” father argues.

“Right, because marrying second best would be terrible,” Hunter growls.

“I’m not saying that it would be bad for you and her to get married. I’m stating that she should have the Volkov name so all know she’s with Chase,” he explains.

“I doubt she wants to be Dr. Volkov at work. Imagine the attention it would draw,” Lief murmurs.

“Oh, so her last name should be Prins?” Hunter demands.

“A strong last name,” Roger agrees.

“Or she can keep her own,” I point out.

All eyes go to me. I put my hands up. “I’m saying that she isn’t obligated to take our last name. She can be whoever she wants.”

“This is a conversation that needs to happen soon. You’ll want to get that process started,” Father says.

I check the time. “Valerie will be at the airport soon. We should go.”

We head to the airport, and the car is silent. We’ve managed to double check a great deal and to narrow down the list of the ceremony and the reception. Father wanted us to invite only business associates, but we nixed that. We’ll invite the heads of each house, then family and friends. Father insisted on security and so we’ve chosen our security guards. Everything is taken care of…mostly.

Valerie steps off the plane, looking gorgeous as she clings to Elaine. She kisses Elaine’s cheek and sends her off with Vanya and Josefine. Both mothers wave to us.

Hunter sweeps Valerie up in his arms and kisses her. “Did you get a dress?”

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