The Bride Changed. The Bill Didn't. novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Balance Due

On the screen, Dalton laughed.

"Balance? What balance? Mara handled all that."

"Mara withdrew as the client yesterday evening, sir." The venue manager opened his folder. "Under our contract, the balance is due before service. It is ninety-seven thousand dollars, plus the hundred and twenty-one thousand your mother added in upgrades."

He read it flatly.

"Two hundred and eighteen thousand, all together."

The camera swung toward Estelle.

Her face had gone white under the makeup.

"There has been a mistake," she said, in her club voice. "My son will sort it out."

Dalton pulled a card from his wallet and handed it over.

The manager tapped it on the reader and waited.

I watched his face on my phone.

I watched the screen on the reader, which the cousin's camera had zoomed in to catch.

DECLINED.

Three hundred guests were close enough to see it.

"Try again," Dalton said.

DECLINED.

"Try my mother's."

Estelle fumbled in her bag and held out a black card.

The reader beeped, and the manager looked up.

"Also declined, ma'am."

A murmur ran along the white chairs.

I put my gin and tonic on the tray table.

My hand was not shaking.

"Breathe," Cal said quietly.

"I'm breathing."

"You're also smiling."

I touched my mouth.

I was.

On the screen, the venue manager closed his folder.

"We cannot begin service until the balance is paid. I'm sorry."

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