Elevator Pitch (Hapless In Love #1)

68. Meet Me In The Hallway

68

meet me in the hallway

Greyson

Manhattan, NY | April 27, 2024

The ceremony should’ve started twenty minutes ago, but I assume that Aileen wanted to make a grand entrance or something wasn’t to her liking and she has refused to come out until it has been fixed. I can’t imagine what could be wrong as I take in my surroundings once more. This venue is straight out of a fairytale. The infamous ballroom of the Woodward Manhattan Hotel has been transformed with white and gold decor. Elegant floral arrangements of carnations and white roses trim the aisle and archways. On the far end of the room is where we’ll gather for the reception. Ivory wisteria flower arrangements cascade from the ceiling. It’s stunning.

I don’t even want to think about what she may be putting Audrey through today. She’s planned the perfect wedding, and I’ll be sure to pay her in compliments because I know she is counting the minutes to be done with Aileen as a client. I wonder if they’re going to exchange vows, and I’m curious to see what Korean traditions she’s included in this wedding. I’ll never forget how furious her parents were when they found out we had eloped .

Selah and I are seated in a row, with Henry to my left and Elena and Alex to her right. My thoughts are interrupted when my phone buzzes. I reach for it, and it buzzes again. Everyone who would be texting me is right beside me. I pull it out, and I’m surprised to see it’s from the bride. Who should be standing before us with Daniel at this very moment.

Unsure of what this message will say, I prepare myself by taking a deep breath as I unlock my phone.

Aileen

Can we talk for a moment?

I’m in a dressing room.

Me

If you hadn’t noticed we’re kind of waiting for you to come out here and get married.

It can’t wait?

Aileen

No, it can’t.

Please, Grey.

She sends an emoji with pleading eyes, followed by a ping of her exact location.

I frown at my phone and sigh as I slip it into my pocket. I lean into Selah and excuse myself. I stand and try to slip out of the ceremony without attracting attention, which is very hard due to my height. Soon after I stand up, Alex locks eyes with me, concern etched across his face, and I give him a nod. He nudges Elena, and she watches me attentively before she grabs Selah’s attention.

I exit the room, not without glares from her family, of course, and poor Daniel looks like he’s going to vomit. The door slams behind me and I wince in response, whipping my head back and forth, making sure I’m alone in this hallway before I keep moving. Hoping Audrey is nowhere near because she’ll have my head for that disruption. I pull up the Fools in NY group chat to tell them Aileen wanted to talk and that I won’t be long. I open the thread with the bride and follow her ping until I reach the supposed room she’s either stuck or hiding in. I take a deep breath and raise my hand, knocking twice on the door.

“Grey? I’m in here,” she says softly.

“Are you alright? What happened?”

She turns the knob revealing a small dressing room, currently being used as an added storage closet. Littered with velvet stools and short benches.

She stands on the other side, peering up at me with red, watery eyes, and I’m surprised to see her makeup intact for the most part. Her petite frame adorns a floor-length pleated gown. Her veil has scattered pearls, and her hair is styled half up, half down, with bangs framing her face and brushed waves flowing to the middle of her back.

“What’s going on?” I ask and she tries to speak but bursts into tears instead.

I close the door behind me, giving her a moment to work through these feelings before getting to the root of the issue. She softly sobs into a tissue and pats at her face before calming her breaths.

“I’m scared to fail at this again. We didn’t work and we were friends at first . How do I know I’m not going to do this again to Dan?”

I grab a nearby stool and set it close to her, taking a seat. “We were just kids fresh out of college without a clue. I honestly think if we had waited like our parents wanted us to, we wouldn’t have gotten married at all.”

“I-I think so, too.”

She pats carefully at her face, trying not to ruin her makeup. It will need to be touched up anyway.

She continues, “I’ve been thinking a lot about our marriage lately and where I fell short. I didn’t give you all of me and I let you take the blame with my friends and family. I didn’t have your back and you were my best friend. I told everyone it was your fault because that was easier than admitting my shortcomings. I don’t have to question whether you’ve had my back because that’s the kind of man you are. You deserved better than me and I was a coward.

I’m sorry, Greyson. I didn’t fight for you. When shit got tough, I cut and ran. While you were a workaholic, you made efforts to keep things alive and I resisted. I just wanted things to be easy and once they weren’t, I got scared and gave up. I know I didn’t speak up before I filed for divorce. I shouldn’t have blindsided you. I find myself feeling like I’m going to run again when things don’t exactly go my way and he tries hard to compromise with me. I can be very stubborn at times.”

I pretend to be shocked. “That’s news to me.”

She manages a tearful smile. “I have more I’d like to get off my chest. Please?”

I raise my hands in surrender. “The floor is yours. It is your day.”

“Daniel’s work is extremely demanding, requiring him to be overseas quite often and I don’t always get the attention I’d like, but he prioritizes me. He ensures that I never go a moment feeling unloved. Being alone in the States has taken a toll on me and I’ve decided to split my time here and in London with him, working remotely. I’m going to make sacrifices this time around and stay the course. I don’t want to make the same mistakes.”

I nod, listening attentively. She places her hand over mine.

“I always knew that you loved me, Grey, but it just didn’t feel this way with us. This love fulfills me. It’s overwhelming, yet I crave more. I’m not certain I can handle all the love he has for me, but it feels safe and right. You know? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s okay,” I assure her. “I know exactly what you’re talking about. You and I never had that. Sure, we loved each other, but it wasn’t that once-in-a-lifetime love.”

“Exactly. Quite literally, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to live without it and you created something with that beautiful mind of yours that led him to me. SoulBlend helped me find my person on the other side of the world. I can’t thank you enough for that. Thank you, Grey.” She peers up at me and her eyes well up with tears again.

“Hey. It’s okay, Aileen.”

She sniffs and argues, “No, it’s not okay. I shouldn’t have left you on your birthday. I had wanted to rip off the band aid so badly that it was all I thought about. I hadn’t even known what day it was when we had that conversation, but I’ll never forget it.

By the time I remembered, I was already on the ferry halfway to Jersey and wasn’t sure how to apologize for what I’d done, so I didn’t. It’s no excuse. I’m awful and I don’t even deserve this second chance right now. I really don’t.” She waves her hand out signaling the ceremony.

“Once again, my timing is just immaculate,” she says sarcastically. “I’m so sorry, Grey. I really hope you can someday forgive me, and we can start over, working towards a new friendship. I hate how much I’ve hurt you.”

“I appreciate that. I’d like to take the time to process everything I heard, and I want you to enjoy your day. I too have been dissecting everything I did wrong in our marriage because I am also afraid of making the same mistakes with someone new. You’re not alone with that.” I sigh. “Where’s all this coming from?”

She sniffles, blowing her nose into a tissue.

“Therapy. Daniel insisted on it. We’ve been going for a year. Says he doesn’t want to pass our trauma onto our future children.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Daniel’s a smart man. Now, in case you’ve forgotten, you’re getting married today, and everyone is waiting.”

I grab her hand and help her stand up. She leans forward for a hug, and I wrap her in one. I press a chaste kiss to the top of her head and as we pull apart, I say, “He’s the one. Let’s get you out of here and in his arms, shall we?”

She smiles, still sniffling, and says, “We shall.”

I turn the knob to open the door, and as we exit the closet, she says, “I saw her.”

“Selah?”

“She’s gorgeous.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” I say confidently as we walk side by side.

“Does she know that you’re in love with her?”

“Yeah, I’m just waiting for her to catch up,” I answer with a wry smile.

“You should get back to her. It’s not a good look that you ran after your ex-wife and left her sitting alone.”

“You’re one to talk. It’s not a good look that you left your fiancé in there waiting and asked to speak to your ex-husband in the middle of your wedding. Not to mention for a conversation we could’ve had at any time during the past decade.”

Her response is cut off when Audrey spots us in the hallway. The flames within her irises could take the entire building down. I open my mouth to cover for Aileen then I think of how badly this looks and the words die on my tongue. She speaks for me, apologizing profusely and saying that she needed to have an important conversation before going down the aisle.

Audrey stares at her with an intensity that could burn holes through her tiny frame and says nothing. Her silence is frightening. The scene becomes more ominous once she turns up her lip and hums a tune. My heart pounds in my chest as she raises her hand slowly and I brace myself. I fear this may be the moment she opts to drag my ex out into the street for a fight as she once said. Isn’t Eric supposed to be around so things like this don’t happen? Where the hell is he? Then to my surprise, her hand stops moving when she simply presses a button on her headset. Her face is still expressionless and her hums come to an abrupt halt when she finally speaks to answer the phone .

“Still no eyes on the bride. If I do find her, she may need makeup. Can someone pay for hair and makeup to stay longer? I haven’t checked the entire venue, but I’m close.” She rolls her eyes as if she’s annoyed with the conversation. “We won’t have another code purple. You have my word,” she says, sizing Aileen up while speaking as if she’s not in front of her. “This bride is not a runner. If she is, I think she knows better than to run from me .”

Her lips form a sinister smile.

Audrey in work mode is nightmare-inducing.

She parts her lips, nodding as if the person on the other end of the call can see her. Her eyes scan the hall as if she’s looking for something. She nods again before pressing the button on the earpiece to end the call.

She softens her gaze on us.

She asks, “Are we having a wedding today or do I need to go out there and call it off? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve snuck a bride out. I support you either way because the checks have already been cleared. Your choice, honey.”

She looks at me for reassurance and I nod approvingly. Go to him.

She inhales deeply and smiles back.

She confidently proclaims, “We’re having a wedding today, Audrey. I’d like to marry that incredible man in there.” She points her thumb toward the door. “I just needed to apologize to Greyson first.”

She angles her head towards me and starts crying again. Audrey searches me for answers, and I simply shrug because I don’t have any. Not right now, anyway.

“I’m sorry,” she says again, grabbing my hand and squeezing it gently. She lets it go and tells Audrey she’s ready.

“Come with me,” she orders, taking off in a speed walk, swaying her arms quickly as Aileen follows close behind. I stay rooted to the spot, watching them take off, and Audrey whips her head back at me and pins me with a glare and mouths we’ll talk later.

I expected that.

Hums fill the hallway as they descend.

“What the fuck was that about?”

Eric’s tone catches me by surprise. I stand there for a moment to prepare my answer before turning around because I know it doesn’t look good and he will not let up until he gets the truth. He may be Audrey’s bodyguard, but he is protective of all the girls in the same way.

“I can explain.”

“You fucking better.”