Chapter 7 - The Grand Oaks Wedding
Saturday, 4:30 PM.
The sun was setting behind the rolling green hills of the Grand Oaks Estate—a breathtaking sixty-acre horse farm featuring a massive white-columned Greek Revival mansion, manicured lawns, and a three-thousand-square-foot glass conservatory.
Inside the conservatory, three hundred elite guests—dressed in black-tie tuxedos and floor-length evening gowns—were taking their seats around thirty round tables decorated with white roses, crystal stemware, and silver dinner plates.
Outside, near the secondary service entrance, three of my massive rented box trucks were parked in a neat row.
Twenty-four professional servers, dressed in crisp black shirts, black aprons, and polished shoes, were moving with military precision under the direction of my new head chef, Marcus—a brilliant culinary school graduate I had hired away from a rival hotel three months prior.
I stood near the main pass in the mobile kitchen tent, wearing a pristine, tailored chef’s coat with EMMA BENNETT CATERING embroidered in dark navy blue across the chest.
My left cheek was lightly dusted with concealer to cover the faint yellowish remnant of the bruise, but my posture was straight, my eyes were sharp, and my voice was calm and commanding.
"Plating team, go!" I instructed, pointing toward the line of stainless steel warming trays. "First course: roasted butternut squash soup with sage brown butter cream. Tables one through ten, move!"
The servers lifted the heavy silver trays and stepped smoothly through the double glass doors into the main conservatory.
Standing near the head table, looking breathtaking in her white lace gown, was the bride, Victoria Vance, alongside her father, Senator Thomas Vance.
As I stepped to the edge of the service entrance to inspect the floor, Victoria caught my eye. She excused herself from her guests and walked directly over to me.
"Emma," Victoria said, reaching out and grasping both of my hands with genuine warmth. "I don't even have the words to tell you how grateful my family is. My coordinator told me what you pulled off in less than twenty-four hours. The food smells incredible, the setup is flawless, and the staff is amazing."
"It’s my absolute pleasure, Victoria," I said, offering her a warm, confident smile. "You deserve a perfect wedding day."
"I heard what that disgusting family did to you," Victoria whispered, her eyes shining with indignation. "My father is going to make sure Ryan Mercer never works in this state again. They are completely finished."
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Before I could answer, a sudden commotion broke out near the front security gate of the estate.
Shouting, screeching tires, and the harsh glare of headlights cut through the twilight dusk near the main driveway.
