To Have and to Heist(45)
“I grew up with three brothers,” I said. “I’m up for the challenge.”
Her face brightened. “I’ve never had a chance to speak to the Angelinis. They aren’t in my circle. How exciting. Moira is going to die. Dead. It will kill her that she wasn’t here.”
I didn’t know who Moira was, but I sent her a silent thank-you for not showing up so Simone could be my guide. Without a moment of hesitation, she walked up to the group and started a round of introductions. She knew the CEO and his wife, and within moments I was shaking Bella’s hand.
I guessed Bella to be around twenty-five years old. Up close, she looked like she’d just stepped off the runway in Milan. Tall and willowy with long dark hair that reached her waist, and wearing a simple white dress, she looked out of place among the middle-aged mavens in their ostentatious sequined bodycon gowns.
“Simi is new to the gala circuit,” Simone said. “I’ve been introducing her around. She’s a wedding planner. One of the best. I’ve recommended her to just about everyone.”
“Thank you, dahling.” I offered a card to Bella. “Simply Elegant Events. We’re all about effortlessness and authenticity. Whether it’s an iconic twenties-style ballroom in a historic hotel, a rustic barn on the Apple River, a romantic fairy-tale hideaway in a reclaimed courtyard, an enchanting tropical paradise in the heart of the city, or a beautiful lakeside garden, we help clients find the most talented vendors to bring their visions to life.” I’d never been to any of those places, but I’d trawled the Internet for a marketing pitch that I thought sounded pretty good.
“I thought I knew all the wedding planners in the city.” Bella frowned at my card. “Why haven’t I heard of you?”
“She’s private,” Simone said, touching her gently on the arm. “Very exclusive. She doesn’t need to advertise. It’s all word of mouth.”
Bella’s parents shared a look that sent my pulse kicking up a notch.
“My daughter is getting married in three weeks,” Mrs. Angelini said. “Our wedding planner left us unexpectedly and we’ve been trying to manage everything ourselves. It’s a shambles.”
“We can just postpone the wedding,” Bella said. “It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Her father turned on her, his face creased in a scowl. “It is a big deal; not just for our family but for the D’Amico family as well. This wedding is going ahead as planned. For two years you have dragged it out with your bad behavior and outrageous demands. But no more.” He was shaking now, his fury evident in every line of his hard body. Simone clasped my elbow and gently pulled me back a step.
Mr. Angelini turned his stormy gaze on me. “Can you get an elephant?”
Not how I had expected the conversation to go, but when you have a big family, you’re used to thinking on your feet.
“Yes, I can.” Elephants were not uncommon in South Asian weddings. I’d been to several baraats over the years where the groom had ridden an elephant to the ceremony, and I was pretty sure my aunties would know where they’d been sourced.
Mr. Angelini looked over at his burliest bodyguard, a six-and-a-half-foot mammoth of a man with a prison haircut and a gold tooth. “She can get a fucking elephant.”
“Oh my. Language.” Simone fanned her face. I grabbed her arm and braced myself in case she collapsed in a swoon.
“How much?” Mr. Angelini demanded.
“For the elephant?”
“For everything,” he said. “The wedding is on June twenty-fifth.”
Even if I’d been a professional event planner with dozens of weddings under my belt, I wouldn’t have wanted to take the gig. The dude legit scared me. His bodyguards scared me. The prospect of failing a man who clearly had no patience and little time for incompetence and failure scared me.
But . . . Chloe.
“I can check the calendar—”
His face darkened. Gold Tooth folded his arms across his massive chest. “Give me a number,” Mr. Angelini said. “The last one wanted ninety thousand, which was 15 percent of her estimated total costs. What about one hundred thousand? Can you clear your schedule for that?”
I would have kissed his shoe—both shoes—for ninety thousand dollars, but I was supposedly a professional and had to remind myself not to scream and jump with joy. Instead, I needed to act as if it were every day that people offered me one hundred thousand dollars for three weeks’ work for which I was not remotely qualified. “I’ll have to check with my business partner. It’s a lot of work in a short time. And we haven’t heard if Bella even wants us—”
“One hundred fifty thousand. Bella will do what she’s told. I’m the one footing the bill.”
Bella’s face had gone blank. She didn’t even meet my gaze.
Simone indiscreetly poked me in the back. I took that to mean I should accept the offer, but it was so much money, and I had no experience, and he was such a scary dude, I could barely breathe. “If you could give me a minute—”
“Two hundred fifty thousand plus a bonus if everything goes well, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” He nodded at Gold Tooth. “Get her card and put her in touch with my assistant to handle the payment.”
“You’ve got yourself a wedding planner.” I held out my hand like they taught in interview courses. He grabbed it and squeezed so hard I thought the bones would break.