The Contract

Chapter 20 - The Surprised Visit

I tapped my heels on the marble floor, sighing as I pulled out my phone from my bag to text Kourtney.

I've been here an hour now, waiting for the Simpsons couple—the ones who had made an appointment but hadn’t shown up. They were running late, and my patience was thin.

Her reply came immediately, probably sensing the annoyance brewing on my end. I decided I’d wait five more minutes. If they didn’t show, I was gone.

A quick glance at the time showed it was past 4 p.m. Just then, a voice cut through my irritation.

“Miss Vega?”

I looked up to see a man and woman standing in front of me, all polished smiles and pristine outfits.

“Yes,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.

“We are the Simpsons!” the woman practically shrieked, her voice somehow both cheerful and shrill. Her partner extended a hand, flashing a smile that seemed practiced. “Thanks for your patience,” he added as they sat down. I tucked my phone away.

Who are these people?

The woman was in a tight mini-dress, scarlet lipstick, and platinum-blonde hair styled to perfection. She clutched a Christian Dior bag, her feet in red-bottom heels, and she wore enough jewelry to be seen from a mile away. They were both dripping in designer labels, nearly blinding in all their bling.

“Without wasting any more time, let’s begin,” I said, dismissing my thoughts. “I understand you’re here to discuss your wedding.”

“Yes, we are,” she cooed, taking his hand. He leaned in and kissed her neck, causing her to giggle. “We heard you’re the best in the business.”

I nodded politely. “Thank you. Marriage is certainly one of life’s essentials.”

“Exactly! Just like how you’re engaged to Travis Ferrari,” she said, and I froze for a second. “Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you.”

“You know,” her fiancé chimed in, “you and Travis actually inspired us to get married. Maddie and I have been together for seven years, and finally, I popped the question.” She giggled again, and I managed a polite smile.

“Well, congratulations to you both. Let’s get started, shall we?”

I opened my clipboard, ready to take notes, but Maddie held up a hand. “Oh, not just yet.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, brow furrowing.

“We’re not really sure about what we want for the wedding,” she said, glancing at her fiancé.

I gave a reassuring nod. “That’s perfectly normal. I’m here to guide you through the options, suggest themes—”

“Oh, that’s great, but we’re willing to wait a bit,” her fiancé interjected, exchanging a look with her.

I blinked, feeling a flicker of irritation. “Alright, that’s understandable. You both have time to think it through—”

“No, it’s not that we’re unsure,” Maddie clarified, leaning forward. “We want to get married, but first, you have to.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, now thoroughly puzzled.

“We’d love to get ideas from your wedding,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I’m sure it’s going to be huge, the talk of the country!”

“Ah,” I said, leaning back as their intentions started to make sense.

“Yeah, we’re influencers,” she continued, as if it explained everything. “Can you imagine the engagement we’d get if our wedding topped the Ferraris’?”