14 Years [GNR/Mötley Crüe]

78. The Wedding-I

Nadia:

"So how are you holding up?" Eleanor asked me. "I mean, you both got engaged around the same time,"

Eleanor worked with Jane and was a common friend who was also a bridesmaid. She was nice, but somehow I never felt close to her because she liked to probe around.

"Oh, I'm fine, I'm so happy for both of them," I smiled, looking at Jane, who was stressing to her mom about how she didn't want Sweet Caroline to be played.

"But are you really fine?" She asked, "You don't have to lie to me."

"No, I'm actually fine," I said, shifting Charlotte to my left arm as my right hand began to ache from holding her for so long(ten minutes). But then again, I don't spend every day holding babies. Even Phoebe had a tough time for the first few days after Charlotte was born, but now she was used to it.

I was not lying when I told Eleanor that. She was right about Jane and me getting engaged around the same time. In fact, I hadn't even been to California since I shifted to New York. I didn't even visit my dad for the holidays because it was the month I was supposed to get married, and I didn't want to be back in the same city. That's actually when I got Marshall. There was a time when I did think I wouldn't be fine at this wedding, but now, actually being here, I didn't feel anything other than happiness for my best friend getting what she wished for.

"So, do you have a date?" She asked me.

"No," I shook my head, "I'm not seeing anyone currently,"

"Alex, stop!" Andy yelled as he chased after his son, Charlotte's big brother, who was now in his acting like he's on cocaine era. Since I wasn't a bridesmaid like Phoebe and the rest of my friends, I pretty much had no responsibility over anything, at least that's what I thought, until Phoebe asked me to either take care of Charlotte or ensure that Alex wouldn't end up with any broken bones by the end of the ceremony.

I, of course, chose Charlotte. The maximum damage she could cause was cry or poop, unlike her brother. I didn't have the stamina to chase after a 6-year-old in my heels. Andy was a pretty fit guy, standing 6'4, yet he was finding it hard to chase after Alex and Vince's son. Andy was tasked with taking the duo to the kids' table.

"Well, you are only going to chase away men if you hold on to that baby," She laughed, reaching towards Charlotte's little chubby cheeks, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I faked a laugh instead.

"Eleanor!" Phoebe called her from across the room, "Flower emergency!"

"Oh shit!" Eleanor muttered, "Be right back."

Please don't!

I sighed in relief as Eleanor left me in my corner and looked at Charlotte, whose entire focus was on plucking out the rhinestones from my dress with her ultra-tiny yet extremely strong fingers.

"Guess, you are ruining my chance at finding a husband, honey," I muttered to her with a grin. She gurgled in response, making me smile. I walked towards the table where we would be seated soon, once all the guests arrive.

I flew down to Vegas from New York three days ago to meet the Millers' family. They obviously turned down the initial offer of 45 million. It was too low, even we know that, but Ms. Greene, the COO, wanted us to start low.  Henderson was going to put pressure on them, including leveraging media coverage by publicizing their plans for developing other nearby properties and using the local media to gain public support.

A revised offer was soon going to be provided to the Millers, an offer of 55 million, which was a little above the bare minimum, along with the proposition of transitioning the current employees under new contracts. By the time I get back from Spain, I might get my reply from the Millers.