The Wedding Planner

Alexis's POV:

Riiing, riiing.

I looked at my phone screen; it was showing Stacey's name. I answered it. "Good morning, ma'am," I heard.

"Always cheerful in the mornings, hmm?" I said, slightly annoyed that I was receiving a call from my secretary at seven in the morning.

"Sorry! Did I wake you up again?" She lowered her voice and apologized.

"No, it's fine. I've been up since six this morning," I lied.

"You have an appointment with Miss Gina Arthur today at nine. And another meeting with Daisy Willer. Both to discuss their upcoming weddings." She was always efficient with my schedule.

"Okay. Did you remember to tell them to meet me in the office?" I asked, wanting to confirm.

"Yes, miss. They will be punctual as well," she said.

"Thank you, Stacey," I said before hanging up.

Ugh... I had thought adult life would be easier. But no. It was still the same, waking up early every day like I did in high school.

I brushed my teeth and took a bath. I combed my long jet-black hair and packed it in a bun.

I only did light makeup, but still, it looked good—scratch that. I looked good.

Passing the hallway, I saw that Sophie's door was still closed. She probably hadn't woken up yet.

I went downstairs, made a cup of hot coffee, and sat on my counter to drink it. I caught a glimpse of a picture of Mom on the table, and I went over to it.

It's been eight years since you left me and Sophie, Mom. I wish I could have you here with me to tell you how the last eight years have been for both of us.

Aunt Stella threw us out of the house, and we stayed on the streets for weeks until Sophie got a job as a waitress, and we could afford a little food with the money she made. Sophie had a friend, Pete, who let us stay with him until we could move out. Sophie now had two jobs, one where she worked morning shifts and another for night shifts. She barely had time for herself just so I'd be comfortable.

I felt bad that I wasn't doing anything to help, and I applied for a scholarship at Glendale College in LA. I studied hard for it, and I was granted the scholarship.

The four years went by quickly, and I graduated with my degree in Event Management. I returned home, and Sophie surprised me with a job offered to her, but it was in New York. We decided to move to New York and try our luck in the city.

We came to New York and found a small apartment to rent, and Sophie checked out the work that was offered to her. It was as the personal assistant to a famous model, Avery Qickelsin. The pay was enough to cover rent and food.

I would constantly follow her to work just out of curiosity. I met Avery's grandmother, Mrs. Anna Qickelsin. Her grandmother was hiring people at her wedding place.

She hired me as a janitor, and I would always watch how she'd choose the right bouquet, how she handled the cake, and how her opinion would matter to the bride.

Mrs. Qickelsin took a keen interest in me and trained me to be as good as she was in the wedding planning business. She'd constantly introduce me to her clients.

She gave me one of her many shops to manage. And slowly, I started getting better and better. Mrs. Anna trusted me so much that her other employees envied me. When she died, they fired and humiliated me. After that incident, I vowed that nobody would humiliate me like that again. I changed my name from Alexis to Mackenzie and built my own wedding place starting from scratch. And now I was the best wedding planner in all of New York.

Now I owned chains throughout New York and California.

Over these years, I missed your hugs on the bad days. I missed the way your face lit up when you knew I was the best at school. I missed your cooking, and I missed you, Mom.

I didn't notice when a tear dropped on my face.

"You're thinking about her again?" I heard Sophie's voice, and I turned to look at her.

"I was just thinking," I said, trying to wipe away the tears that stained my cheeks.

"We agreed that we wouldn't cry again. We are stronger than that."

"Yes, but I'm not as strong as you are."

"Yes, you are. Maybe even more than me," she said, getting a cup of coffee.

"Well, I'm going to the office now. Stacey just reminded me of the meetings I have today. Love you!" I kissed her cheek.

"Love you." She smiled at me.

I went outside and decided to use a smaller car today, so I got in my Toyota Corolla.

In a few minutes, I arrived at the three-story building. I smiled at my achievements. "Good morning, Miss Pointer," was how everyone greeted me when they saw me.

I got settled in my office, and Stacey called me. "Miss Arthur is here," she announced.

"Tell her to come in."

And in no time, a young lady came in. She was in the company of a much older woman, hand in hand. "Good morning, Miss, Gina," I said generally so that Gina would respond and I'd know who I was meeting with.

"Good morning," the blonde woman said. "This is my mother." She gestured to the woman next to her. I smiled at her, and she returned the smile.

"So, tell me. How much is your budget? For the entire wedding, wedding dress included." I looked at her, waiting for a response.

"$150,000."

I opened the laptop on my desk to type up what she was saying. "Hm... do you want a fancy wedding or a simple one?"

"Nothing fancy. Simple."

I put that in my system as well. "And most importantly, when is this wedding?" I looked at my screen then back at her.

"In two weeks," she said softly.

"Okay. Give me your number, and I'll contact you in a few days. Don't worry about your wedding anymore because I will personally handle it." I smiled.

"Thank you, Mackenzie." She rose from her chair and hugged me, then she and her mom exited my office.

Mackenzie... In the business world, there were rivalries, and there would always be someone that wanted to ruin your business.

It was also like that in the world of wedding planners. Everyone wanted to be the best. But that title was held by me. It took years to get used to being addressed as Mackenzie.

Now only Sophie and Anna know that my actual name is Alexis. Alexis Coleman. The ex-nerd of Greenfield High.

Kyle's POV:

"What is this?" I looked at the presentation before me in disgust. "What idiot prepared this?" I looked from the presentation to the two men standing in front of me.

"Well...sir...it was." One of them stuttered, and I became more infuriated. "No. Don't tell me. You both are fired! Get out of my office." I glared at them, and they left the office.

I can't trust anyone in this building. They are all useless. Can't even make a proper presentation.

I dialed for reception, and a female voice answered. "Come to my office now!!" I angrily said to the phone, and my door burst open in ten seconds.

It was the receptionist, Lisa. Lisa is acting as both my secretary and the receptionist. I fired the last one yesterday.

"Yes, sir?" she calmly said, and I stared at her stupidity. "Are you stupid or what?" I stare at her, and she looked at me confused.

"You are a dumb one," I said to her again, and she just stood there confused. I sighed and adjusted my tie. It seemed I had to spell it out for her.

"I'm confused, sir," she finally said, and I rolled my eyes. "You came into my office without authorization! You didn't knock," I explained to her, and she still looked confused.

Where the fuck did they get this girl from.

"The thing is, I thought you knew I was coming because you were the one that called me in—" she spoke, but I waved my hand, causing her to stop.

"You talk too much. You thought, hmm? Stop thinking because your thoughts are stupid," I said rudely, and she started looking at her shoes.

"I'm sor—" she wanted to say again, but I interrupted. "Go outside and knock on my door," I told her, and she left, closed the door, and knocked.

"Come," I said, and she came in. "I need you to give this to my father. He's in his office." I handed her a file, and she took it from my hand and stood there again.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm done with you. You can leave now," I said, pointing to the door, and she turned to leave. "Again, I'm sorry, Mr. Matthews."

"Your apology does nothing for me." I didn't bother looking at her, and she left.

I opened my laptop and looked at our stocks. They were falling. That was why this marriage needed to be done, so a merger could occur between the two companies, increasing our stock price in the market.

My phone buzzed, but I didn't hear it because I was staring intently at the computer's screen.

My peripheral view caught sight of my screen, and I grabbed my phone. It rang again. It was Penelope. My soon-to-be wife.

I answered it, and she seemed cheerful. She has been madly busy trying to plan our wedding and all.

"I'm coming to your office" was the last thing she said before hanging up.

There was a knock on the door, and the person obviously didn't wait for a response and just threw my door open.

People don't have manners these days.

It revealed Penelope in a yellow dress that complimented her black eyes and brown long hair. "Hi." She smiled brightly as she came in, dropped her purse on the chair, and sat down.

"You look rather stressed." I studied her look of tiredness. "I am. It's like all the wedding planners in New York are conspiring against me. They don't have what it takes to plan my wedding," she complained and let out a frustrated groan.

"Relax," I said, trying to calm her down. "Let's go out for lunch," she suggested. I tried to turn her down, but she could be really persistent.

"Where to exactly?" I asked. "Anywhere," she responded.

I made sure my blonde hair was alright and not messy, and we left the office.

We had lunch in a fancy Chinese restaurant, and unlike everyone else, I was wearing a suit and was dressed formally.

After lunch, I decided not to return to the office and went straight home. Yes, home.

My father thought it would be good for us to move to New York, so we moved our family here.

I got home and greeted my mom and dad. Emily was in her final year at Oxford University.

The dinner table was quiet. The only talk we had at the table was between my father and me. We were talking about business and how profitable it would be if I married Penelope.

My dad spent three years teaching me how business worked and that sometimes sacrifices had to be made for the company's betterment, and thus I agreed to marry her.

It wasn't a really difficult choice as we were friends. Since Alexis left me, Penelope had always been there, helping me build this new attitude I had so the world wouldn't hurt me the way she did. She was like a sister to me, but right now, I had to marry her.

I excused myself from the table, went to my room, and changed my clothes. I opened my cupboard, and I saw a small wooden box.

I picked it up and sat on my bed to carefully open it, and it revealed a crumpled white paper that turned brown because of constant touching.

I opened the paper and saw the letter Alexis wrote to me for the last time. It was the last thing I have of her.

I remember the dates, her smile, and her beautiful emerald eyes. The best memory was of us in that crappy motel and how intense and passionate the night was.

I smiled, thinking about her. As tears tried to creep into my eyes, I stopped.

I shouldn't be remembering her. For eight years, I'd hoped she'd reach out to me, but she didn't.

She was the first and only girl I loved, and she freaking left me. No. I wouldn't get emotional now.

It had been eight years. I wondered if she still looked the same. Or if she was more astonishing.

Ugh... Kyle, you're stupid. We just agreed not to remember her. You're a lost cause.

Even my mind was tired of being assaulted with thoughts of Alexis. But my heart craved to see her again.

But it had been so long.

Would destiny bring her back to me?