The Wedding Planner Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Disclaimer

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Bonus Chapter

  Acknowledgements

  More details

  Playlist

  Wedding Planner

  By

  Pavan Kaur

  First Edition published in 2018

  Text Copyright Pavan Kaur

  All rights reserved.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Editing by Emmy Hamilton

  Cover Design by Dawn Doyle

  Formatted by Dawn Doyle

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior written permission of the author. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  Emma

  "She found her prince charming, with the perfect pair of shoes too," I say to myself, wiping the tears away from my cheeks, as my roommates come back from work.

  "Cinderella, again, Emma? Come on," Tanya says as she walks over to the TV and turns it off. Okay I have watched this film more than once in the last two weeks, but in my defense, it is the best film ever. Every girl dreams about the happily ever after, I know I do.

  “That’s it. Get up,” Amie stands in front of me with her hand on her hip, and I can hear her tapping her foot on the floor. “I mean it. Get up, put on something sexy and let’s go out and show the world that Emma is sexy and single.” She grabs my arms and pulls me off the couch.

  “I don’t want to be single, I should be planning my dream wedding now,” I say falling back on the couch, feeling sorry for myself.

  “Get up, and show the idiot he’s missing the best thing he could’ve had,” Amie pulls me off the couch again and starts pushing me towards my room.

  "Come on, how about ice cream and wine?" I beg, to me that is the best way to get over a break-up. Isn’t that why Ben n Jerry’s was invented? For girls and their breakups.

  "If I have to put your clothes on you myself and grab you by the arm I will," Amie walks into my room and starts looking through my clothes.

  “I can’t believe he broke up with me,” I throw myself on the bed as Amie throws a few dresses at me for me to look through.

  Six months ago.

  "He's going to ask you tonight," Tanya messes with my hair as Amie does the finishing touches to my makeup.

  “He is. You two are perfect for each other,” Amie adds, taking a step back to look at me.

  “You think?” I feel nervous, this is the day every girl waits for.

  “Emma, you’ve been together two years. It’s going to happen tonight.” Tanya sprays some perfume into the air as I walk through it. “He has booked your favorite restaurant,” Tanya says with a big smile on her face.

  KNOCK KNOCK

  “I best go then,” I look at them both watching me, as I take one last look in the mirror.

  “So excited for you, Emma,” Tanya shouts at me as I go to open the door.

  Opening the door, I look at my boyfriend and best friend, Jack.

  “Wow, Emma you look amazing,” he says as he gives me a kiss.

  “You look great too.”

  He walks into the apartment. “Ladies.” He looks over at Tanya and Amie.

  “You guys have a good night.” Amie looks at us smiling.

  Sitting in this beautiful restaurant, I look around us, as everyone talks to each other.

  “Emma, how are the wedding plans going?” Jack asks holding my hand.

  On my god, he’s asking about the wedding, he must be thinking about ours. Being a wedding planner I plan every girl's dream wedding, and now I might be planning mine.

  “It’s going good, just got the last details to figure out and then get ready for the big day,” I say, watching him play with my left hand. My stomach starts to flip out as he looks into my eyes.

  “Emma, I have to ask you something,” Jack gives me a smile.

  “Yes,” I say. This is it, my time is finally here.

  “Not sure what you are going to say but I thought this is something I should ask you first,” Jack says as I see him rubbing his hands on his leg. He’s nervous, that’s a good sign.

  “Yes,” I say waiting for him to ask me. I wonder what type of ring he got me.

  "Okay, here it goes. Can I go to Vegas with the guys next weekend?" Jack asks.

  “Yes,” I say without even thinking about it.

  “You sure?” Jack sits back up.

  "Hold on. What?" I ask as I register what he just asked me.

  "Vegas next weekend, I thought you were going to say no because we are saving for a house and…. but you said yes. Thanks, babe." Jack leans over the table and gives me a kiss.

  I return his smile. What just happened? Where is the ring, the question, him getting on his knee? I got nothing. All this to ask if he can go to Vegas.

  Three months ago.

  "I saw him in the jewelry store yesterday, Jack was getting the ring," Amie says, as I make dinner for Jack and me. He wanted to have a special dinner today.

  “I hope this is it,” I say as I taste the sauce for the pasta.

  “He will ask. You two are meant to get married,” Tanya gives me a kiss as she leaves for her date tonight.

  "Well, I will let you both know," I say as Jack walks through the door. Walking over he gives me a kiss.

  "Smells great in here," Jack says as he gets a drink from the fridge.

  "How was work?" I ask. Jack works in properties and is really good at his job, which means he spends a lot of money on me.

  “Good, I have someone coming tomorrow to look at the house I can’t sell.” He relaxes on the sofa.

  I sit down next to him. Is today going to be my day? I ask myself as I watch him watching the tv.

  “Hey Emma,” Jack turns to face me. “I have to show you something, so close your eyes.”

  I smile at him, closing my eyes. I feel him holding my hand, this is it, Emma, this is it.

  “I got this. You can open your eyes.”

  Slowly opening my eyes, I inspect the big box in my hand. I look up and smile at him as I slowly open the box.

  "I got this as a reward for myself for working so hard," Jack says, and my smile disappears.

  “What?” I ask him as I look at the watch. The big watch that should have been a ring.

  "I have been working so hard, and I wanted to reward myself. I saw this in the window and had to get it." Jack takes the box from me and puts the watch on. "What do you think?"

  "Yeah, looks great," I say walking back to the kitchen to plate up the food.

  Two weeks ago.

  “I think tonight is the night,” I tell the girls. “I mean he's been talking a lot about the futur
e this week, and where we see us being in so many years.”

  “Just don’t get your hopes up. I mean the last few times, you’ve come home really upset,” Tanya says, and it’s true. I think we are both at a point in our relationship where we know what we want.

  "I know, and you're right, but I think it might finally happen," I say.

  I hear the doorbell.

  “We will leave you two, and call us straight away.” Amie walks over to the door, and they both leave.

  I greet him at the door with a kiss.

  “So what should we do tonight?” I ask.

  “I think we need to talk,” he says as he walks over to the couch.

  I stare at him and sit. This is it! He’s going to ask me. It feels different than the last two times.

  “I was thinking that…” I stop and look at him.

  "We should break-up," Jack says. The words sink in and I feel as though I’ve been taken out by a bus. "I haven't been in the relationship now for over six months, and I think that we should just…" Jack stops and watches me. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the words.

  "But, I thought we were happy," I say walking to the other side of the room.

  “We were, but all this is not what I want. I wanted to end things before, but I wanted to go to Vegas first.” Jack stands up. “I just think we are not right for each other.”

  “It took you nearly three years to figure that out?” I shout at him.

  "It was good before, but now it's not. Sorry." He finishes and walks out of the apartment. He knows I’m angry, but he doesn’t want to face me. Coward.

  Present Day.

  “How’s this?” I ask walking out of my bedroom. I’m dressed in a baby blue silk playsuit and heels.

  “You look amazing,” Amie says as she grabs my hand.

  "Let's go paint the town!" Tanya exclaims closing the door behind us.

  * * *

  Drinking my Island Breeze cocktail, I listen to Tanya and Amie talking about some dress that they have seen and want to buy.

  "Hey, Emma." Derek, the bartender, stands in front of me. "One of my friends is getting married, and I told them about you," he says.

  We have been coming to this bar for so long now, we have a tab here. Derek started working here about three months after we started coming. I still think Tanya and Derek will end up together sooner or later. They flirt with her each constantly, I'm surprised she has let him off tonight.

  "Thanks, Derek, here are some cards. Tell them to give me a call," I say as I dig out my business cards and put them on the bar. I look over at the group of men sitting two stools away from me, one of the guys gives me a smile, reaching over he picks up a card. Great another good looking guy is off the market, I think to myself.

  “You want to dance?” Tanya taps my shoulder. “There are some cute guys dancing, and I have my eye on one of them,” she says as I skim over to the dance floor.

  "Which one you eyeing?" I ask. Tanya is a man-eater, I feel sorry for him already. The noises that come from her bedroom, sometimes I swear she's eating them.

  “The one in the blue shirt.” She points, then starts waving as the man looks over at us.

  He walks over to her, and her smile gets bigger as she gets a closer look at him. “Easy girl." Amie and I start laughing at her.

  “I will not be going easy on him,” she says as he stops in front of her.

  "Hi, I'm Ben, and you are?" he asks, as his finger strokes her face.

  "I'm Tanya," she says moving his finger out of the way. Tanya has never been the one to love all the lovey-dovey things in a relationship. Okay, she has never been in one long enough to like those things. She likes the company of men but then leaves them. Maybe her way is better. My way ends in heartbreak.

  I turn to Amie. "I’m never going to find my prince. I want the fairytale," I say putting my hand up to Derek for another drink.

  "He's out there somewhere," she says, watching Tanya doing a very dirty dance with Ben, making us both laugh.

  "Maybe he’s in another country. I should move and go find him." I start laughing at the thought, I would never leave London. I have worked too hard to make a name for myself. I have the best job in the world.

  "Yeah, but then who is going to plan Barbie and Ken's wedding?" she laughs as she takes a sip of her drink.

  I have to plan the big wedding of socialite Cassie and her fiancé, Neil. She wanted me to plan it because I planned one of her friend’s wedding and Cassie fell in love with it. My boss wasn't happy she wanted me to plan it and not one of the other girls, but this wedding will bring in so much money for me. I’ll be one step closer to running my own wedding planning business.

  "Oh God, I can already see it. I want pink this and pink that," I say rolling my eyes as the words come out. Turning around to look at the dance floor, I see Jack dancing with some girl, looking very cozy. "What the hell?" I shout as Amie looks to where my eyes are directed.

  "Emma let’s not get……"

  I start walking to the dance floor. That ass! He broke up with me to play the field. I shove him in the back and he whips around.

  “Emma.” Jack looks at me as the girl wraps her arm around him.

  "You dick," I throw my drink in his face and as I go to hit him, I feel someone's arms around me lifting me up.

  “Let me go! Put me down!” I start shouting at the person. He’s got some strong arms. I can feel the muscle under the t-shirt as he holds me tight. I kick my legs to get out of his grip.

  I see Tanya and Amie running up behind the man as he puts me down. I push his chest. “Who do you think you are, touching me like that?” I shout at him, seeing it’s the guy who picked up my business card.

  “Hey hot and fiery. I was trying to help you,” he says looking at me with a smirk. He has beautiful lips.

  “Does it look like I need your help?” I spit at him as I put my hands on my hips.

  “No you don’t,” he says, and his smile gets bigger.

  “You touch me again, pretty boy, I will punch you so hard…” Tanya and Amie start pulling me away. “I’m not finished with him yet.” I shout at them both as they turn me around to start walking away from the bar.

  "Come on, you have your first meeting with the couple tomorrow," Amie says, as I lock eyes with the man.

  Jerk! How dare he touch me and stop me from hitting Jack. He doesn't know my story.

  "That was an interesting way to finish the night," Tanya says glancing back at the man.

  “Oh yeah, we forgot your night normally ends with ‘oh god, oh god’,” Amie links arms with me as we both start laughing at Tanya.

  “Ben was so good looking, now I have no one,” Tanya starts pouting at us.

  “You do have someone. Bob,” I say giving her a wink. B.O.B, battery operated boyfriend, which is Tanya’s favorite boyfriend, no backchat, no cheating, and it brings the big O to her lips, as she likes to put it.

  “Bob will have to do for tonight.”

  It’s true what they say: true friends are like finding the perfect pair of shoes, and I have found two pairs.

  Chapter 2

  Ocean

  I watch the girls walking away all linking their arms together. I can’t help watching the feisty girl in the middle with her sexy legs, an ass any man would look at, and a fight that has me excited more than it should. Taking one last look at her, I head back into the club, walk over to the guys, and order another beer for myself.

  "Look at you knight in shining armor, helping the…"

  "Trust me, I don't think she needed any help. She was ready to punch me in the face," interrupting my friend Marc. "She even said, if I touch her again, she’ll punch me. Don't think a girl has ever said that to me before." I start laughing, taking my beer from Derek. This is our go-to bar and have been coming for a while now, so Derek knows us well.

  “Did you even get a name?” He asks.

  “Didn’t even get a chance to ask, but I got this,” showing him her
business card, “and I plan on getting to know Miss Emma Cox a little better.” I put the card in my pocket and get back to my night out with the guys.

  "Have you seen the girls over there?" Blake points out. I look over to where he is pointing, but at the moment the only woman I can see is the one in the sexy blue jumpsuit with an ass that just looked amazing. "I'm going over to see if I can get lucky." Blake starts walking over to them.

  "A tenner says he gets slapped," I put my hand out to see if Marc wants to take the bet. I know Blake is a smooth talker and can get about ninety percent of the girls he chats up in bed. They always fall for his pretty brown eyes and blonde hair, they think he has that model look to him. But this group of girls, they seem out of his league. I can tell just by the way they’re dressed in their tight pencil skirts and white blouses. They just have this stuck up vibe about them.

  "Deal," Marc shakes my hand, and we both lean back on the bar and watch the show. Marc has a girlfriend. Blake and I don’t like her. She has broken his heart one too many times for our liking, but for whatever reason he takes her back every time. As his friends we don't say anything to him about it, but if we had our way, we would get him a new girl tonight.

  We watch Blake whispering something into the girl’s ear, and the look on her face tells us what's about to happen. "Three, two, one," I say just on cue as the girl’s right-hand slaps Blake on his left cheek. Marc and I start laughing as he makes his way over to us.

  “Did the ‘I’m a model line not work’?” Marc says through his laughter, as Blake rubs his cheek.

  “I told her I was a pilot and I would love to take her for a ride on my big plane,” he grabs his drink as me and Marc laugh even harder. God knows where he gets his chat up lines from. The worst thing is, they work most of the time. He just picked the wrong group tonight.

  “Here’s your tenner,” Marc hands it over to me.

  “You two had a bet on this?” Blake looks over at us as I take the money.