Chapter 6 - The Groom's Epiphany
David walked slowly into the suite.
He looked at Vanessa. "What does she mean, put her card back on file?"
Vanessa's arrogance vanished instantly.
She shrank back, stammering. "David... baby... it's just a misunderstanding."
"No, it's not," I said clearly.
I walked over, picked up my phone, and opened the master folder.
"Venue, flowers, catering, hotel blocks. All of it."
I turned the screen toward David.
"Every single guarantee was under my name, David. I paid the $15,000 non-refundable deposits."
"Because your beautiful bride and her parents don't have a dime to their names."
David looked at the screen. He saw my signature on every contract.
He looked at my parents, who were staring at the floor in absolute shame.
"You told me your parents were handling this," David said to Vanessa, his voice dangerously calm.
"You said your family was proud to host."
"They are!" Vanessa cried. "Mara is just... she's just the accountant! She handles our money!"
"She doesn't handle your money," David said, putting the pieces together.
"She IS the money."
Then the door opened wider.
Marcus, the venue manager, walked in with two security guards and the unpaid invoices in his hand.
"Excuse me, folks. But we need a resolution immediately. The staff is walking off site."
He looked directly at Vanessa.
"The total is $85,000, plus a late fee. How would you like to pay, ma'am?"
Vanessa stepped back like the floor had disappeared beneath her.
She looked at my parents. They shook their heads.
She looked at David, tears streaming down her face. "David... please."
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I held up my phone, looked at Marcus, and smiled.
"Don't look at me," I said. "Ask the bride to pay."
