Chapter 4: Bread and Roses

After finishing my meeting with Emily, I walked alone down a sunlit, maple-lined street and called my best friend, Natalie Green.

The crisp October air burned in my lungs, leaves crunching underfoot. My voice trembled with tears.

"Luke is going to marry someone else."

Natalie sounded busy and replied offhandedly,

I heard the hum of an espresso machine in the background. "Then break up. The next one will be even better."

"But Luke and I have already... slept together."

By the end, my voice was barely louder than a whisper.

Natalie sounded like she rolled her eyes.

She huffed, “So what.”

"You old souls are so hard to deal with."

After I finished telling her everything, Natalie was silent for a while, then tentatively suggested,

I could almost picture her twirling her pen. "Rachel, how about... we finish this job first?"

"It’s not that I have to take this client, I just feel bad for you."

"Why should you be played for a fool?"

"Emily Simmons clearly said that if she’s satisfied with the final wedding, besides the standard planning fee, she’ll give you an extra $40,000 as a thank-you."

"After deducting company costs, all the profit goes to you."

"Don’t be silly. Besides love, you need bread, too."

In the end, I agreed to Natalie.

I wiped my tears and nodded, even though she couldn't see me. Luke, I’ll plan you an unprecedented wedding.