The Royal Contract

Chapter 433 – City Outsider

Finally, the other couple, not a romantic tandem, had arrived at the scene. Both played a specific role as entourage in the wedding ceremony, in charge of the different programs in the upcoming event.

"So, it would seem that we need to work together on this one," Marcus stated the obvious since the organizers gave them a task to follow together. "Are you up for it?"

His voice was more of a challenge than a question as he directed his gaze to her. He was not sure if the idea of being in the same room most of the time would work well in their situation.

But he more than welcomed the opportunity to be close to her again. Not that he was expecting anything from it. He was not deluding himself to believe that she would ever allow herself to fall for him again.

"Do I have any other choice?" She answered him sarcastically, looking at the list of things they had to work on together.

As she had decided earlier, she would act civilly, maybe even a bit friendly for the sake of their friends. After all, she would always be seeing him around. Now that her best friend was marrying his best friend.

They were both directed to proceed to a large room as soon as they arrived in the palace. The head of the coordinating team would like to discuss the wedding arrangements. 

"I guess not." He agreed with her assessment, looking at the woman in charge of the ceremony.

The woman did appear to be strict and would not take no for an answer. Not that she was thinking of declining the job. She was doing this not for the man beside her. 

It was for her friend counting on her to make the wedding perfect. Although Dani might not have asked for it, she still wanted to make this event memorable for her friend.

"Don't worry. I won't bug you too much." Marcus assured her, hoping that would create a better working environment for the two of them. 

He sat beside her at the long table. Then, the other woman was at the center discussing further the details of their participation in the ceremonies.

He realized a few more days of pre-wedding activities was a long time to be antagonizing each other. It would be better if they were on the same page.

"I hope I can count on that." She also thought it would not help if she kept revisiting the past. 

He already said his apologies, and she accepted it. Maybe this time, they could start by doing one goal at a time without ripping each other's throats.

She looked again at the list and found some discrepancies in it. She had asked for a schedule for a bachelorette party, but the time allotted to her did not match her initial request.

"Excuse me, Antonette, but I think there is a misunderstanding in my request." She pointed out the schedule listed on the itinerary of the wedding.

Instead of having the bachelorette party at around six in the evening, it would start at two in the afternoon and end by six. That was not what she had coordinated with her.

She already had created a program for the event, and she had no plan to change it according to their timetable. If someone had to adjust their schedule, it would not be her.

"I don't think there is a problem with the list." Antonette looked at Jacky as if she was talking nonsense. "If you can all follow it accordingly, then we would have no cause for delay."

She had all the plans already sorted out up to the last details according to their customs and traditions. She was sure that there was no mistake in it.

"But I can't work in this timeframe. I specifically informed you what I need." She pointed out the error that the other woman made. She was not open to renegotiation.

"I am sorry, but I can't give you that time. According to our tradition, it is…" Antonette was saying, but Jacky did not allow her to finish.

"I don't care about your tradition because we too have ours. My friend had already agreed to have the wedding here. You are not taking this tradition from us." Jacky rattled on about the unfairness of their situation.

She had been planning this event for as long as she could remember. As her best friend, she knew it would be her job to do this for her. It was a no-brainer that she was the only choice.

Antonette was temporarily stunned by the American's outburst. No one had dared question her planning before, and she was not expecting that from their visitors.

"You don't understand. We are following a tradition we inherited from our oldest ancestors. We could not break it to accommodate one wish of an outsider." Antonette finally found her voice and remarked on the situation.

"Precisely. Those traditions are old news that we need to bury in the past. I plan to give my friend something new and different. I need you to change this back to its original schedule." Jacky insisted, pointing to the time she required.

She was not going to let this stuffy woman dictate and derail her plans for the last night of her friend. She would fight for their right to conduct her party according to her schedule.

"I am sorry. But I can't do that. It is already out of my hands. If you want to change the royal wedding itinerary, you have to take it up to the Council." Antonette explained to her with a smirk on her face.

She was not going to let this woman tell her what she should do, even if Jacky was the best friend of the bride. She was assigned with this ceremony because she was the best, and she was not allowing another person to ruin it for her.

The responsibility of this entire event was solely on Antonette's shoulder alone. The success of this celebration would bring honor to her. 

On the other hand, its failure would bring shame and disgrace, not only to her and her family as well.. So, she was not allowing some city outsider to dictate her job.