Excerpt PROLOGUE
The wedding was perfect in every sense of the word. Soon to be heralded as the "Talk of the Town." So as not to miss anything going on around her, the local gossip columnist, an old and dear friend of the bride's parents, scribbled notes as fast and furiously as she could. Four hundred wedding guests milled inside the Covington Ballroom. The room was filled to capacity. Opulent bouquets of white roses adorned each table setting. Crystal candelabras graced the tables, their flickering flames twinkling off the champagne flutes beneath them.
The elegant red-haired bride stood smiling at her many guests, resplendent in an exquisite white satin gown, yards and yards of train cascaded down the winding mahogany staircase to pool at her petite white satin covered feet.
The groom exuded confidence with his every stride as he crossed the ballroom. Exuberant congratulations and hearty back slapping followed in his wake. Women stared openly in lust at him, while every man in the room wished he could command that kind of silent respect. His tuxedo fit snugly across his muscular chest, the inky blackness mirrored his ebony eyes. The bride was indeed a very lucky woman.
Waiters wove their way silently through the throng of wedding guests, their emerald green bow ties and cummerbunds a glaring contrast to the pristine white tux's they wore.
Champagne flowed down a three-tiered fountain to cascade into priceless champagne flutes placed in readiness. Caviar surrounded the base of the fountain, their tiny beads reminiscent of red and black jewels under the soft glow from the chandeliers. No expense had been spared for this event.
The bride and groom met at the center of the lace-covered bridal table. Lifting Lydia's fingers to his lips, Derek Cameron brushed a gentle kiss across her knuckles as his ebony eyes caught and held her own soft gaze.
"Happy darling?" he inquired coolly, his eyes searching her face.
A bit confused, Lydia smiled shyly at her new husband and nodded.
Sterling silver spoons chimed against Baccarat crystal to draw the guest's attention forward, as Gary Brooks, Derek's best man, held up his champagne flute in celebration.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention please. As best man and longtime friend of both the bride and groom, I would like to propose a toast." He turned to smile at Derek and Lydia. "May the stars be your guide as you ride off into the sunset to find your happiness."
Derek involuntarily choked as a sip of champagne went down the wrong way at Gary's choice of words.
Lifting their glasses high, a resounding chorus of hear - hear's filled the room.
Derek lowered his glass and faced the crowd before him. "Honored guests, I would like to thank you all for coming today, but unfortunately there will be no happy ending to this marriage. On Monday, I'm having it annulled." He set the flute on the table and surveyed the room.
Horrified gasps echoed throughout the ballroom. Whispered words mixed with shocked murmurs flew rampant. "If you would all be so kind as to flip over your place cards, you will see the reason for my announcement," he continued.
Confused guests and family alike reached in perplexed unison for the engraved place markers. Attached securely to the porcelain base was a photograph. Not just any photograph though. This one showed the newly wedded bride, her red hair standing out like a halo, seated astride the thrusting hips of Derek's best man Gary. Gary wore nothing more than his birthday suit, whereas the bride was decked out in a white cowboy hat and boots, with silver sheriff badges gracing her ample breasts.
Upon seeing the photo, Lydia pressed a shaky hand to her lips, burst into tears and fled the ballroom. Her fifteen attendants trailed nervously in her wake.
Gary sunk back down on his chair and swallowed what was left of his champagne in a hearty gulp.
Derek watched the chaos erupt around him. Calmly stepping out from behind the bridal table, he motioned to a passing waiter.
The young man hurried his steps to Derek's side. Lifting three unopened bottles of Dom Perignon from the serving tray, Derek smiled at the nameless server. "Now, I plan on spending my wedding night getting rip-snorting drunk"
© 2007 Patti Shenberger w/a Amanda Brian