Chapter 24 - LUCIAN’S FAMILY
Lucian’s mother met me for lunch three months before our wedding.
Her name was Genevieve Vale.
She was elegant, disciplined, and far more intimidating than her son because she smiled while evaluating people.
She had known about our engagement from the beginning.
She had simply respected the privacy.
At lunch, she looked at my ring.
Then at my coat hanging over the chair.
“The famous coat.”
I sighed.
“Please don’t.”
She smiled.
“I was going to say it needs new lining.”
I stared.
She laughed.
“You assumed I was going to discuss symbolism.”
“Everyone does.”
“Fabric is fabric.”
I liked her immediately for that.
Then she asked:
“Are you wearing Bellamy & Rowe?”
“To the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know.”
“You own a bridal company.”
“Exactly. It feels promotional.”
Genevieve sipped tea.
“It will be promotional regardless.”
Annoying.
Lucian came by later and found us arguing about gowns.
His mother said:
“She thinks wearing her own company is unethical.”
“I said complicated.”
Genevieve looked at him.
“See?”
Lucian sat.
“What do you want?”
I thought.
Not what made strategic sense.
Not what honored my mother.
Not what the acquisition story demanded.
What did I want?
“I want Bernice to make it.”
Genevieve smiled.
“Then ask Bernice.”
Simple.
I did.
Bernice said no.
I stared.
“No?”
“I’m not doing your whole gown.”
“Why?”
“My knees hurt.”
I laughed.
She continued.
“I’ll do final fit. Naomi can style. Let the new atelier team make it.”
That answer was better than what I imagined.
My wedding dress did not need to become a monument to the past.
It could be made by the company as it existed now.
Not Elise’s Bellamy & Rowe.
Not Howard’s.
Not Patrick’s.
Not even mine alone.
A team.
I approved a design from one of the younger atelier leads, Camille Foster.
Simple silk.
Long sleeves.
No enormous train.
No theatrical symbolism.
Lucian saw nothing before the wedding.
He tried bribery.
I reminded him he financed companies, not bridal espionage.
He said everything had a price.
I said I would tell his mother.
May you like
He surrendered immediately.
Even feared men have governance structures.
