The silk veil felt heavy against Audrey’s hair as she stood in the quiet hallway of the luxury hotel suite. Downstairs, three hundred wealthy guests were taking their seats in the grand ballroom, waiting for the multi-million-dollar wedding to begin. Audrey smoothed the lace fabric of her white gown and checked her reflection in the glass mirror.
Audrey: Did you bring the spare boutonnieres up to Michael's room?
Bridesmaid: I thought he was already in the suite with his groomsmen, Audrey.
Audrey: He was supposed to review the final merger documents before the ceremony.
Audrey walked down the marble floor toward the master suite. The heavy oak door was unlocked, resting slightly open. Muffled whispers floated out into the corridor, followed by a soft, familiar laugh that made Audrey stop in her tracks.
Michael: She has no idea. She thinks I'm down in the lobby talking to the board members.
Chloe: What happens after you sign the marriage certificate?
Michael: Once the certificate is filed, forty percent of the Sterling trust fund transfers directly to my account.
Audrey felt her pulse spike as she pushed the heavy bedroom door open. The bright sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating the white marble tiles and the prominent American flag mounted on the wall. Sitting together on the king-sized bed under a white blanket were her fiancé Michael, completely shirtless, and Chloe, her personal assistant, wearing only her bra and panties.
Michael: Audrey! Wait, this is a mistake!
Chloe: Oh my god!
Chloe clutched the white blanket tightly around her chest, her eyes wide with sudden terror. Michael scrambled off the mattress, his bare feet slapping against the marble as he reached out toward Audrey.
Audrey: The only mistake was trusting you.
Michael took another desperate step forward, his hands trembling in the air.
Michael: Audrey, please! Let me explain what happened!
Audrey: Stay right where you are, Michael.
Audrey reached calmly into her designer clutch purse, pulling out her smartphone. Michael gasped as she tapped the screen, his face turning pale as he realized what she was about to do.