Chapter 3: The Woman Who Paid for Everything
Brandon returned to the ballroom before his mother.
Lauren was waiting near the champagne tower, her diamond ring catching the light as she waved him over.
“What happened?”” she demanded.
“Mom says you changed the sponsor information.””
Lauren rolled her eyes.
“Oh, for heaven's sake. I was just correcting a program.””
“You tried to remove her name.””
“Because my parents should be recognized.””
“Your parents haven't paid for anything.””
Lauren stared at him.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Brandon, not everything is about money.””
He looked confused.
“Then why are we discussing who gets recognized?””
“Because your mother has been making everything about herself since we announced the engagement.””
Lauren picked up her champagne glass.
“She called you about the seating arrangement. She questioned my decisions. She keeps reminding everyone that she helped organize the party.””
“She did organize it.””
Lauren's eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“She negotiated with the hotel. She paid the deposit. She arranged most of the vendors.””
Lauren laughed.
“She offered to help. Nobody forced her.””
Brandon looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Lauren, she's my mother.””
“And I'm your future wife.””
The words hung between them.
Lauren reached for his hand.
“Listen to me. Tonight is important. My parents invited people who could help us professionally. I don't want some emotional scene ruining everything.””
“She's already upset.””
“Then she should learn to behave like an adult.””
Brandon looked down.
Lauren softened her expression.
“Baby, I love you. But you need to stop letting your mother make decisions for you.””
He nodded.
And that was when Denise entered the ballroom.
She had taken a few moments to compose herself. Her lipstick was still perfect, her navy dress was smooth, and the pearls at her ears reflected the ballroom lights.
She walked past the champagne tower without stopping.
Lauren spotted her.
“Oh, good. You're back.””
Denise didn't respond.
Brandon approached.
“Mom, can we please keep things peaceful?””
Denise looked at him.
“Have I raised my voice?””
“No.””
“Have I insulted anyone?””
“No.””
“Then what exactly are you asking me to do?””
Brandon glanced at Lauren.
“Just don't challenge her in front of everyone.””
Denise gave a small nod.
“Understood.””
She turned toward Evelyn, who was standing near the ballroom entrance.
“Ms. Carter,” Evelyn said, “Richard Hayes is on his way down.””
Lauren immediately stepped forward.
“Why is the regional director involved?””
Evelyn maintained her professional smile.
“Because the original sponsor has requested a review of the event authorization.””
Lauren's face hardened.
“The original sponsor is my family.””
Evelyn looked at Denise.
“Actually, ma'am, the original sponsor is Ms. Carter.””
Lauren laughed.
“That can't be right.””
Evelyn opened her tablet.
“The contract was signed by Denise Carter on September twelfth. The deposit was paid from her business account on September thirteenth.””
Brandon turned toward his mother.
“Mom, you paid the deposit?””
Denise looked at him.
“I paid for the event.””
“How much?””
“That's not important.””
Lauren stepped between them.
“This is ridiculous. Denise offered to help. That doesn't mean she gets to control the entire evening.””
Evelyn remained calm.
“The agreement gives Ms. Carter final authorization over the event.””
Lauren shook her head.
“Then change it.””
“I'm afraid we cannot.””
“Why not?””
“Because the sponsor hasn't approved a transfer.””
Lauren's cheeks turned pink.
“Well, I want to speak to whoever is in charge.””
A familiar voice answered from behind her.
“You're speaking to me.””
Richard Hayes had arrived.
He was a tall man in his early sixties, dressed in a dark suit, with silver hair and a calm expression.
He approached Denise first.
“Good evening, Denise.””
“Richard.””
He shook her hand.
“I'm sorry about this.””
Lauren blinked.
“You know Denise?””
Richard turned.
“Of course I do.””
“She's Brandon's mother.””
Richard looked at her.
“And the sponsoring client.””
Lauren forced a laugh.
“Right. Well, there seems to be some confusion.””
Richard opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
“There is no confusion. We have the signed agreement, the payment records, and the authorization history.””
He placed the folder on a nearby table.
“Ms. Carter negotiated the event package. She paid the deposit and the second installment. The final balance is scheduled under her authorization.””
Brandon stared at his mother.
“You never told me all this.””
Denise's expression remained gentle.
“You never asked.””
Lauren folded her arms.
“Okay, but my parents were promised recognition.””
Richard turned toward her.
“By whom?””
“My father.””
“Did he sign a sponsorship agreement?””
“No, but—”
“Did he pay a deposit?””
Lauren's lips parted.
“No.””
“Did he authorize any payments?””
“No, but that's not the point.””
Richard closed the folder.
“Then we cannot list him as the sponsor.””
Lauren looked around.
Several guests had begun watching.
She lowered her voice.
“This is embarrassing.””
Denise looked at her.
“I agree.””
Lauren's face tightened.
“Then perhaps you should stop making it worse.””
Denise didn't answer.
Instead, she turned to Evelyn.
“Has the photographer started the family portraits?””
“Yes, ma'am.””
“Then let them continue.””
Richard glanced at her.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
Lauren looked relieved.
“Finally.””
Denise continued.
“However, I want the seating arrangement restored to the original contract.””
Lauren's smile disappeared.
“What?””
“My original seating instructions placed me at the family table.””
Lauren laughed incredulously.
“You can't seriously expect us to change everything now.””
Denise looked directly at her.
“You changed everything without permission.””
“I'm the bride!””
“Not yet.””
The words were quiet.
But they stopped Lauren cold.
Brandon stepped forward.
“Mom!””
Denise turned to him.
“What?””
“You're humiliating her.””
Denise looked at Lauren, who was still standing beside the champagne tower with her arms crossed.
Then she looked at her son.
“Your fiancée told me I wasn't worthy of sitting at your family table. You stood beside her and agreed with her.””
“I didn't agree!””
“You told me not to make the evening about myself.””
Brandon rubbed his face.
“Because I didn't want an argument.””
Denise's voice softened.
“And what did you think I wanted?””
He said nothing.
“I wanted to sit beside my son. I wanted to give a toast. I wanted to celebrate the woman he said he loved.””
She paused.
“I didn't want to spend my evening proving I deserved a chair.””
A nearby guest turned away.
Lauren noticed.
“Can we please stop discussing this? People are watching.””
Denise nodded.
“Then let's stop.””
She turned toward Evelyn.
“Please bring the original seating chart.””
Evelyn walked away.
Lauren grabbed Brandon's arm.
“Do something!””
Brandon looked at his mother.
“Mom, just let me handle it.””
Denise shook her head.
“You've had all evening to handle it.””
The photographer approached with a camera hanging from his neck.
“Excuse me. We're ready for the family portrait.””
Lauren immediately brightened.
“Wonderful. Let's get everyone together.””
The photographer looked at his list.
“Could I have Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore, Mr.
and Mrs. Carter, the couple, and the sponsor?””
Lauren pointed toward her parents.
“Right there.””
The photographer glanced at the list again.
“I'm sorry, but the sponsor is listed as Denise Carter.””
Lauren's smile vanished.
Richard quietly handed the photographer a corrected copy of the original authorization sheet.
Denise stood beside the window, watching.
She didn't want a photograph.
She didn't want recognition.
She wanted to know whether her son would finally understand what had happened.
Brandon approached her.
“Mom, please. Can we talk privately?””
Denise followed him a few steps away from the guests.
He lowered his voice.
“I didn't know Lauren was going to say those things.””
“You heard her.””
“I know.””
“And you said nothing.””
“I was trying to keep the peace.””
Denise studied him.
“Whose peace, Brandon?””
He looked down.
“Mom, I'm sorry.””
She waited.
He reached for her hand.
“Please don't walk away from me over this.””
Denise gently withdrew her hand.
“I'm not walking away because of one insult.””
“Then what?””
“I'm walking away because you watched someone insult me and decided my silence was more convenient than your honesty.””
Brandon's eyes filled slightly.
“That's not fair.””
Denise looked at him.
“Your father once told you that you could tell a man's character by how he treated someone who couldn't do anything for him.””
Brandon swallowed.
“I remember.””
“Do you?””
Before he could answer, Lauren appeared behind him.
“Brandon, your parents are asking where you are.””
Then she looked at Denise.
“I'm sure this has gone on long enough.””
Denise turned.
“Lauren, may I ask you something?””
Lauren sighed.
“What now?””
“Why did you tell the hotel your parents were paying for tonight?””
Lauren's expression changed.
“My parents are important people.””
“That wasn't my question.””
Lauren glanced toward the ballroom entrance.
“My father handles major business investments. He doesn't need to explain himself to you.””
“Then why did you put his name on an event he didn't pay for?””
Lauren's voice rose.
“Because he's going to be my family!””
Denise nodded slowly.
“And I suppose I'm not?””
Lauren didn't answer.
Brandon looked between them.
Then his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
“What is it?”” Lauren asked.
Brandon turned the screen toward her.
It was a message from his father-in-law-to-be, Robert Whitmore.
*Call me immediately. The hotel just contacted our office about an authorization issue. Don't let Denise sign anything else.*
Lauren snatched the phone.
“Why is my father involved in this?””
Brandon looked at her.
“Because someone told him Denise was threatening to cancel the party.””
Denise's expression remained calm.
“I haven't threatened anything.””
Lauren's eyes widened.
“Then what exactly are you planning?””
Denise looked at the ballroom, the flowers, the expensive champagne, and the guests enjoying an evening she had spent weeks arranging.
Then she looked at her son.
“I was planning to give you a toast.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out the cream-colored envelope.
“I wrote it myself.””
Brandon's eyes softened.
“Mom…”
Denise placed the envelope on the nearby table.
“But I don't think you'll want to hear it tonight.””
She turned toward the exit.
And just as she reached the ballroom doors, Richard called after her.
“Denise, wait.””
She stopped.
Richard was holding a second document.
His expression was no longer apologetic.
It was concerned.
“There's something else in the event file,” he said.
“Something Lauren submitted under your name.””
Denise turned around.
“What did she submit?””
Richard opened the document.
Then he looked directly at Brandon.
“Your fiancée has requested reimbursement for expenses she claims she personally paid.””
Brandon frowned.
“What expenses?””
Richard slowly placed the document on the table.
At the bottom was a payment authorization.
It carried Denise Carter's electronic signature.
But Denise had never signed it.
She stared at the screen.
“That isn't my signature.””
May you like
Lauren went completely still.
And Richard quietly said, “Then we may have a much bigger problem than a seating arrangement.””
