John steps to the side and looks at the other man. “Got a runaway bride. The women in line out front surrounded her in some sort of female solidarity. They insisted I let her bypass the line so she could get inside.”
The man rolls his eyes and looks directly at me. “Were you being chased?”
I lick my lips. “Yes. I don’t know how close behind me he was, because I had a head start, but hopefully he passed right by the club when he didn’t see me out front.”
The new man nods to one side of the room. “Come into my office.”
Relieved, I follow him. It’s not easy. I have to gather up the layers of tulle to keep from tripping. The dress was almost too long even with the stupid heels I’d been wearing, but I ditched those ugly shoes before I jumped out of the limo at a stop light. I knew I wouldn’t be able to run in them, but now the fluffy tulle hangs past my feet, dragging. I’ll be lucky if I don’t trip and break my neck. Or maybe that would be the perfect end to my day.
“What’s your name?” the man asks as he pulls out a chair across from what I assume is his desk.
“Mercy.”
“I’m Zack, the manager of Club Zoom.” He pushes a folder across the desk toward me. “First things first. You really must sign the waiver if you’re going to be inside the club.”
“I promise I won’t enter the main club.”
He shakes his head. “Trust me. It doesn’t matter. The fact that you’re inside this building at all is enough to make me nervous.”
I nod and reach for the pen he holds out. “No problem.” I have to push the front of the gaudy dress down just to get my arm to the desk.
Zack leans back, chuckling. “Pardon my rudeness, but that dress is awful. I’m only saying that out loud because I can tell you agree.”
I sigh as I open the folder. “Yes. It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It goes perfectly with my day.”
“Why did you choose it if you hate it?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t choose anything, including the groom.”
“Ah.” He points toward the papers. “Sign.”
After reading through the fine print, I gladly sign and initial everywhere I’m supposed to before pushing it back toward him. “Do you have some scissors I could borrow?”
He frowns as he opens the center drawer of his desk to pull out a pair. Before handing them to me, he says, “You’re not going to stab yourself or cut your wrists, are you?”
I cackle. It sounds strange coming from my lips. It’s been a while since I last smiled, let alone laughed. “No. I promise.”
He turns them around and holds the handles toward me. “Good. The blood would be awful to clean up, plus I don’t want to deal with the paramedics and police tonight,” he teases.
I laugh again as I bend forward and start cutting the bottom of my dress.
Zack gasps as he rises onto his feet, plants his hands on the desk, and leans over. “You’re seriously going to cut that dress? You really must hate it.”
“Hate is such a mild word,” I mutter as I fight with the ugly tulle. It’s going to take me forever to cut through the layers so I can remove at least the bottom third of this ugly mess. Eventually I’m going to have to leave this building, and when I do, I want to be able to run without being so encumbered.
I’ve only managed to cut a slit several inches up the front when a door opens. Yet another man enters my line of sight. At the same time, the room fills with the sound of loud club music. When I look around him, I realize the door he opened leads directly into the main club. The lighting is dim, and women are jammed onto what I assume is a dance floor.
His gaze lands on me, and I swear he doesn’t blink. His jaw drops. After a few seconds, he turns his attention to Zack. “Uhhh… Sorry to interrupt, Zack, but we have a situation at the bar.”
Zack responds, “A situation like you’re out of vodka or there’s a girl fight?”
“The latter.”
Zack groans. “Thanks, Roger. I’ll be right there.” He stands and rounds his desk, stopping in front of me. “Don’t cut anything besides that gaudy tulle, you hear me?”
I giggle again, feeling lighter. “Yes.”
Zack follows Roger out the door, closing it behind him. I’m grateful because I’m on my last nerve, and the volume in that club might drive me to drink.
