Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? by Melissa Senate Read Free Book Online Page B

Astrid’s tray table, imprinted with a subway map of New York City, upon which sat two boxes wrapped in smiley-face paper.
    Astrid clapped once. “I’ve come up with a brilliant promotional campaign for the Today’s Bride feature.”
    There were awed whispers of “just brilliant” from her minions.
    “We’ll run promos in the April and May issues with a photo shoot of the Classic Bride and the Modern Bride opening two engagement gifts in their homes, allowing the Wow readership a personal glimpse inside your private worlds.”
    People were going to think I lived here? I thought, eyeing the metal walls and Popsicle-stick coffee table.
    “Readers will be invited into your homes to share in the experience as you each open two gifts,” Astrid continued. “One that suits your personality and one thatdoesn’t. You’ll smile for the gift that suits and you’ll facially express your displeasure at the one that doesn’t.”
    Oh, brother.
    Devlin eyed me and let out a disgusted breath. “Somebody fix Eloise’s hair—it’s too bouncy today. Press it more against her head.”
    The beauty editor ran over and pressed the sides of my hair against my ears. “Much more modern,” she affirmed before flitting away.
    “I want it flatter,” Devlin ordered, shaking his head. “Let’s start with the Classic Bride.” He turned his attention to Philippa. “I want to capture you looking at the gifts with pure excitement.”
    “Yet not greedy excitement,” Astrid interjected. “The Classic Bride appreciates the tradition of gift giving, yet she is humble.”
    Philippa wasn’t. She ogled her gifts with the intensity I reserved for chocolate.
    “ Not greedy, Philippa!” Devlin shouted. She toned it down, and he shot a Polaroid. He and Astrid studied it, moved Philippa’s seat and table a bit to the left (she was slightly blocking the row of classic books on the backdrop), and then Devlin shot a couple of rolls of film. “Okay, now I want you to open the silver-wrapped present and beam with joy when you see what’s inside.”
    Philippa grabbed it and ripped open the gift, but she didn’t beam.
    “I said to beam with joy!” Devlin scolded.
    “But it’s an iron,” Philippa pointed out. “It’s hard to beam at an iron. And I’ve already got one, a good one—”
    “Philippa, now we have to waste valuable working timerewrapping the iron,” Astrid cut in with a frown. She snapped, and her assistant grabbed the iron and made quick work of the beautiful wrap job. “Again, Philippa.”
    Philippa reopened the gift and fake smiled.
    She was supposed to “facially express” slight dismay as she opened the next gift, touching her hand to her heart with an “oh my” expression. But when Philippa saw the kitschy wineglasses with tiny cartoon kissy couples hand-painted, she squealed with delight. “I love these!”
    They were cute, but nothing you’d want to drink wine out of.
    “Philippa, you are supposed to show displeasure at the wineglasses,” Astrid said. “They are not a traditional gift that befits the taste of the Classic Bride. Get it?”
    One Astrid snap later and her assistant was rewrapping the wineglasses.
    Philippa unwrapped the glasses again—and giggled with delight.
    Astrid glared at her. Devlin sighed with disgust. “Let’s move on to the Modern Bride,” Astrid said, continuing to glare at Philippa.
    I was instructed to open the smaller of the two gifts on my table and flash a huge smile. I unwrapped and frowned. Inside were two more of the cartoon wineglasses that Philippa adored.
    Devlin slapped his hand against the table. “Eloise, you’re supposed to smile!”
    But I hate these stupid glasses!
    Astrid snapped. I reopened. I smiled as best I could.
    I did well with the gift I was supposed to sneer at. A gold-plated mini-broom and dustpan set, it looked exactly like the one Dottie Benjamin had sent a couple of days ago as an engagement gift with a little note:
Dear Noah and Eloise,
    I told