9

They were under pressure from the biggest ball event held at the beginning of winter, where they were already supposed to appear as the Taris couple. Preparations were delayed mainly by Tay’s business trips. Mishi had to plan almost everything on her own while also training a new colleague to take her place in the office.

As the big moment approached, both of them grew increasingly nervous and went through disagreements that made nothing easier. If Mario hadn’t brought the engagement ring on Tay’s behalf, Mishi might never have received one. In the end, however, the wedding was organized at the last possible moment, and during the final nights the soon-to-be spouses simply sat across from each other in Tay’s living room, resting. Exhausted and worn out.

***

“Do you have them?!” Mishi burst into the hotel room where Tay was getting dressed just before the ceremony. He had arrived in Kita only an hour earlier due to a meeting and traffic jams.

“What?” he frowned, annoyed, struggling with the buttons on his shirt.

“What do you think?” Mishi tapped her ring finger. Holding up the bulky skirt of her wedding dress, she looked around the room.

“Mario will have them,” he snapped irritably.

“Really?”

“That’s what he said,” he muttered, fighting the button with a trembling hand.

Mishi sighed at his mood. She carefully shuffled toward him so she wouldn’t snag on anything and began her usual grumbling: “That’s strange, he didn’t tell me anything. I talked to him a few minutes ago.”

She stopped his battle with the button and fastened it deftly.

“And what did he say?” he asked, already handing her the tie rather than trying to manage it himself.

“That there are seven hundred people there. Over twenty photographers. I’ll probably throw up,” she frowned desperately. “Stupid nails,” she groaned when she failed to tie the tie even on the second attempt.

“We can still run away,” Tay murmured seriously. “Somewhere to the Winter Islands. Mario won’t look for us there.”

Meanwhile, Mishi finally succeeded with the tie. She looked at Tay and, seeing his despair, realized how unbelievably skittish they both were. Two frightened children before a big test. She couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity.

“No,” she said, “we’ll manage. It’s all just pretend anyway.”

She smiled at Tay’s stone-still face, whose rigid features showed just how serious and stressful the moment ahead of them felt. She held his gaze for a moment, during which he searched her shining eyes for the reason behind her sudden good mood. Then she held his face and pressed a kiss to his lips…