It’s the day everyone dreams about, the day that everyone wants to be perfect. For both Sebastian and Taylor, so far it had been. What started as a gorgeous outdoor autumn ceremony by the water had moved into the sophisticated age-old ballroom on the 13th floor of the Biltmore.
“So, why did you pick this place, baby? You never really told me,” Taylor’s inquiry didn’t seem out of legitimate interest, more just a filler question to occupy the dead air before they entered.
“I mostly just enjoy the privacy… you know, being detached from it all. From the real world. Even if it’s only temporary. Whenever my family stayed up this way to go skiing, we always slept here. Which wasn’t often really, but I guess it’s like they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
“How are you gonna grow fonder of me when I’m always around you?” Her lies were convincing. She winked in a slutty way at him, it seemed like that was the only way she knew.
“It wouldn’t even be possible to grow fonder of you, I love you too much already.” His smile was glowing, Sebastian seemed even more at peace than he normally did.
Taylor wrapped her hands around his belly as they pulled in tightly for the fakest of hugs.
“The history is quite fascinating too,” Sebastian said as he curved his arms around her, listening to the chatter of the crowd that could be heard through the ballroom doors.
“History?”
“Yeah, this place was constructed in 1922, but just a few decades ago, it abruptly fell into abandonment. But eventually, due to the building’s rich history, there was a push to revive it. Places such as this, not too far from the mountains, have a lucrative appeal. After several restoration efforts, they’re finally able to unlock the doors again.”
“Why did it even close at all? Seems kind of dumb knowing how gorgeous it is firsthand. I mean, this place is a total cash cow.”
“Some kind of accident happened. They got some bad press. But I think overall poor management seemed like the prime culprit. This place is too special to let anything keep it from being available to the public.”
“Tell me about it, babe, can you believe we have it all to ourselves?”
“Nope, it still feels like a dream to me. I can’t believe we’re the first guests to set foot inside again, either. It’s unreal. I can feel this… this buzz inside. The constructional face-lift has really modernized it but without painting over the vintage charm you see in the old photos,” he said, breaking away from her and pointing to some of the black and white framed pictures on the wall beside them.
Taylor’s mouth opened to respond but the music hit before she could and the doors in front of them flew open. They stepped out into the applauding mass of family and friends. The sight of the grand room, prepped exactly as they requested, would have reduced any hidden-agenda-less woman to tears.
Taylor reprocessed the surroundings again just as she had when they initially scoped it out. The magnificence of the location hadn’t been watered down by a second viewing. If anything, it looked even more awe-inspiring. The guests buzzed back and forth through the two main doors that served as both entries and exits in between the main bar area.
The glee embroidered upon the faces of their attendees was overly evident as they began to find seating and retrieved their placeholders. She could tell they were all so glad to be there. Each individual couldn’t have felt more honored to be a part of their breathtaking ceremony and to have a seat at such a spectacle of extravagance. Little did they know, for the greater majority, it would be the last party they’d ever attend.
