Wedding Crashers (Chaesoo - Jenlisa)

CHAPTER 02

Jennie Ruby Jane was not having it today.

She had worked for months to perfect every tiny detail of Alice Park's wedding, down to the placement of each rose petal and yet somehow, one of the floral centerpieces was off by two inches. Not that anyone else would notice, but to Jennie, it was an unpardonable offense.

"Move that arrangement slightly to the left," she ordered the florist's assistant, who looked at her wide-eyed before nervously complying. Jennie exhaled slowly, trying to restore her calm. She ran a tight ship, and nothing was going to derail this wedding under her watch. It didn't matter that it was a high-pressure event for one of the city's most powerful families, she had done weddings for political elites, CEOs, even celebrities. She was a professional.

As she was scanning the reception area, mentally double-checking her task list, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You look like someone who's about to save the day."

Jennie turned, narrowing her eyes at the intruder. Standing there, in a perfectly-fitted emerald gown, was a woman she had never seen before. Tall, strikingly beautiful, with an air of easy confidence that immediately put Jennie on alert. It wasn't just the tone of her voice, it was the kind of confidence that said, I don't belong here, but I'm going to act like I do.

"I'm always saving the day," Jennie responded coolly, giving her a polite but curt smile. "And who might you be?"

The woman flashed a mischievous smile. "Ashley Green. I'm a...friend of the family."

Jennie's eyes narrowed further. Something about her seemed off. "Really? I've worked with the Park family for months, and I don't recall ever meeting you."

"Ashley" didn't even flinch. Instead, she laughed softly. "Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't. I travel a lot. Paris, Milan, New York, you know how it is in the fashion world."

Jennie stared at her, unimpressed. "Uh-huh."

Lisa's smirk faltered just a bit, but she quickly recovered, leaning in closer, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Look, I know you've got this whole wedding-planner-dictator thing going on, but you might want to relax a little. Enjoy the fruits of your labor."

Jennie's lips pressed into a thin line. "Excuse me?"

Lisa grinned, enjoying Jennie's rising frustration. "I'm just saying, you're clearly good at what you do. But the wedding's happening right now, and you can't control everything. Maybe loosen up a bit? Have a glass of champagne? Flirt with someone? I hear weddings are great for that."

Jennie folded her arms across her chest, her patience thinning. "I don't flirt with strangers, especially not at my events. And if you're not actually related to the Park family, I'll have to ask you to leave."

Lisa raised her hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, easy there, general. I'm just here for the vibes. But..." She tilted her head, her smile more genuine now, "if you ever decide to take a break from bossing everyone around, maybe I'll see you on the dance floor."

Jennie didn't respond. She simply turned away, pretending to check her clipboard, ignoring the way her pulse quickened in response to Lisa's teasing.

Jisoo was still under the oak tree with Rosé, and what she'd planned as a quick diversion from their usual crashing routine had turned into something much more intriguing. Rosé was refreshingly different from the other guests, open, sincere, and with a quiet confidence that put Jisoo at ease. They had fallen into easy conversation about everything from music to travel, and for the first time in a long time, Jisoo wasn't pretending to be someone she wasn't.