While at work, Harry pretended to have chronic stomach flu so he could leave work five hours earlier than his usual time.

He had a good reason for playing hooky. There was a game on at two that he didn't want to miss. He was going to watch it at Liam's place. Liam had just gotten a sweet new ninety inch screen TV and they were itching to break it in.

As soon as Harry sat in the car, he noticed that the mailbox on his phone was full. They were all from Brianna. Harry began to get worried. It wasn't like his baby to leave so many messages. Was it his son? Her? Oh man.

He opened one message and Brianna wailed: "Harry, it's me! My dress is gone! Gone! Someone came and bought it right out from under me! It was customed to my size and everything."

The next message: "Harry, the banquet hall is gone! I tried to see if I could book it and they said it won't be available for the next two years!"

And next: "Harry, the salon is booked! It's gone too! Where are you? Harry, I need you! My salon. . ."

Harry tuned out as he drove. His baby did have a flair for the dramatics. This wedding was turning into a damn circus. He told her he wanted a quickie wedding but no, his sweetness had to have the Ultimate Big Wedding with all the crap that went with it. That sucked.

". . .it's like we're being sabotaged." Brianna said tearfully from his phone.

Sabotaged.

That word caught Harry's attention. It made him think.

Father Louis was booked.

The reception hall was booked.

The salon was booked.

And the wedding dress was gone.

H'm. Those weren't just coincidences. There had to be more to it.

Harry pulled up into the liquor store for supplies. He decided to worry about it later. Liam and the game was waiting for him.

After picking up a couple of cases of Heineken, Harry headed straight to Liam's place.

"Sup, bro," Liam fist bopped Harry when he came in. "You come bearing gifts."

"What's a game without some refreshment from the gods." Harry said, lugging in the beer, before falling into Liam's big comfy reclining chair and putting up his feet. He removed his suit jacket and tie. Aaah, now this was heaven. When they handed him his bottle of beer his happiness was complete.

Harry took a good swig. Ohhh, sweet daddy, now this was the life. There was nothing like playing hooky from work to watch a game on a ninety inch with friends to make a man happy. Other than his woman and child of course.

"Let the game begin!" Liam hollered as he hit the remote. Everyone sat back and watched.

About halfway through the game Harry had a sudden thought. No, more like a memory.

Back when he was with Taylor, she was planning his birthday party. She wanted a huge event so she tried to book this popular hall but it was already taken. She was distraught.

"Just get another one," Harry had told her. "This one ain't the only one in town."

"No," Taylor was stubborn. "I want that one. It has the best reviews. Only the A+ people have their events there. The best food, the best service, and I never settle for anything less than the best. You know me better than that."

He did. She was a diva, that one.

Then Taylor somehow tracked down the owner of the banquet and before you could say Happy Birthday, the hall was theirs.

"How'd you do it?" Harry had asked her.

Taylor just smiled her devious smile. "Oh I have my ways."

Harry found out later that all it took was a flash of her daddy's loot in the right direction. The old man owned most of the state.

Harry sat up now, replaying the memory. Then he compared it to the strange events that happened to Brianna. The same M.O.

What the hell!?

Taylor wouldn't.

She would!

What the fuck?

That evil bitch!

Harry jumped up and threw on his jacket and shoes.

"Hey, dude," Liam looked so surprised he almost choked out his beer. "What's up, why are you leaving? What about the game? We still got three more hours before my wife gets home."

Harry was already out the door. "Gotta go!"

The first place he went to was the church. Father Louis wasn't there but his assistant was.

"I'm sorry," the assistant said. "Father Louis is away at a workshop, can I help you?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "You can start by telling me about these sudden bookings at the church and why we can't get married here."

The assistant suddenly looked flustered. "I-I-I really can't, uh, say." He sat up looking bold. "It's church business anyway, so I can't tell you."

Harry narrowed his eyes at him. "Hey, aren't you the guy from the sex tape, with someone else's wife? Is it still none of my business?

The assistant jumped and quickly began typing on the keyboard. "I have your information right here. Everything you need. Here you go. Printer's right over there."

Harry nudged him aside and looked at the screen. Wow, he thought. Father Louis wasn't kidding. The church was booked solid for the next four months, by the Swift Corporation. As in Taylor's rich daddy.

Just as he suspected. Taylor was behind the sabotage, with her diabolical ass.