the Saint Aurelia Ballroom was famous for making American weddings look European
The confines of Bel Air, the Saint Aurelia Ballroom was famous for making American weddings look European. Their chandeliers glowed like frozen constellations. The marble floor looked like a never-ending polish shine. White roses lined the hallway in symmetrical rows, and the reception tables glistened with gold-trim porcelain, carved glass and cutlery still slightly marked by the fingerprints of the staff who had prepared the room with impeccable haste. Wealthy guests filled the seats and perimeter of the reception, in couture dresses, tuxedos and with a restrained expectation. At the bottom of the room was the bride, Juliette Mercer, under a canopy of roses and white satin curtains. Her dress had been flown from Paris. His tiara was older than most present. She was twenty-five years old, rich, beautiful, and so accustomed to bossing around that, when the celebration began to crumble, the first emotion on her face was not fear, but indignation.
Juliette's story had been carefully prepared for public use. She was the only devoted daughter of Douglas Mercer, founder of Mercer Biotech, and his wife Estelle, a former actress turned patron of charitable works. Society pages adored family because tragedy made them seem deeper. Ten years ago, the Mercers had lost their oldest daughter, Caroline, to a fire at a retirement home in Malibu during a summer storm. The official report said a faulty electrical wiring had set the west wing of the top floor on fire while Caroline slept. Juliette, who was then fifteen years old, tearfully told investigators that she had tried to get to her sister, but the hallway was blocked by smoke. The newspapers described her as a brave survivor of family trauma. Douglas took shelter at work. Estelle took refuge in pills and private clinics. Juliette became the sole heiress of an immense fortune; her daughter's tragedy turned into a diamond.
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