A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!

C POV

"I suppose you had the worst trip ever.", I tease my parents. My dad looks up briefly while playing with Jamison and grins.

"Oh yes. The delicious food and stunning sights were awful.", he laughs. "It was so terrible we're already wanting to go back."

"I'm so glad it was as wonderful as you had hoped.", Ana replies, walking back into the room with my mom behind her. Delaney looks content in my mom's arms as she sits down in the chair closest to my dad.

"We ate so much food. Just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, we did. We did so much sight seeing that our feet hurt. There were also days in which we'd just stay in and do nothing but relax. Even that was wonderful."

"The food service.", my dad sighs. "The hotel had a chocolate souffle that was so delicious I even ordered it for breakfast one morning."

"Aren't you the one who used to tell Elliot no when he wanted sweets for breakfast?", I ask as Jamison rolls one of his trucks towards me. I lean down and gently roll the truck back to him. "Vroom vroom." This delights him so much that he starts rolling the truck back and forth to me.

"Actually that was your mother.", my dad counters with a wink in my mom's direction. "I seem to recall her going on a trip for a few days when you kids were younger. Elliot asked if he could have ice cream for breakfast, and I said no. I was going to make a nice breakfast. Things didn't turn out so well. I ruined the pancakes and burnt the toast. Elliot looked me square in the eye and said, "Ice cream looks pretty good about now, huh?"

"Oh my gosh.", Ana giggles. "Carrick, I'm sorry the breakfast didn't turn out the way you wanted, but I can totally see Elliot saying that." My dad laughs and yawns. "It looks like someone is still exhausted from the trip."

"We're both still trying to get back on track. It'll take a few more days though." Jamison then starts rolling the truck over to him.

"I know a certain little boy who'll keep you from falling asleep.", I joke.


"Grant Sullivan needs to see you as soon as possible.", April says over the intercom.

"All right.", I reply while closing out my email. In no time, Grant Sullivan is scurrying into my office. "Grant, is everything ok?"

"No although it will be. We were working on tenth floor restrooms and hit a snag. Water started going everywhere in the men's room, and it ended up covering the floor. It'll set us back at least half a day."

"It's all right. You've been ahead of schedule, and a small hiccup won't be a problem." He knots his hands together and sways back and forth. "Is there more?"

"In order to fully repair things we're going to have to turn the water off. I assure you it won't be off long.", he says. "I'd say about thirty minutes max."

"Do whatever you need to do to get it fixed. I'll have a message sent over the intercom to alert the staff." A small part of me is hoping there isn't another snag, causing the water to be off longer than planned.

"Thank you sir. I'll get right on it."

He hurries out of the room as I get on the company wide intercom system and tell the staff the water will be off for up to thirty minutes. Once the message is out, I go back to my emails only to have Ros walk through the door a few minutes later.

"I was on my way here when I heard about the water. Please tell me it's not going to be off very long."

"Grant believes thirty minutes is the most it'll be off. I realize it's an inconvenience, but things could be worse.", I tell Ros.

"You've got a point. Despite this incident, Grant's doing an exceptional job."

"That he is. You said you were already on your way in here when you heard the message. Did we have a meeting?"

"No. I was on my way to ask if you'd like to join me for lunch. I'm thinking of sushi." I close my email once again and practically jump out of the chair. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course."


A POV

"I'm in need of new panties.", Maxie announces so loud that Bryce's face turns as red as tomatoes. Seeing her error, she comes to a screeching halt on the way inside Neiman Marcus. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be so loud."

"I'm going to do my best to erase it from my memory.", Bryce mutters as we step inside the department store. With Mary babysitting Jamison and Delaney I said yes when Candace and Maxie me to tag along on their shopping trip. Our first stop is Neiman Marcus. Between my browsing, I'm also going to attempt to see if Bridget's working. Christian told me about her being at Starbucks the other day when he was having coffee with Elliot. He also told me how Bridget was drooling over Elliot.

"They've got a sale on shoes!", Candace shrieks. "I've been looking for the perfect pair of shoes to wear with my new blue dress. I've got a feeling today is the day I might find just the shoes." Candace head to the shoe department and Maxie to the lingerie section while I look over a display of sweaters.

"Lizzie, I'm back from my break.", I hear coming from behind me. I spin around and see a blonde haired woman in a tight fitting black dress. She glances into one of the floor mirrors and smoothes out her hair.

"Ok. Bye Bridget.", the other woman says on her way out.

I try not to make myself obvious as I watch Bridget strut behind the counter. As I'm doing my stakeout, I see Spencer walk by the counter. She pays no attention to Bridget although Bridget practically stares a hole in Spencer's head. Spencer smiles slightly when she spots me. She motions for me to follow her to a rack of dresses.

"What are you up to?", she asks me.

"I'm here shopping with Candace and Maxie.", I answer honestly. I lean closer and lower my voice. "And also Bridget for myself. I noticed she was giving you a go to hell look when you walked past her."

"I felt her eyes on me. She's probably still pissed at me from this morning. I had a headache when I first got here this morning, but I was trying my best to work through it. My plan was going fine until Bridget waltzed up and asked what was wrong with me. I kindly explained that I had a headache. I assumed she'd let me be. No. She decided to keep hounding me. She asked if my headached was from fighting with Elliot. I assured her it wasn't and Elliot and I are fine. Yet she kept asking if I was sure things with Elliot are ok. Wouldn't I be the one to know? I finally had enough and snapped by telling her Elliot and I are more than ok despite what she was secretly hoping."

"I take it she didn't take that well."

"She played dumb, telling me she only meant well. She supposedly cares about my feelings. I told her not to worry about my feelings. I'm a big girl who can handle anything and anyone. I put a little emphasis on the anyone part. I went on to tell her that Elliot and I are rock solid and nothing can come between us. It was at that moment she suddenly remembered that she had to help put out a shipment of blouses."

"Good for you.", I say, patting Spencer on the back.

"Thanks, but I don't think that's going to stop her from trying to get Elliot.", Spencer sighs as Candace and Maxie join us. Both are carrying large bundles in their arms. "Candace, Maxie, hey. It looks like you really racked up on things."

"You guys got all that stuff in the short time we've been here?", I ask my shopping companions.

"Ana, Maxie and I are speed shoppers.", Candace replies. "I even got my shoes. Have you not found anything yet?"

"Nope, but I'm not a speed shopper like the two of you. Anyway I'm really don't have anything to look for. I'm pretty much just tagging along."

"Nonsense.", Maxie scoffs while holding up a dark brown leather handbag. "This is something I could see you carrying." I take the handbag and start looking it over. "Am I right?"

"Hmm. I do like it. It's big but not too big. I especially like how it has several compartments."

"Get it.", Spencer tells me.

"Are you just telling me to buy it so you can borrow it down the road?"

"Maybe.", she giggles.