"What do you think?"

Cinder peered at the images on Cress's tablet, her face scrunched up in thought before nodding. "It looks-Jerrico, I told you, the chimney has to wait, we haven't gotten any feedback for the floor back-great. Really, I like it."

"I know it's not what we agreed upon at first but it's only a slight change-"

"Pereira, we can't build in the door there, check the plans again!"

"-but it will be still work with our concept. Um, is this a bad time?"

Cress and Cinder were standing outside the shell construction for a house Cinder had conceptualized the plans for. It was quite loud and busy but since Cinder couldn't leave, Cress had decided to come to her. And felt a little out of place.

And the safety helmet she was wearing wobbled uncomfortably on her head.

Cinder wiped her gloves across her forehead, leaving a smear across it. "No, it's fine. Sorry, let's just get something to drink where it's not as loud."

"If now is not a good time ..."

Cinder made a grimace as they walked over to the table with the beverages and snacks. "I'm not a construction overseer, I just focus on drawing the plans, you know? But I help out since this is Ze'ev's project and he couldn't be here this morning. He'll arrive soon though and if you can wait for another half an hour or so, we can leave and discuss everything where it's quiet and- is he kidding me? Jerrico!"

Cinder stamped back to the construction site while Cress was content to sip on a coke.

She was about to meet Ze'ev, one of the groomsmen for Kai and Cinder's wedding. That was exciting news.

"We need a decision, Kai. Invite them, yes or no?"

"What did Cinder say?"

Thorne rolled his eyes." She leaves it up to you because those are your political friends or something."

"Campaign manager." The phone rang and Kai's secretary, Nainsi, was on the line. "Mr Prince, your appointment at one is already here. Should I show him in?"

Kai clicked a button to reply. "Not yet, Nainsi. He's half an hour early after all. Offer him a coffee in the meantime."

"Of course, Mr Prince."

"Not a good time?"

Kai looked up at Thorne tiredly. "When is it really?" Taking a sip of water, he checked the guest list. "Yeah, invite her. Why not?"

Thorne took a note. "Spouse too?"

"I guess."

"You know, your 'I guess' approach is the reason we went from almost three-hundred guests to three-hundred-forty-three now."

"That many?" Kai winced. "But didn't we already send out the invitations?"

"Yes, but then you added a few more to the list. Fifty-one, to be exact. It's short notice so maybe not everyone will make it." At least, Thorne was hoping for that. "Might as well make sure we finally have everyone at your wedding that you need."

"I only need Cinder."

"Cute. Very cute, Kai. But that ship has sailed like, three months ago. Now, is that everyone?"

"Yes?"

Thorne pointed towards the door. "What about your secretary? Who is working for the company pretty much from before you were born?"

He had to hand it to him, Kai hardly ever lost face. He paled a little though. "Of course, yes. And her spouse and her kids of course. She has two."

"Three-hundred-forty-seven then." Thorne clucked his tongue but pulled out an envelope from his bag. "Just tell her you wanted to give it to her personally."

Kai nodded, relieved, taking the invitation gratefully. "You really think of everything, don't you? Thanks."

"No need to thank me." He stuffed his notes into his bag and picked it up, ready to leave. "That's what you're paying me for after all."

Cress jumped a little when the construction workers behind her suddenly started to howl like wolves, while Cinder only rolled her eyes.

"What is going on?"

"Ze'ev is coming." She looked up from the blueprint she was studying. "It's some weird guys' thing. Don't ask."

"Oo-kay."

Behind Cinder strolled a huge guy, muscle-packed like he stepped out from the cover of a romance novel with wild, black locks and startling green eyes to match. Cress understood what authors described as "tall, dark and brooding" once she saw him.

"Hey Cinder, thanks for helping out. I can see you got everything under control." His voice was surprisingly soft, as were his eyes as he turned to Cress. "Hello."

"H-hi." She took his offered hand which enveloped hers almost completely. "I'm Cress."

"Ze'ev."

Another howl came from the rooftop.

"Um, why are they howling?"

Ze'ev seemed amused. "It's because of my nickname. Wolf," he added.

"Oh. Why?"

The wolfish grin he gave her made her feel stupid for asking. "It's what Ze'ev means in English."

That made sense ... more or less. It didn't explain the howling but maybe it was as Cinder said, a guys' thing.

Ze'ev and Cinder discussed the progress of the building with Cinder doing most of the talking and Ze'ev nodding. It gave Cress a bit of time to study him and noticed scars, big and small, all over his arms, his neck and his face.

Ze'ev must have noticed her stare but didn't say anything, causing Cress to blush.

It was a dangerous job, that was for sure.

"You're working with Thorne." It wasn't a question. "I heard you keep him on his toes."

Cress was smiling shyly up at him. He wasn't intimidating per se but he had an energy, a presence that was hard to pin-point. "I'm not sure about that. But I think we make a good team."

He nodded. "Good." Ze'ev went to get his safety gear but before he made his way over to the shell construction, he gave her a curious look. "Don't let him get to you."

He walked away, not expecting a reply. Non-plussed as she was, Cress wouldn't have one to give to him. As she left the construction site, she tried to figure out if Ze'ev had tried to warn her, make a joke or if he even meant anything by it at all.

"Hello, you've reached Darla."

Thorne waited a second. With her monotone voice, he could never tell if Darla was on the line or if her answering machine picked up.

When there was only silence, Thorne guessed Darla herself was on the phone. "Hi, Darla, Thorne here, how are you doing? How did that photoshoot go?" Thorne didn't remember any photoshoot in particular but with Darla it was a safe bet that she had been modelling in the recent past.

"It went well, thank you for asking."

Thorne waited for her to elaborate but she didn't. "Good, good. Glad to hear it."

"How may I help you, Thorne?"

"Listen, darling, I know I asked you to assist with Cinder and Kai's wedding but as it happened, they already asked another wedding planner friend of theirs to help out. And you know three's a crowd," he tried for a light joke but there was only silence from Darla's side. He elaborated, "It would be a bit too much with all three of us there but I'll make sure to book you for my next wedding. You know your irreplaceable to me, darling."

Just as expected, Darla agreed without a fuss. "Of course, Thorne. Is there anything else?"

Darla was great at doing what she was being told which Thorne highly appreciated. It made her a good model and a great assistant. Not the liveliest of people, for sure though.

"No, thanks, you're the best. Let me know if you need anything anytime."

"Yes. Have a good day."

"You too."

That went as smoothly as Thorne expected. With Cress being a great asset already, Thorne had no need for Darla. An extra benefit being that Cinder had never really cared much for Darla.

Even though she had known Cress for a mere few weeks, Thorne felt like Cress was the wedding planner who would be the best choice to be at Cinder's side on her great day.

Thorne realized that this wedding would mean that all of his favorite people would be coming together on that day. Cinder, and Kai, of course, and Ze'ev and Scarlet. Iko, who probably thought she should be higher on that list. Ze'ev's mom and Scarlet's grandma. He didn't know Jacin and Winter well enough, but it was a good opportunity to have them around too.

And Cress. If anyone had told him she would be on the list a few weeks ago, he would have laughed.

It would be the first time everyone came together. Thorne was looking forward to that even though he knew he didn't have as much time with everyone as he wanted.

Though Cress would leave immediately after the wedding.

Back to Burlington and back to Julian.

It was easy to tell himself that it didn't matter.

Cress took her time studying the three prints in front of her.

They were larger versions of the photos Cinder had given Cress showing first Kai's grandparents and then his parents, and lastly, Cinder and Kai themselves.

In each picture, the bride-to-be was wearing the dress that inspired the whole wedding.

The lady from the printshop had outdone himself to enlarge the photos without losing much of the quality. It had been tricky with the oldest image of the grandparents when camera technology hadn't been as advanced and there was a grainy texture to it.

And still ... "The colors are very faded on this one."

Mrs. Gliebe, or Robyn, just shrugged. "I told you that would be the case. The original photo is old and you can't compare the colors of old cameras to what we can do now. I could photoshop the colors over it," she explained in her heavy Australian accent. "It would cost more as I need way more time. I would have to color over the whole image in a way that looks authentic."

Cress understood. "I think that would be best." But she and Thorne had promised each other they would ask each other's opinion for costs that went beyond that they had agreed on. "I'll have to call my partner first though if you don't mind?"

"No need." Cress jumped at Thorne's voice behind her. "Your partner is right here."

"I didn't know you would be here?" They had divided all their tasks for the day evenly.

"I wrapped up a few things early, thought I might as well see how you're doing." He leaned over the counter to study the prints. "Yes, we need a better quality. Robyn, be so kind to work on that print"-he pointed to the one with Kai's grandparents-" and maybe check if you can brighten this one up a little too," he said with a nod to the print showing Kai's parents. "Will it be ready in time for the family dinner a day before the wedding?"

Robyn checked her calendar on her laptop. "Yes, I think so. Two weeks from now, August 27, correct?"

"Correct." He turned to Cress. "Only two weeks now."

Both of them knew the date better than even Kai and Cinder did as often as they had to send it out for the invitations, catering, and so many more things. But she knew what he meant. Suddenly, after all their work and time together, it was only two more weeks.

Cress couldn't believe it was only two more weeks and then she would return to Burlington.

Still, no step closer to an idea that would let her say 'yes' to Julian with all the excitement an happiness that should go with that moment.

She wouldn't think about that now. Instead, she focused on discussing the price with Robyn (with Thorne negotiating well enough to get a little discount).

Focusing on Kai and Cinder's wedding was much easier than on her own, Cress thought not for the first time.

"Done for the day?" Thorne asked casually, as they stood outside the print shop. He for one had finished every task for the day and had no plans.

Cress typed something on her tablet before answering. "Juuust oooone moooore"-she tapped her tablet a few more times-"second. All done!" She smiled brightly up at him.

He held up his hand up for a high five. "Good job, partner."

She clapped his hand. "You too, partner."

His phone rang so he signalled Cress to wait as he started to argue with the cook. Gilles had been difficult from the start and it grated on Thorne's nerves though he wouldn't let it show. He was polite but firm and he wouldn't stand for Gilles' attempts to use the looming deadline as an excuse to get more money out of the wedding.

Finally, Gilles stopped trying to use the delivery time and exotic ingredients as an excuse to cash in some extra money and hung up.

"So, now I'm finally done for the day. The nerve of Gilles," he told Cress who looked at him with big eyes. "What?"

"Nothing." She put her tablet away. "You're so good at that."

"Ah yes. Thanks for noticing." He grinned broadly at her. "Soo, what exactly am I good at?"

"Oh you know-"she waved at the general direction of his phone-"the way you negotiate and get good deals. And also how you handle people like Gilles. Or Sybil. You're such a good businessman."

Despite the rocky start they had, Thorne really appreciated that Cress had a certain way of looking at people. She did notice a lot of small details and it not only showed in her weddings but in the general way she observed people.

Although his business skills should be more than obvious.

He swung an arm around Cress's shoulders and casually strolled with her through the street. "Correction, I'm a great businessman. But that's what our business is all about. It's not just romance, flowers and buttercream."

Cress sighed. "I know. And I have a few good relationships with vendors and florists but not like you. You save so much money and people don't walk over you."

"True on both accounts. You should make a point to learn a thing or two about it."

"You're impossible." She wrinkled her nose in annoyance.

"Impossibly good at being a businessman, you mean."

"Thorne," she groaned but he could see her trying to hide a smile. Ah, someone who appreciated his humor. He hoped it would rub off on Cinder who usually only rolled her eyes.

"Alright. But really, if you want I can give you a few pointers." He leaned lower to whisper into her ear, "Tell you all my secrets."

Cress suddenly stopped walking but because Thorne still had his arm around her shoulders, they both stumbled a little.

"Everything alright?"

Cress looked at him with big eyes. "You mean it? You would teach me your tricks?"

He rubbed his neck a little awkwardly. "Yes?"

Her smile was almost blinding as she rocked on her heels as if to contain her excitement. Then it occurred to Thorne: One of the reason Cress wanted to meet him was to learn from the wedding planner she had come to admire from reading all those interviews. Now that he knew that, he guessed he should have been more flattered on their first meeting instead of just tearing down the misconceptions she'd had about him.

Well. She seemed happy about it now.

"That's so exciting. They never taught us that in business school."

Thorne sighed, thinking back on his years wasted in school. It would have been another few years wasted if he had attended college for his current job. "School hardly ever teaches real-life applications. The real stuff comes down to personality and learning-by-doing."

Cress nodded in agreement. "It gave me good basics though. And a degree."

"And today you'll earn another one. The Thorne Certificate of Outstanding Negotiation Skills. You might as well skim something off the top for yourself," Thorne said in jest, fully knowing Cress would never do that.

The little nudge she gave him in reproach only confirmed that.

A/N: I know PEA is a slow-burn fic but is it too slow-burn at this point? I go with canon where they are slow-burn too but also develop their relationship in several ways but I wonder if it takes too much time (though I can't help it - the two of them have their own pace in this fic)?

Many thanks to kiminicricket for betareading! :)