A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
A POV
"A month? Seriously? Ana, have you lost your mind?", Kate asks. She pours ketchup on her plate and raises a brow. After arriving back in Seattle yesterday, I'm having lunch with her and Julia at Barton's Burger so we can catch up on what's been going on in our lives. While still in London Christian and I called and texted our friends and family to give them the news of our wedding date. Needless to say there was excitement and also shock which is what I'm still getting from Kate and Julia.
"I realize it might seem crazy, but it's what we want.", I shrug, taking a bite of one of my fries.
"You're going to be running around like a crazy person trying to get everything in order.", Julia replies. "There's the dress, the flowers, the..."
"I'm aware, and I'm ready. Besides we don't want an over the top wedding." The two of them trade glances at each other and then back at me.
"I'll do whatever I can to help you.", Kate tells me. She arches a brow at Julia who throws a fry in return.
"Of course I'll help. I'm not as busy now that I'm finished with the Rawlings Motors ad campaign."
"How are things going at the office?", I ask as I reach for my chocolate milkshake.
"Mr. Nelson is in negotiations to bring in a few new clients in the upcoming weeks. He believes it's going to help take the agency to a new level. That's gotten everyone thinking positive and hopeful.", Kate replies. "Not everything is peachy though. Michelle's quickly becoming disliked among the employees. Yesterday Veronica from graphics wore a light green silk blouse that had been given to her by her boyfriend. I thought the blouse was very pretty. Michelle, however, didn't think the same. She walked up to Veronica and said the blouse was hideous. She went on to say that she'd take the blouse back in a heartbeat."
"Wow. Talk about being snarky. It doesn't matter if she liked the blouse or not. She should mind her own business."
"Which is exactly what I told her, but she didn't like that reponse. She huffed and stomped away. She originally claimed to want to make a name for herself in advertising, yet she's barely done anything to prove herself."
"Oh she's proving something. She's proving to be a bitch.", Julia murmurs.
"Ana, I think this is the perfect place for your advertising firm." I stand in the middle of the main room of the vacant building Christian and I are looking at. It's the same one he told me about a few weeks ago, and true to his word it has potential.
"I like how there are several windows in here. It adds to the lighting. That room on the left could be a break room, and the other rooms can serve as offices."
"Do you like it enough to put in an offer?", he asks with a smile that's not even close to the huge one on my face.
"Yes. I'd like to put in an offer." The reality of the situations dawns on me, and I have to sit down on an empty crate so I won't fall. "I'm going to have my own business."
"You're not looking like someone who's excited." He crouches down and rests a hand on my knee. "You're not having doubts, are you?"
"No. It's just going to be a lot of work getting things up and running. Plus we've got a wedding that's taking place in a month. It's a lot."
"Maybe we can ease some of the stress by putting the wedding off until the agency is going.", Christian murmurs. I shake my head vigorously which makes him chuckle. "Or not."
"The wedding isn't going to be postponed. Besides there's not a timeline on when the agency is to be opened. I'm just being eager to get things going."
"I'm eager for you too although I'm not as eager as I am about making you my wife."
"What time are we meeting the parents?" We're having dinner with both sets of parents tonight at my parents'.
"Seven so we should get home and get ready." I take one last long look at the room and sigh. "It'll look even more incredible once there's furniture in here."
"Carla, you've got to give me the recipe for these stuffed mushrooms.", Grace says during dinner at my parents'.
"I'll write it down for you.", my mom replies. She takes a drink of her water and clears her throat. "We're having a wedding in a month."
"That's the plan.", Christian nods. "We've got to find a place to have it."
"Your mother and I were thinking you could have it at our house.", Carrick tells Christian who glances at me. "Of course it's your wedding and your decision."
"I like the idea of an outdoor wedding.", I say. "But we don't want to burden you with having it at your house."
"It wouldn't be a burden.", Grace says. "It would be an honor." Christian places his hand on top of mine.
"I like the idea too. Let's have it at my parents'."
"Ok. In regards to the flowers. I'm thinking something like tulips." My dad quickly looks up from his plate. "I don't want a lot of flowers, but I think tulips would be perfect."
"It just so happens that I've got some white tulips growing in the greenhouse. Add some baby's breath and you've got the perfect bouquet." Carrying flowers grown by my dad would make the wedding even more special.
"I'll proudly carry a bouquet of your flowers.", I tell my dad. The details are slowly coming together.
"What are the attire?", my mom asks.
"Casual but not too casual, meaning no pajamas.", Christian laughs. "As for me, I'm going to wear a suit."
"Wedding dresses can sometimes take months to ready, but I'm optimistic that I'll find the right dress in time.", I reply. I eat the last of my green beans and smile. "At the end of the day what matters is we're in love and getting married."
"And it's going to be a wonderful marriage.", Grace says.
C POV
"I'm sorry I didn't get back to London before your trip ended.", Gil Hanson says from his side of our phone conversation. "I was looking forward to seeing you and meeting Ana."
"We were both looking forward to seeing you as well, but we'll get together when you're in Seattle."
"I'll be arriving next Wednesday. I'm going to bring a very early stage prototype of the phone. On the outside the design is exactly what I think we wanted or at least I think it is. I'll let you decide. The phone's operation is good. I spent some time yesterday playing around with the apps. Of course there's room for improvement on those as well."
"I can't wait to see it.", I reply before taking a drink of my coffee.
"Christian, my assistant just came in and told me there's an issue in marketing I need to deal with so I've got to go and do that."
"All right. I'll talk to you soon. Bye." I end the call and gulp down the last of my coffee just as there's a knock at my office door. "Come in." The door opens, and Sawyer'standing in the doorway. "Hey, man. Come in."
"I don't want to barge in if you're busy."
"I'm just catching up on some things but have some time. Have a seat." I motion for him to sit down. He closes the door and pads over to one of the chairs. "How are you?"
"I'm good. I just finished my physical therapy session and thought I'd stop by."
"How's the therapy going?", I ask.
"It's going well. It's very possible I might be back to work in three weeks."
"Sawyer, that's great news. It'll be nice to have you back at work."
"It'll be nice to be back. I've never been the kind of guy to just lay around which is exactly why I can't wait to get back to work. I'd rather be doing my job than watching tv.", he laughs. "Your sister though has made it easier to cope."
"If those ways of coping are x-rated please don't continue. I really don't want images in my head.", I mutter.
"They're not x-rated. I simply mean she's been supportive and understanding. I've confided more to her in the last few weeks than I've ever confided in anyone. It might still be weird for you that I'm dating your sister, but I want you to know that I care about her very much."
"It was weird at first, but it's not anymore. I'm glad the two of you are together."
"Thanks.", he says. "How are you feeling about getting married in a month? Are you nervous?"
"Nervous? No. I'm excited and anxious. We've got a lot to do in a very short amount of time, yet it doesn't faze me the least."
"Christian, good evening. Dinner will be ready soon. I cooked pot roast.", Gail says when I arrive home from work.
"The entire apartment smells good.", I smile. "Where's Ana?"
"She said she was going to the study to do some reading." I nod and make my way towards the study. I push the door open and find Ana sitting in the large chair by the bookshelf. I notice she's on the phone.
"I'm determined to not let Christian see it. Ok. I'll talk to you later. Bye." With her call over she places the phone down and goes back to her book but quickly looks up when the floor creaks beneath me. "Christian, hey."
"Hi.", I say as I walk into the room.
"Um...how long were you standing there?", she asks.
"Not long. I promise I wasn't listening in on your phone conversation." Her shoulders drop in relief. "How was your day?"
"Good. I spent some time with Mia. We did some shopping and then had lunch. Did you have a good day?" I sit down in the chair across from her.
"I did although it's better now that I'm home with you. So...did you happen to buy anything while shopping with Mia?" I arch a brow and smirk.
"I bought some folders to hold my ideas for the agency.", she answers.
"Is that all you bought?"
"I also bought a blouse." She cocks her head and flashes a sly grin. "That's all I remember buying."
"Uh huh. Ok. I'm sure you'll eventually remember if you bought something else." A sly grin speads across her face.
"I'll probably remember in about a month.", she teases.