---

“Mr. Maximilian, Ms. Michael has arrived,” Matthias announced in the library where Aleksander and Ava had gathered after the lunch with their guests, Markus and Hannah Blackthorn.

A thirtyish woman dressed elegantly in a red-and-black suit that screamed designer-made walked in with a warm smile.

“Good afternoon.” Alicia smiled at them. “Mr. Maximilian, congratulations!”

“Alicia.” Aleksander took Ava’s hand in his. “This is my fiancée, Ava.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Doctor Larsen, and congratulations on your engagement.”

Alicia Michael was Blackthorn Corporation’s PR and had been summoned to Lake Tahoe to take care of the organization of their wedding.

During lunch, Hannah had assured Ava if there was anyone who could plan and execute a wedding in less than fifteen days—and with Thanksgiving intruding in between—it was Alicia. She assured Ava there was nothing to worry about.

Alicia exchanged pleasantries with Markus and Hannah, and all business, she sat in an armchair, took her notebook and a pencil from her suitcase and asked, “What can I do to help?”

“Ava and I want to get married on November twenty-eight.” He smiled at Ava and entwined their fingers. “We know it’s a bit of a rush—”

“I’m used to rushed weddings, Mr. Maximilian,” she said, winking at Hannah, who smiled back.

Satisfied with her answer, Aleksander looked back at Ava. “It will be something very small. A lunch wedding. Around…fifty guests, basically family. Ava’s grandparents are coming from Norway and will stay here with us, but we’ll need to accommodate the rest of the guests in nearby hotels and have transportation to and fro.”

Alicia didn’t even blink, she just took notes which led Ava to think she was accustomed to meeting impossible demands. “Right. And the wedding will take place here?”

“Sure,” answered Aleksander. “We can have the ceremony here and—”

“No.”

They all looked at Ava.

“Outside. On the patio. Something informal and intimate…and romantic.” She had thought about it during the night, well ensconced in Aleksander’s arms. “We can cover it with a transparent sunblind and use the heaters. And if it’s too cold, maybe we can put a thicker rug to help block the cold?”

“Excellent idea,” approved Alicia.

“Well, I will leave you alone to discuss the details,” said Aleksander, motioning for Markus to follow him.

Before he closed the double doors, Ava reminded him, “Tell Olivia we are going to start.”

“Creating a list is key, because if you’re like me, you’re going to panic and forget everything,” said Hannah.

“I’ll have a list of the best wedding services which are available by Monday,” Alicia said, as she wrote in her notebook.

“I can help with the lists!” Olivia exclaimed, as she burst through the double doors followed by Markus’s daughter, Victoria, who went to sit near her stepmother.

Olivia perched herself over Ava’s legs and opened her diary and starting writing. “Groom? Check. Bride? Check. What else?”

“Witnesses,” suggested Hannah. “Throw 'em in there.”

“Flowers and colors?” asked Alicia.

“Christmas theme, right?” Ava looked at Olivia, who nodded vehemently. “So, white, red and green.”

For the next three hours, with the meticulous help of Alicia, the three of them—plus Olivia and Victoria—held estrogen-fueled pow-wows, discussing everything from food to dresses.

“I’ll have everything ready. Anything else?” Alicia rose when Ava shook her head, and put the notepad, laptop, and electronic gadgets in her Louis Vuitton backpack. “Don’t worry, Doctor Larsen, I will make this happen.”

Ava sighed in relief as Alicia left the room, ending the wedding talk for the day.

Though the planning period was short, that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be a wondrous, magical celebration of their union. Albeit she would probably have to endure a few hair-pulling phone calls and sleepless nights leading up to said magical day.

But it was fine, if that was all it took to put that glowing happiness in Olivia’s eyes.

And it was alright, if that was all it took to make the tall, handsome man, with a striking smile and moody behavior, standing at the door, looking at her and Olivia with love in his eyes, her husband.

---

Brian waited until Dr. Wang was alone to make his way to her office. He was almost giddy with the gossip of Ava and Aleksander’s marriage. The perfect little bitch finally fucked up.

Dr. Wang was at her office door as he arrived and by the load of files she was carrying, she clearly had lots of work to do still. He shook the smile from his face immediately and cleared his throat. “Dr. Wang, I was hoping to catch you for a minute.”

“What is it, Dr. Duncan?” Dr. Wang asked, standing in the doorway as if she preferred not to invite him inside.

“I would prefer to say it in private,” Brian said. “It’s concerning a pretty serious ethical matter.” Dr. Wang didn’t show any hint of a reaction, so when she turned and stepped inside her office, Brian was hesitant to follow.

“Come on in if you must,” Dr. Wang said without looking at him and placed the armful of files on her desk before taking a seat behind it. She immediately turned her attention to one of her files, opening it and scribbling on the form.

Miserable old hag. Brian’s eyes narrowed, but he silently stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. “I’m here to report a breach of ethics by Dr. Ava Larsen.”

He elicited no response from Dr. Wang who continued to write, which pissed Brian off. “I know for a fact that she’s been getting unauthorized access to patient files for Olivia Maximilian,” he tried again.

Still no reaction.

Frustrated, he said, “And it has just come to my attention that Dr. Larsen is engaged and is going to marry Olivia’s father.”

Dr. Wang stopped writing.

Brian’s lips twisted upward knowing he had her attention.

“Is this some sort of game, Dr. Duncan?” she asked leaning back on her chair and staring at him. “Making up extravagant lies against the doctor who reported your lewd behavior?”

Brian feigned guilt and hung his head low. “It’s no game. I can get proof for you if needed.”

“There’s no need, Dr. Duncan. You may leave.”

“That’s it?” Brian said, maddened that she seemed to take such disinterest in Ava’s obviously unethical behavior only weeks after prosecuting him for the tiny bathroom incident. “Aren’t you going to at least investigate her?”

“Dr. Duncan, if I were you, I would concern yourself with your own ethical behavior,” Dr. Wang said sternly. “I will look into your accusations against Dr. Larsen and take appropriate actions.”

With that, Dr. Wang returned to scribbling notes in her files, meaning he was excused.

He closed the door to her office a bit harder than necessary and stalked off down the hall. There was no way Ava would be able to escape Dr. Wang’s investigative eye.

Still, Brian was pleased with this outcome. Ava would be her own downfall and Brian wanted to be there when it happened, to see the look on her pretty little face when she lost everything.

---

During dinner Aleksander, Olivia, and Matthias kept trading whispers and secret looks which Ava feigned not to notice, but Sydney, who had not participated in whatever scheme the little girl had concocted, was dying of curiosity. Unable to contain herself anymore, the nurse bent, and very close to Olivia’s ear, she asked, “What is that all about?”

“What is what?” Olivia asked innocently, batting her now growing eyelashes. She’d gained a couple of pounds and her color was improved. There was now a thin, blonde fuzzy cap of hair covering her bald head. It wasn’t much, but it was there.

Her blue eyes were gleaming with mischief by the time dessert arrived. Not fruits or jelly or pudding, as usual. Matthias and Kira put in front of each one of them a pink petit gateau with raspberry and chocolate sauce carefully arranged to design two hearts on the plate.

Ava smiled at a brimming Olivia, who was almost jumping in her seat. “Oh, Pixie. I love it.”

“Now you have to eat it,” Olivia said, happy with the praise.

Aleksander came to stand behind his daughter’s chair and said, “It certainly looks delicious.”

“Mmm.” Ava cut into the crunchy pink edge of the cake with her spoon, hot chocolate fondant flowing from it. But when she scooped the steamy mellow filling, in the silverware there was something more—something more, almost thumbnail size—making her hand pause midway to her mouth.

She blinked and her breath caught.

Before she could say or do anything, Aleksander’s hand closed around her wrist and he took the spoon from her hand. Without releasing her arm, he knelt by her side. “Ava Larsen, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Her lips trembled, a lump formed in her throat, and she nodded.

Then he took a ring dripping with chocolate sauce and put it on her ring finger. It fit perfectly.

Ava looked at the messy ring, put her hands over her face, and burst out crying. He had probably done that because Olivia had asked him to, but hell if it wasn’t the sweetest and dreamiest thing a man could do.

“Ava?” Olivia asked, confused. “Is it too sticky?”

And then Ava was laughing and crying at the same time, because no one had made her cry with happiness before and she felt ridiculous—albeit a kind of happy ridiculous—for doing so. She raised her head from her hands and threw herself in Aleksander’s arms, kissing him to Olivia’s delight.

The little girl began to applaud and was joined by Sydney, Matthias, and Kira.

When she broke the kiss, Aleksander picked up a napkin from the table and cleaned her face and her hand.

“Thank you, Liv,” she said hugging the girl. “It’s perfect. The most beautiful surprise you could have thought of.”

Someday, Aleksander would shower Ava with jewelry. Paraíba Tourmalines set in white gold to match her changeable eyes. Black pearls to shine white against her creamy skin. Rubies to symbolize their passion. For her, he would buy only the best—the absurdly best, the kind of stuff someone paid insane amounts for—but not just to insure no one else in the world could also have it, although she was a unique woman.

He would buy only the best because what she gave him was priceless.