Illaria Point of View

"You are so crushed like a cookie between teeth." I ask, Asmund, will world say you are dumb if you don't speak for a while?

"Taking out the paste from the teeth is quite annoying, more so in public so –" He paused and must've seen my mood that might play against him so he changed his tone and cleared his throat to continue "So I can understand how you are feeling right now, ma'am."

I seriously want to dump that Uno Mayhem into a pond. Why should he be so difficult to deal with?

"I might trust his work but not the man himself. He is too –" I don't even have anymore world to define and describe him.

He wanted to be an active part of the project, okay fine, I agreed under a few important conditions. But why should be so actively involved that he wants me to be there at the research center every time when he was there?

Not to mention how busy I am, I also need to find time to plan engagement and wedding of brother's.

"You are more worried about not being able to go out and meet Mr. Almond. Isn't he the one you had a small crush on?" Asmund, you son of a biscuit!

"Shut up and focus on the problem, you - hair stuck deep in the derriere." Why is all the personal assistants in the world are so obedient and mine is such a – never mind.

"Uno Mayhem is always flirting with my employees and disrupting their work. If I'm there, I kind of take the burnt of his dirty flirting to save them but now I have to meet Devon to have a discussion about wedding planning. I cannot be in two places at the same time. What am I going to do?"

I pressed my head and massaged it. The amount of pressure this 'lunatic disco ball' is giving me, I've never had such pressure before in my life.

At least, not something like this.

"Just tell Mr. Mayhem that you are unavailable today and ask him to come by another day to check the progress of the project." Wow Asmund, such an intelligent idea.

"Do you think I did not do that?" But is that 'cluster of glitter' someone you can make sense with?

I'm already tired of working with this man. If it wasn't for his extremely good acumen with creating and upgrading technology, I would've just shoved him into my glitter pen and freeze it in freezer.

"I had to call Devon and postpone our meeting. The thing is Devon hardly has some free time to spend on this and when he had it, I'm in a fix." I ranted on and on before Asmund.

Although my personal assistant is a savage and sarcastic one, when it comes to being a listening ear, he is the friendliest one.

That's one of the very few reasons he is still working for me.

"Ms. Allard, why don't we do something that might make Mr. Mayhem stop from visiting our company and research center?" Asmund made a wave out of his eyebrows and wiggled them like a scheming minister.

"See, planning for Mr. Allard's engagement and wedding is more important right now because the time and date is almost fixed. Also, you don't have to be in person at the research center to check the work every day unless Mr. Mayhem is coming for a visit. Isn't it better to make up something to stop Mr. Mayhem from visiting and take on the task of meeting Mr. Almond than postponing your plans with Mr. Almond who is almost as busy as you with his work and have very little time to meet?"

That's right. Asmund said what is in my mind.

I was hoping to meet Devon too but how am I going to stop Uno Mayhem's visit to the center?

I wish I can tie him up in an abandoned building and only release him when the contracted partnership is done.

"Can we mix something in drink or food and let him sleep for few hours?" Asmund's suggestion was not bad but –

"He is currently staying in Allard's luxury hotel. If something happens to him there, we will lose our stand in the hotel industry." Service based businesses mostly run on the basis of two things, safety and reputation.

Losing either of it is a huge quicksand; you can never get out of it.

"Right." Asmund nodded and fell back into exploring ideas.

"How about we send him something of his interest?" After thinking for a while, I smiled when a plan is formed in my mind.

This can be done, yes?

"Not bad, ma'am. That would be a great way to at least delay him until you come back from meeting Mr. Almond." Asmund's eyes brightened up.

This is one thing that I like about my assistant, he catches up with my thoughts from a hint. He is capable in executing them in finest way possible.

"You can text Mr. Almond and give him a confirmation about the meeting. Leave Mr. Mayhem to me. I just know how and who to use stop him from coming here." Excellent!

Asmund and I got to our own tasks. I immediately opened the texting app and texted Devon about my confirmation on meeting him in a bowling alley.

That's the place that falls right in the middle of my office and his house which is just right for us to meet.

After receiving a thumbs up from him, I settled a bit of paperwork and drove off to the bowling alley. Devon already booked a private room so I walked into the booked room without a hitch.

I opened the door and he was already there sitting and typing something on his laptop. On the coffee table before him, are a couple of catalogues and few pamphlets.

"Hi." Hearing the door open, he stood up and welcomed me a bit awkwardly but also politely. I smiled and nodded while I walked to sit beside him.

"Hi, were you too busy?" I asked, taking a sip of water from the glass he gave me.

"A bit but not something I cannot manage. I've ordered some cold beverages and food." See how thoughtful he is! The weather is too hot that even AC is running slowly.

He was considerate enough to already arrange something cold to eat and drink to recover from heat.

I observed that it's not just Devon, all the Almonds are just so considerate and kind. That's one of the things I started like about them.

Although, Devon does have his star points to be crushed on, him being an Almond is his biggest charm.

He waited patiently for me to have some iced coffee and a donut before he turned his laptop towards me to show me a PPT he has prepared.

"I asked the bride and groom about their preferences on engagement and wedding preparation and both of them made similar requests."

"Right, I've seen the list you sent me." I nodded.

"Both of them wanted a small engagement, themed wedding and a grand reception. About engagement, I've been thinking, is it good to have the engagement party in Almond colony? What do you think?" That timber of vibration in his low tone is just – Argh!

"Almond colony?" This is the whole colony that only Almond family lived. Nearly four or five streets are fully occupied by Almond family only.

"Hmm, one, even though it will be a small party, all the family members will definitely be invited. Two, since the whole place is filled with family only, it will be easy to make arrangements as everyone will help for sure. Three, it will also be warm and nice to celebrate it just among ourselves without being too high profiled or duplicitous. We can be ourselves without any mask or filters." Agreed!

What he said does have some strength to it.

The thing about Almonds helping with work is so true. I mean, they never lazy around when there is work. It doesn't matter to them if it is work of their individual family or work of some other Almond house, since they are relatives, close or distinct, they help. Period.

And unlike people who think 'why should I lower myself with doing something so menial', I observed that Almonds take extreme pride in doing menial tasks for family.

Why didn't we Allards' have such a family?

Why were we not born in such a family?

"I have no issues with this. In fact, I too think that engagement party in Almond colony will be far more festive than celebrating in any luxurious hotel. But What about the theme? Do you think a themed engagement would be good? Or will it be too much?" I'm divided on it.

I think it will be more enjoyable if there is a theme to it but I also think that a simple and a family gathering style party should also be simple and easy.

Devon looked at me thoughtfully for a minute and for a moment there, I again had this feeling that I've seen him somewhere before. I know that the first time I've ever seen him was when I and my siblings went to Almond house to deliver restraining order on Tiny Almond.

I'm sure that was the first time I've ever seen him because I will never forget someone this handsome and charming even after a single glance.

Where exactly did I see him before?

Or am I being too paranoid?

"Have you gone to a Mexican festival themed street? It's full of music, dancing, games and lots of food. Something like that would be not too much but also themed enough to make ambience livelier. What do you think?" He explained, folding his full sleeves a bit for convenient typing. I looked at him with stars in eyes and nodded enthusiastically.

That was so good to hear. It will be a sure hit.

"In that case –"

"Wait, Devon, what happened to you?" I asked, when my eyes caught scratch marks on his forearm that were covered by his full sleeves until now.

I'm sure they are scratch marks. But who gave him those?

Just then, I received a message from Asmund informing me that 'human disco ball' went into his hotel room an hour ago with a bunch of people we sent.

This got me so relieved that I could've danced if not for the person sitting beside me.

Good grievance!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

Next chapter is here. Enjoy!

What do you think about the chapter? Good?

Uno Mayhem is such a headache for Illaria. Poor Illaria!

Do you think the wedding preparations will bring Illaria and Devon closer?

Or do you think Illaria and Uno are better together?

What do you think about unity in Almond family? 

Please shower me with votes and comments.

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Lots of Love

Lady Prim