Alex

Christian and I sat in silence as we watched Derek try to pick himself up after crash landing into one of the tables. The condiment sauces that were once perfectly displayed, were now all over the all white tablecloth and the front of Derek's god awful shirt.

And I mean god awful.

Just as I thought things couldn't get any more bizarre, the glass doors leading into the resort were thrown open. Joan came barging in with Brad close behind, but he looked more confused than any of us. Joan had this look on her face that I knew all too well. She was pissed.

Christian looked like he was about to say something, but Joan beat him to it.

"What if the fucking fuckery fuck is fucking wrong with you?" She snapped at Derek, stomping over to snag his ear between her fingers, giving it a good twist before she began dragging his injured and condiment covered self across the balcony area.

"I didn't mean to! I was just trying to get some of that bread! Listen you've got to hear me out here. It's called the Royal Bloomer. It's made with champagne and fucking gold. You hear that Joan? GOLD! Foodie Exclusive mentioned it in last year's catalog! When I heard that this resort chef could make it I just- I had to-"

This was where Christian decided to cut him off. "What in all living hell are you guys fucking doing here?" He asked everyone directly. The place grew silent. Joan started to say something, but caught herself before she could.

Brad was the only one who actually gave Christian a reply.

"It's a long story. John had extended the invite to me to go on my own vacation at the last minute. He's quite happy with the launch turn out. I wasn't going to go at first, but then I thought I'd just loosely asked if it would be okay for me to bring a plus one. He let me know that was fine, so I brought Joan... Joan and I... I- um, we- uh-" This was where Brad went from a professional to a blubbering idiot. "Well, you see- uh-"

"It's a romantic getaway package. We are here doing romantic shit together." Joan simplified. I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that. What mischief were these two love birds getting into in Hawaii? And how could Joan not have called me immediately after she found out?

Then I thought about the fact that I had been on a plane for 10 hours, and everything made more sense.

Brad's face got increasingly red as soon as Christian and I started the wiggling of the eyebrows in his direction. It was the absolute cutest that his thought immediately went to Joan. And don't get me wrong, besides the few loosened strands of hair from grabbing Derek, my girl looked a goddamn ten. Even during this insane run in, it looked like Brad couldn't stop himself from stealing glances her way.

She was in a long sundress that had a tropical print design. Her hair was pulled back into a perfect pin up style with a brooch I bought her as a Secret Santa gift. It was supposed to be a joke because she once made a comment on how brooches are for old people. Her birthday just so happens to land around Christmas, and I'm her asshole best friend, so... yeah. It was crazy how great it actually looked on her.

Man, this girl even busted out the eyelashes.

"That sounds like something John would do." Christian admitted, as he gave us all a slow nod. "But Inviting Derek, however, does not sound like something John would do."

"Yeah." Joan sighed. "You remember that thing Derek was going on and on about last year? Some hot dog eating competition he was selected for?"

I leant back in my chair a bit. I could vaguely remember a conversation about that. "I think he mentioned it?"

"Mentioned it?" Derek asked, grasping at his heart. "I've downloaded 6 different countdown apps for this day! You told me if I won you'd name your first kid Derek. And you!" Derek pointed at Joan who still had his ear between her grasp."You said you'd name your first kid Hotdog!"

"Derek, I'm pretty sure I did not say that." I shook my head at him. "And I would bet the air I breathe, that those words never left Joan's mouth."

There weren't even words to describe the way Joan was looking at Derek right now.

"Hotdog?" She whispered fiercely to him.

"Okay okay maybe I'm exaggerating a bit here... and come to think of it, that particular conversation may have happened at Tully's after a fifth shot of whiskey... so really, my accuracy to that memory is seriously invalidated..." Derek drifted off for a moment. "But that doesn't take away from the fact that I mentioned this to you two before! The PTO is even logged in the employee calendar!"

Joan and I both gave him a look. Of course we saw the PTO entry.

"You entered that in last week... and the memo was for your Great Aunts burial." I replied.

"We all know the process for PTO at Ivanov Corp is harder to get through than fucking taxes- no offense Mr. Ivanov sir." Derek was quick to add.

I looked over at Christian, but he just shrugged. I had already explained the bullshit with PTO to Christian the night he hired me on as his assistant. He was well aware.

"We're working on it." Christian assured Derek.

"Then you can imagine my surprise when I come here to meet the great chef who makes this exquisite... exquisite bread, and they tell me that he's been booked for the evening! Is that even legal?" Derek added.

My eyes grew wide, as I glanced over at Christian. "You did that?"

He gave me a sheepish grin.

"I wanted the best of the best for you." He replied.

I felt my heart get sucker punched, but in the best way possible.

We'll call this one a love tap.

"That is so cute, and I'll like so be there at the wedding, but let's not stray from the fact that I'm here and I'm hungry." Derek reminded us all... like he usually did.

"Are you even staying at this resort, Derek?" I asked him. Right now, he was the only one here who hadn't been delivered an all expense paid trip to Hawaii.

Derek scoffed. "This is a hot dog eating competition, Alex, not The Oscars. With my pay, of course I'm not staying here."

We all turned to look at him.

"How did you-... how did you get in here?" Brad asked.

"Like... through security?" Joan added.

"Listen," Derek sighed, "I think you're all asking the wrong questions here. What I really want to know is have we ordered yet?" He managed to slip out from Joan's hold, and staggered closer to Christian and I. "I have saved all year for this one meal tonight. I worked tirelessly on a plan to be here at this exact moment. Please Christian, please let me have this."

Derek dropped to his knees.

If this wasn't the most batshit scenario, some would say this was quite passionate.

"Derek, what the hell. Get up." Joan hurried over and tried to nudge his shoulders with her hand.

"I love you Joan, but this is something I must do. I won't let this moment slip between my fingers. I have worked too hard not to have a taste of Chef Antoine's Foie Gras-"

"Get off the floor and pull up a chair." Christian sighed, as he scooched closer to me to make room. Derek looked up at home longingly for so long, I thought he fell in love. I was almost getting jealous.

"Are you sure?" I asked Christian. He shrugged.

"The surprises aren't over just yet."

That made me blush crimson.

Derek dragged a nearby chair up to our table with incredible speed, and took a seat. Christian handed him his menu, and Christian and I shared mine.

Moments later, I heard the sound of feet shuffle closer to the table. When I glanced up, it was Joan and Brad peeking over Derek's shoulder at the menu.

"I just- I heard Foie Gras and forgive me but I believe that's duck. I just wanted to investigate that a little further-" Joan started, but Christian was quick to interrupt her with another sigh.

"Would you two like to join us?" He asked the pair.

It was like Brad and Joan magically made chairs appear out of thin air. "Well, if you insist." Brad replied with a grin.

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