PLANNING AND PROVOCATION
586 Words
Aria arrived at the hotel early the next morning, armed with her color-coded spreadsheets, a notepad full of sketches, and her trusty pen collection. She had learned one thing from yesterday: glitter and water were dangerous, but Liam’s laugh… was addictive.
Liam was already there, reviewing the floor plan with Ethan. His suit was immaculate, his hair perfectly in place, and he radiated calm confidence.
“Good morning,” Liam said, not looking up. “Ready for a productive day?”
“Absolutely,” Aria said, trying to sound professional while her heartbeat did a subtle tap dance in her chest.
Maya, of course, had not been left at home. She peeked from behind a pillar with a bag full of emergency supplies and a smug smile.
“Morning, boss! Morning, CEO! Morning, chaos!” she announced cheerfully.
Liam finally looked up. “And you are…?”
“Maya, best friend, chief morale officer, and glitter management specialist,” Aria said quickly, trying to explain without getting Maya in trouble.
Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by Aria’s ability to survive Maya’s theatrics. “I see.”
They moved to the ballroom to start real planning. Aria showed him the layout, seating charts, and décor themes. She talked about lighting, flower arrangements, music, and a few fun interactive elements for the guests.
Liam listened, occasionally asking pointed questions or making dry jokes. “And how do we prevent any more… sparkles?”
Aria blushed but smiled. “We’ll keep the glitter contained. Mostly.”
He smirked. “Mostly. I like your confidence.”
By mid-morning, they were reviewing the catering menu. Aria had suggested a tasting session. The chef brought out small plates: mini quiches, salmon tartare, colorful desserts.
“You can’t have the chocolate mousse next to the lemon tarts,” Liam said, tapping his chin. “It’ll ruin the flavor profile.”
“True,” Aria said. “But we’ll fix that with careful plating and presentation. And possibly some chocolate shields.”
Liam stared. “Chocolate shields?”
Aria grinned. “It’s a thing. Trust me.”
Liam shook his head, laughing softly. “I should’ve known. Only you would think of chocolate shields.”
During a break, Maya pulled Aria aside. “You know, CEO dude likes you,” she whispered, waggling her eyebrows.
“I’m trying to focus!” Aria hissed, blushing furiously.
“And I am helping you focus,” Maya insisted. “He’s laughing, which means he’s hooked. You need to… you know… flirt back.”
Aria groaned. “I can’t just flirt at work!”
Maya rolled her eyes. “Yes, you can. And yes, you will.”
By the end of the day, the ballroom was beginning to take shape. Chairs arranged, flowers in place, music cues planned. The chaos of yesterday seemed like a distant memory.
Almost.
As Aria and Liam packed up, Liam paused at the doorway. “You’re… surprisingly competent.”
Aria’s heart did that weird flip again. “Thank you… I think?”
“You think?” he teased, leaning casually against the wall. “Confidence looks good on you.”
Aria’s face heated. “I… uh… thanks.”
He smiled faintly, then added, “I think this event might actually be a success. With you in charge, I mean.”
Aria felt a little thrill of pride… and maybe something else. Something fluttery.
The adventure was just beginning.
And in the city of Solara Heights, nothing would ever stay calm for long.
- Writer
