My apartment is quiet and empty.

At least that's how I feel it has been like since Mara moved back in with Alec. I wasn't used to not seeing her first thing in the morning again. Or hearing her humming as she makes us coffee in the morning in her PJs. Suddenly, it felt like my life had been so boring before Mara stayed with me.

The excitement I get to go home after a day at work has long vanished. I was excited before because I know I would be picking Mara up from her classes or I would find her cuddled up with a blanket in the living room watching an episode of Lucifer. Or even just the idea of having dinner with her after a long day at work just lights up my whole spirit.

Now its just the same gloomy and dark apartment it has been before Mara stayed with me. I can't believe I used to live a life like this. This is just dreadful. No one would be excited to come home to a depressing house like this.

Alec's invitation for a night out was a welcomed thought. I didn't have to think twice for agreeing to go with him. It's been a dreadful day but I was excited to get out of the apartment and not feel how empty it has become.

Once in the bar, it wasn't hard to find Alec in the crowd of people. He's the only man without a woman in his arm. Lonely, alone and aloof. That sums up Alec Ramirez to strangers.

"Hey." I greet him just as a waiter serves him another round of whiskey.

Alec nods at me before ordering another whiskey and two shots of vodka from the waiter. "Thanks, man."

"Whoa. You getting wasted tonight?" I said, surprised by how fast he drowned the whiskey in front of him like it was water. I know that we're both heavy drinkers but its been years since I last saw Alec drown alcoholic drinks left and right. The day his wedding got cancelled, to be exact. Alec was just devastated that he spent days just consuming alcohol and moping around. It was the worst and lowest of low that I have seen Alec at.

"Things have been a complicated shit lately. Bare with me." He said softly and gave me a sad smile. His eyes hard and contemplating. Suddenly, he looks away shaking his head. As if the thought of saying something was the worse he could do at this moment.

Understanding his reluctance, I keep my questions to myself. The waiter comes back with the order from Alec. With the situation in hand, I ordered the waiter to keep the drinks coming and put it under my tab, much to Alec's surprise.

"Let's get wasted, yeah?" I asked him with a grin, as I raise a shot of vodka to him.

He gladly takes the other shot of vodka. "We shall." he said with a grin of his own before we both took the shot without second thought.

It's going to be a long night for the both of us.

****

Things have been like a dream since Valentines Day.

Mara confessing her love for me is true dream come true. Still, just the thought of those words coming out of Mara's mouth has me smiling like an idiot whenever it comes to mind. My shortcake has fallen for me and I was already there waiting to catch her the moment she falls. I think Mara might have broke me that day. It's been two weeks and I still can't stop smiling at the simple memory.

That day was sweet and memorable, just like Mara, herself.

Maybe it was the fact that I haven't seen her for these past two weeks since she moved back in with Alec. Or maybe it was just the surreal feeling of everything that has been happening. But whatever might be the reason, I am on cloud nine and I don't plan on going back down anytime soon.

"I see you've managed to do absolutely nothing."Veronica says as she drops another stack of paper on the left side of my table. Her eyes scanning my table covered in piles of paperwork that I have to go through. Booming business is good but the amount of paper work is going to make me crazy. "Stop daydreaming before your company falls down to ashes."

I grimaced at her words. "Don't say bad words now, Vero. I got this." I said confidently as I pick up an important document from the separate file that she has made. "You, on the other hand, need a break from all this."

"No. You need help if you intend to clear your table before Mara and Clarisse gets here." She said, reminding me that today would be the first day of our actual planning. We've yet to meet Clarisse. We've only been talking through the phone for minor details like getting set up on a date and place for the wedding. Other than that, nothing has really been set. Today, the plan is to set everything in motion with the planning and the guest list.

Clarisse is the wedding planner that Alec got for us. She is the one who planned the almost wedding of Alec and Aurora before it went down the drain almost five years ago. She's good at her job and reliable. I don't think we'll have a problem with planning this wedding in less than six months at most.

Mara arrived before Clarisse did. She looks stunning and simple in her baby blue knee length dress and a pair of black flats. A DSL camera around her neck and a smile on her beautiful face. Following closely behind her is Emil who looks grumpy and uncomfortable as he re-adjusts his tie over and over again. "Dy." Mara calls my name softly without knowing that my attention has been on her since she walked out of that elevator and into my floor.

"Hey, shortcake." I greet her with a smile of my own. After giving a short instruction to an employee of mine, I meet Mara halfway. "How was your class?" I asked, taking her hand in mine as I maneuver us to my office.

"It was okay." She replied. She greets Vero as we pass by her opened office. "I think Emil is mad at me." She whispers softly to me as she takes a glance at Emil behind us.

I chuckled. "What did you do?" I asked as I opened the door of my office for her. Thanking me with a grateful smile, she goes inside.

"I needed help for a final assignment in one of my classes for my Photography degree." She says, taking a seat on the couch with a sigh. "I didn't really think he'll say yes." She said, sulking on her own. She then goes on to explain that Apollo was suppose to model for her and some of her classmates for a portrait or a candid picture but he was preoccupied.

"Go to Vero's office for now." I said to the gloomy Emil who just nodded and turned around to go to Vero's office. I closed the door softly and proceeded to join Mara on the couch. "He doesn't say no. Not most of the times anyway." I tell her.

She nods her head. "I noticed. I guess it comes as a consequence of his job?"

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I pulled her body close to mine. She ends up just leaning against me as we talk and wait. "Yes and no. When Emil likes the person he's working for, he'll never say no. That's something I learned when he still works for me."

She cranes her neck to look at me. "Emil worker for you before?"

I nodded my head. "He did."

Dad hired Emil so he can always have updates on my whereabouts and what I am doing. It was a year after I graduated college and I was travelling all over the place to learn to manage our business. Dad didn't trust me to be mature enough so he got me a bodyguard. Actually, Emil was more like a babysitter than a bodyguard for me most of the time.

He witnessed most of the embarrassing drunk moments in my life and stopped me from making the worst decisions I could have ever made back then. It was those times that I desperately wanted to see Mara but my training need to come first before anything. As a result, I ended up in high-end clubs with women flocking my sides.

It's sad to say that I am not as pure as my shortcake is.

"Is that why Alec hired him?" she asked, frowning at the idea.

"Yes. Don't worry. He's completely loyal to you and your brother now." I said smiling down at her. Not being able to hold myself, I kissed her lips softly. Just a peck. I missed her. Since moving back with Alec, Mara has been swarmed with school works and I have been swarmed with work. We both had little to no time to see each other. It's been busy.

Vero's voice from the intercom interrupted us. "Sir, Clarisse is here." She announces in a firm voice. Standing up, I give her the go signal to let the woman in so we can go ahead and plan this wedding.

Clarisse enters the room with huge smile on her face. Her short bob black hair brushed out of her face. "Tamara." She greets my shortcake in an enthusiastic voice. She then turns to me with the same vigor but more respectful. "Mr. Franco."

"Call me Dustyn, please." I said as I walked back on where Mara was sitting. "Take a seat."

Grateful, she accepts the offer. "My assistant just had to get something from the car." she says. "So, no more bridesmaid and best man. You'll be the bride and groom this time."

I smiled. "Yes. It was a bit unexpected but here we are. Aren't we. shortcake?" I asked Mara, squeezing her hand a bit to get her back to reality. She seemed to be awfully lost in her thoughts for a moment there.

She nods. "Clarisse, I want something simple but intimate."

Clarisse claps her hand excitedly. "Of course. Is there a certain budget or is this going to be a bit like you brother's suppose wedding?"

"No budget. You can go all out. We'll only be inviting a few friends and some close family members." I said confidently. I would not let, not one single media personnel to be present at this wedding. It has to be intimate and quiet as Mara like. If not, all this planning would not be worth it.

"You seem to know what you want out of this wedding. What do you need me for?" She asked jokingly as she pulls out a notepad from her bag. "Have you guys decided on a date?"

I shake my head as Mara says,"I was thinking maybe, the thirtieth of July? Would that be okay?"

Clarisse seemed to ponder on the thought for a moment before she nods her head at Mara's inquiry. "I would make it happen if that's a set date."

I pull Mara's hand to get her attention. Her gray eyes settled on mine. "Are you sure, shortcake? I was thinking we could do it after your birthday."

I wasn't sure if the date Mara gave was of her own decision or if Alec influenced her to decide on that specific date. I wanted Mara to make her own decisions on this relationship regardless of how we started. I want her to know that she has a choice. That not everything will be forced on her if she didn't want it. I just want her to have the freedom to decide what she thinks is best for me and not what others think is best for her.

"If you don't want to, that's okay. I guess, we'll have it after my birthday." She said almost immediately. Her face suddenly full of embarrassment and regret. It was as if she suddenly realized how wrong her suggestion sounds and she fully, totally regrets it.

Times like these makes me see some of the deeper of effects the trauma had on her system. She second-guess herself at every turn. She tries hard to please other people at times too.

"Shortcake, that's not what I meant." I said once I realized that it might have sounded like I didn't want to get married to her that soon. If only she knew how desperate I am to marry her. "I just want to make sure that this is your decision and not anyone else."

She frowns, as if mauling over my words before she looks at me with determination. "I want it before my birthday."

Smiling, I couldn't help but give her a peck on the lips. "July 30 it is then." I said, looking Clarisse for confirmation. "Would that work?"

She nods enthusiastically. "Of course. Anything for such a lovely couple."

"Hey! You can't go in there!" Veronica's agitated loud voice could be heard from outside of the office which made me stand in surprise. Veronica is not one to just shout at people, specially when she's in the office. "Stop!"

"What's going on?" Mara asked from the couch with burrowed eyebrows as she eyes the door carefully.

"Ma'am, stop. You can't go inside." It was Emil's authoritative and calm voice who warned the woman from entering my office. The situation has gotten out of control if Emil decided to butt in in refusing entry to whoever the woman outside is. And if Vero is raising her voice, it is not someone either of us wanted to see.

The door opened despite the warnings from Emil and Vero. And, oh boy, I was not expecting to see the person who came inside my office.