It was a shock to my system to see her, of all people inside my office. Behind her, a horrified Vero stood with an equally concerned Emil. He is right to be concerned.

This woman is unpredictable. No one would know what is coming until it hits them hard in the face. That's what's worrying me the most. This situation might turn into a cluster fuck if I don't do anything. For now, however, I would try and see what she does first.

Stella stands confidently in front of us with a binder on her hands, her long hair up in a loose ponytail. She walked inside the room like owned the place and stood beside Clarisse. "Here it is." She said and hands over the binder to her.

"This is Stella Dellova. She's a junior of mine and will be assisting me with you wedding plans." Clarrise said, introducing Stella to us with much confidence. She must be good at her job which is why Clarisse chose her to assist her in this wedding. But I doubt she'll be playing nice. Not with that glint of jealousy I can see clear as day in her eyes.

Smiling wickedly, Stella offers her hand for a handshake to Mara first who is still shell shocked from all that is happening. "It's nice to see you again. Although, the circumstances are not good."

"Sir." Emil said, analyzing the movement of Stella with a hard stern look on his face. He wasn't happy, like I am, with Stella's foul mouth. She strikes right off the bat.

I waved Emil and Vero out of the room. I can, at the very least, protect Mara from this woman without the need for Emil to drag her out of this room. Besides, if Stella is going to be Clarisse's assistant, I doubt I can kick her out of my office without talking to Clarisse first. I also doubt that it would look professional on our side to do such a thing.

Clarisse is from a well-known company of the best wedding planners in the city. We might be her client, but one wrong move against them and rumors would spread about the bad treatment. Which would eventually blow up into bad publicity.

Bad publicity will not only reflect us as a person but also the company we own. The limelight is a harsh thing.

"It is for you, not for us." Mara answers bravely, giving Stella a sarcastic smile. She ignores the hand Stella offered as a handshake. Making it clear that she has no intention of being friendly to the woman who outright disrespects her. Mara should be respected as any other client, because technically, she is paying Stella to plan our wedding. Plus, she deserves nothing but respect from these people. "I do hope we don't encounter any unnecessary problems while planning, Clarisse."

Clarisse looked startled by Mara's words. As if she couldn't believe she would say something so straightforward. "No, of course not. I will see to it that everything is perfect."

"Good. My brother has put in good words and I've seen you work before. You're good at what you do and I like that." Mara said, satisfied with the woman's answer. "What should we do first?"

"Thank you." Clarisse said, a proud smile on her face. "We should definitely start by picking out your wedding designer. I've brought a binder for the portfolio of the ones we've work with before. They are world class in their industry so nothing to worry about." Clarisse said and handed us the binder she was talking about.

Mara didn't even bother to look at the contents as she pushed the binder back in Stella's way. "I already have a designer."

Clarisse looked surprised for a moment but then she smiles. "Great! I would appreciate if I could contact her. Just to make sure that everything will be ready on your wedding."

Mara nodded. "I don't think that'll be a problem. Aurora Kaligaris, you remember her right?"

Clarisse's eyes widened in surprise and acknowledgement. As a former wedding planner for Aurora, Clarisse would have been there to see such talent in a young woman. It wouldn't be a surprise if she was even part of this binder despite not being as well-known as she should be. "Of course."

"Who is that?" Stella asked in her snarky. Her judgmental eyes scanning Mara's frame like she's better than my shortcake. "Some cheap designer? Can't afford someone with talent, can you?"

"Aurora is a dear friend of ours, not that you would understand what that means. She knows what Mara wants and she's a talented designer." I said, getting tired of her uncalled remarks and snarky comments toward my shortcake. I turn my attention to Clarisse who looks on with confusion written all over her face. "Can we request a different assistant for you, Clarisse? As you can see, your assistant is nothing but rude towards my fiancée."

"I-I would definitely request for another co-worker to help me." She said right away.

I could see the fear of losing such a huge project in her eyes. I feel for her but I don't want to spend this entire planning with Mara trying to put Stella in her place. This is her turn to call the shots and feel comfortable in her decisions. She doesn't need a snarky and jealous woman ruining her parade.

Mara squeezes my hand lightly. She immediately has my attention on her beautiful face. "It's alright, Dy. She can keep her job. I don't mind." She said kindly but her eyes are full of fire. It's clear that she doesn't appreciate the comments Stella has made about her and Aurora.

"Shortcake, I don't give a fuck about her job. I won't sit here and have someone disrespect you." I told her in a quiet voice.

The door of the office opened with Vero carrying a tray of coffee with Emil following closely behind with glasses of water in a tray. His try at masking his real intentions can be seen right through. I already know that he's here to make sure that this woman has not harmed Mara in any way, shape or form as his eyes scanned Mara's figure carefully.

"Thank you, guys." Mara said with a smile which made the worry from Emil's face lift a little. "And yes, Emil, you can stay."

Vero chuckled lightly as surprise overtakes Emil's face. She, on the other hand, is placing the refreshments on the coffee table with one very noticeable mistake. Stella is missing her refreshments.

"Vero." I said in an amused voice that I tried to hide way too hard and failed to do so.

"Yes, sir?" She asked very innocently. Too innocent, if she asked me.

"You forgot to grab refreshments for Clarisse's assistant." I told her with an equally amused face. I know Vero is low when it comes to pissing people off, but this is just low low. I know they had a past conflict but I didn't actually think that Vero still hated her despite inviting the woman to their New Year's Eve party.

She acted surprise. Covering her mouth with one hand. "I'm so sorry. I will grab one for you right away. If you'll excuse me."

Emil proceeds to stand near the door despite Mara offering a chair for him. I honestly didn't mind. Emil has become a close friend of mine ever since he started working for me. But the man takes his job to heart and would never be that relaxed around a person who he thinks might become a threat to Mara.

"I'm sorry about that. She's just flocked with work right now." I explained, mainly to appease Clarisse more than the sore thumb in the room. I don't care if she's offended. She can go and fuck herself for all I care. I see her as nothing more than a nasty, jealous woman who can't stomach the thought that someone is actually better than her.

Stella Dellova wasn't always this awful excuse of a woman. She was confident, too confident sometimes. She's bitchy almost all of the time but she had a good and honest nature in her. I used to date her and that was one of the things I liked about her. She has this tough and slutty exterior but she was still a lovely woman.

I don't know what happened but one day she just turned into this woman that she is now. That was when our relationship ended. I didn't want to but seeing how nasty she's become is just sad. I didn't know how to help her because she wouldn't let me. And I was honestly just way too into Mara that time that I didn't to drag the relationship anymore.

"Right. The venue. Do you guys have any place in mind?" Clarisse asked, motioning Stella to take notes of the meeting. The latter didn't say anything but did as she was told.

It was ten minutes before five when we finally wrapped up the long meeting. I thanked Clarisse, and even Stella for coming to meet us and accepting this project. We did, on the bright side, managed to pick three venues that we would love to visit next week. Clarisse has promised to schedule us with the caterers for the taste testing and a baker for our wedding cake.

I feel like the wedding planning is full swing with that we've accomplished today.

"It's our pleasure, Mr. Franco." She said with a small tired smile. She thanks Mara in a more friendly way before, for a lack of a better way, dragging Stella out of the office with Emil following them. "Well then." I said loudly looking at Mara who is already looking up at me with a smile on her face.

"That was a long one huh?" She said, laughing as I stretch my body side to side.

Snatching her by the waist, I pulled her body closer to mine. Things like these has become somewhat normal between us. I guess hearing Mara say that she loves me too lifted that nervousness in being so touchy-feely with her. "You handled that well. "I said proudly, kissing the tip of her nose.

I wasn't sure at first how she would respond to Stella's snarky comments but I was happy to see her stand on her ground and effectively defend herself in a classy manner. She wasn't rude but she wasn't extremely polite either. Just the right touch to put someone in their place without embarrassing them all together.

"And you're being touchy lately." she said in amusement as her arms wound up around my neck in a lose hang.

I smirked at her. "Not like you don't like it." I said, dropping a kiss near her lips. Just a bit off to the side to tease my beautiful fiancée. "I just missed you, that's all."

She raised her eyebrow at me. "We talk almost every night." She said, reminding me of our long night conversations when we have had the past week. We always end up falling asleep with the phone on our ears. That was how tired we are but still wanted to at least talk to each other.

"It's not the same. I miss you living with me. Coming home to an empty house is just not cut out for me now." I admitted.

After college, all I wanted was to get far away from my mom. So I bought that apartment with that intention in mind. I didn't want to deal with her anymore because we have never seen anything eye to eye. She disagrees with everything I want and vice versa. It was just bad and I didn't want to be part of that environment. I just had had enough of the arguments that I wanted out, and I did.

I relished the feeling of coming home to my own place. No loud voices, no arguments with mom and no background music of my parents fighting. It was quiet and peaceful. It was heaven for me then. I loved my freedom. A space that I can actually call mine and just a peaceful environment where I can rest and relax after a long day of work.

Now, everything has changed.

Mara smiles. "I missed you too. Soon enough we'll live together and you'll get sick of me. "She said with a chuckle.

I squeeze her waist lightly. "Never going to happen." I told her just a breath away from her lips before fully kissing her on the lips.