When Paris Stole My Heart

''I'd love the theme of the wedding to give more of a Caribbean vibe don't you agree, Miss Grenade?''

''Certainly, I mean we trust you with everything Sam. Just smitten us as you always do!''

''Say less,Miss''

''Okay, so the dress fitting is scheduled for when again?''

''Tomorrow''

''Okay, sure. Bye for now''

''Bye''

Samantha placed down the phone and dialed Kelsey with the other.

''Hey, can you please come over with the designs we selected from earlier?''

''Yes, Miss''

Few minutes later, a knock resonated through the door.

''Come in'' responded a busy Samantha. A pretty brunette sashayed her way in immediately.

''The designs, miss''

''Sure bring them over''

Kelsey opened the MacBook and crouched to Sam's level.

''This is the first one we picked yesterday Miss''

''Uhmm...'' With eyes as sharp as an eagle's, she studied into detail, the outline and nature of the gown. She wanted something that gave off the vibe of the wedding, Carribean. She wanted something lightweight, flowy and airy. She wanted a dress with intricate tropical inspired patterns.

''Let's check out the other ones. I'm changing my mind on this one!''

''Sure...''

''SAM!!!'' a sweet enthusiastic voice called out, immediately lightening up the vibe in the room.

Sam looked up from the MacBook and immediately, a smile broke that serious look on her pretty face as she stared warmly at the lady, who was now comfortably seated in the swivel chair before her.

''Rachel? I thought...''

''Yeah, yeah I left Amy to take of that. It's almost our lunch break anyways''

She shifts her attention back to the sample of wedding gown designs they'd selected from designers on the MacBook.

After selecting the top five out of the lots she thought suited her good taste, she excused Kelsey.

There was another knock at the door and Rachel called for the person to get in.

''I got your orders, Miss''

''Oh, thank you Amy. You can drop them right here'' she motioned to the desk before them.

''Enough of work now Sam, I got us lunch!'' Rachel turned to her busy best friend/work partner.

''Just give me a minute Rachel, I want to confirm deals with these companies''

''Is it about the Grenades' wedding?'' Rachel asked with so much energy in her voice.

''Yep!?''

''That wedding is something else! So extra in everything. Luxury and details!''

''What do you expect when they've got taste enough to work with Yours Truly?''

''Uh-huh!!!'' Rachel cheered.

''But seriously, girl, its lunch time...away with the Mac!!'' Rachel pushed away the work materials before the busy girl, intentionally lingering her hands on the table before setting to eating her own food.

''Fine, fine!'' Sam lifted her hands up in a playful act of surrender.

''Okay...you got my favourite today!'' blushed a smiley Sam as she unravelled the package.

''Mhm...You know me!!!''

''How's the Vale's dinner party going?'' Sam asked shortly.

''Oh, that! How else? Exquisite as usual. It's just that ugly mother of theirs making a freak out everything, you know! She just doesn't let us do entirely what we want. Its either she doesn't trust us or she's there for my downfall which she's terribly failed at already''.

Sam smiled at her very loquacious best friend, quietly shaking her head at her words.

''And you...'' Rachel impatiently chewed on the piece of meat in her mouth then grabbed the bottle of water before continuing.

''What about me?''

''Still in touch with ''Mr.Accent''?''

''Gosh...c'mon Rachy! It's been three months since!''

''Doesn't matter, Sam. You screwed that up...you know! I mean he was so open and fun to be with, you could tell. He was clearly into you, Sam!!''

''No he wasn't''

''Yes he was! What do you call those impromptu drop-by's he'd do only to whisk you away from a tedious day of planning his sister's wedding in beautiful romantic Italy? Huh?''

''He was just being...nice?''

''Just being nice? Come on Sam, tell me you felt that spark. Tell me already! He was so hot too and not to forget, he smelled like the billion dollars he was!'' Rachel winked and playfully poked her best friend on the cheek, letting her hand linger there longer than it should be. All the while smiling cheekily at her.

Sam only rolled her eyes playfully and went back to ravaging the delicious meal before her.

''He's forgotten me now, Rachy! I mean...not that I care but...you know what? Let's forget about this!''

''No we aren't Sam!'' Rachel slammed her hands on the table, intentionally too hard in an exaggerated exasperation.

''I say you two should give each other a shot! I mean look at you. You're 26, beautiful, successful, smart and intelligent! You're such a goal-getter and you inspire people all around the globe, Sam. Quite funny how someone that's known for planning the best weddings in the world actually hates romance, love and anything related''

''Don't get me wrong, Rachel. I don't hate love or romance or any of that. If I did you wouldn't be here like a sister to me''.

''So what is your issue now Sam?'' Rachel was all done now and began packing everything up.

''Look, I believe love happens okay? I'm just glad to be in the position of letting the best days of people's lives come into being as much as or even more than they ever envisioned. But as for me? Love? Save me the stress, Rachel. I'm fine with experiencing people experience it. I'm fine and I mean it''

Rachel sighed and reached out to Sam's hands.

''Samantha Thompson, I know you're speaking from the trauma of your parents' failed marriage but trust me not all marriages end up the same!''

''End of this discussion, Rachel. Let's end it here. ''I'm not ending up like my mom'' remember? My motto since I turned thirteen? You're not going to change that!''

''I'll pray for you''

''Whatever''

Rachel trashed the food packs and walked all smiley back to her seat.

Sam looked at her best friend carefully, silently wondering why she was so extra today.

''Rachy?''

''Sugar pie?''

Sam rolled her eyes at that.

''You seem extra today, any reason? Oh let me guess...is it still the excitement about planning the Vale's dinner party?''

''Well...that and....'' Rachel let out a happy laugh, wiggling energetically her left hands in the air finally happy she'd noticed.

''What? Wait!! A ring?''

''Yes, Sam a ring!!'' She covered her lips with the right and held out the other to her best friend so she could take a good look at the beautiful stone which now graced her fingers.

''He proposed?'' Sam asked in good surprise and genuinely and extremely happy for her best friend!

''He did'' By now, the taers in Rachael's beautiful eyes were threatening to fall.

''How did I not notice Rachy? I'm so happy for us. Come here!''

The two enveloped each other in a super tight hug while shedding true tears of beautiful joy.

''That could've been the only reason why I didn't get the 'He didn't propose yesterday too' conversation today!'' Sam said holding and admiring her best friend's beautiful hands.

''Yes...'' Sniffed a red face Rachel. ''You know...I felt he was going to one of these days. I really did''

''And he did, Mrs.Carlton!''

''Oh, I love the sound of that!''

After another round of hearty laughter, Samantha suggested a celebration.

''We should celebrate this''

''Of course we are celebrating this! Harry and I planned out an engagement party scheduled for tomorrow. I'll let everyone else know through phone calls. Wait...let me call my mama!''

Sam watched as the happy soon to be wife pulled out her phone. She couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness and sadness tug at her chest as she watched in slow motion effect, her best friend spilling the happy news enthusiastically.

Don't get her wrong, of course she felt happy for her best friend but after her younger sister's wedding the previous month, and Rachel's upcoming own now she felt as though everyone around her was moving on in life but she was just stuck on a particular area.

Yes, she wasn't willing to do love in this life! She believed love was a calling and she wasn't called to stress over that. But what if life as a kid had taken a different turn? What if her parents had not show she and Betty the ugly sides of love?! What if they grew up watching their parents love each other endlessly and didn't grow up watching them quarrel, hate and even physically abuse each other?!

''Sam?''

''Huh?''

''Are you okay?''

''I'm sorry were you saying something?''

''Yes I was asking if you'd help me plan this wedding. I know planning the Queen Seine's 90th birthday is such a huge deal for Yours Truly. And that they chose us because of your exceptionality but please just trust Kelsey and Amy to lead the entire team, they would do a great job''

''I'll surely be there on your big day but the royal family would love me on the team! Is your wedding that close?''

''Next month 13th''

''It is close''

''Please!!''

''Okay. I can handle both''

''Girl!! The wedding is in Paris, do you really think?''

''Oh, right in the city of love?''

''Yes!'' Rachael giggled with a shaky, excited tone.

''Fine, I'll drop the Queen's Party and fly to France with you. I'll just teach Kelsey how to lead the team''

''Yes, I love you so much, my love''

''You know I love you too''

''Okay, with all been said, someone has a lot of doings to do. I'll see you tomorrow okay? We're drinking to this tomorrow okay?''

''We could now, I've got some really...''

''No, no I know we've got good wine around but there's this champagne I want you to try! I'll bring it tomorrow''

''Okay, see you then''

''Bye!''