After Lauren's event, Alexandra's phone wouldn't stop buzzing with new appointment requests. Some people who attended the party wanted her to plan their next event.
Business was booming to the point where she had to refer some clients to her competitors because she simply couldn't handle them all on her own.
Aside from Lauren's glowing endorsement, Julian had also drawn a surprising number of clients her way with his face.
One of her latest projects was a wedding set to take place in just two months. The timeline was tight, but Alex was confident she could pull it off since the bride wasn't particularly demanding.
Today, she brought Julian along to visit her trusted baker, Mrs. Gloria, to finalize the wedding cake.
They arrived at the bakery and slipped through the back entrance, heading straight to the kitchen.
Just as Alex had expected, a middle-aged redhead was standing at the counter, her hands expertly kneading dough and her apron dusted in flour. The sweet, buttery aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air, making Alex sigh in contentment.
"Gloria!" she called out excitedly. "How are you?"
The woman turned, her face lighting up as she stretched her arms out for a hug.
"Alex, you're here!" Gloria beamed.
Alex didn't hesitate to embrace her, despite the flour that instantly transferred into her clothes.
"I came as soon as I heard you were feeling better," Alex said with a warm smile.
Gloria had been battling a severe cold for weeks, which was why she hadn't been able to bake Lauren's cake. Alex was forced to find another bakery for that event, but she was relieved to see Gloria back in action.
At forty-eight, Gloria had been baking since she was fifteen. Her skills were so legendary that her bakery had become a tourist hotspot, drawing influencers and food enthusiasts from all over the country just for a taste of her pastries.
She was simply that good.
"Who is this handsome young man?" Gloria asked, wiggling her brows at Julian.
"I'm Julian." Julian introduced himself with a polite smile. "Her assistant."
Gloria's eyes twinkled as she glanced between both of them with interest, but she did not probe further. "Are you two hungry? I just made a fresh batch of strawberry-glazed doughnuts."
"Yes—"
"No, Gloria." Alex quickly cut Julian off, much to his horror. "We're actually here about a wedding cake. There's an upcoming wedding, and we need to place an order."
Gloria waved her hand in dismissal, already grabbing Julian's arm. "That can wait. This young man looks like he could use a proper treat."
Before Alex could protest, an excited Julian was already being whisked away. With no choice but to follow, she soon found herself seated at the table, joining them in devouring an entire batch of doughnuts, all twelve of them.
"This is the best thing I've had in weeks," Alex groaned in delight, savoring the last bite.
Julian leaned back, rubbing his stomach in satisfaction. "Definitely better than your bland noodles."
She shot him a glare. "Says the guy who put sugar in rice."
Gloria returned with glasses of water, setting them down before eyeing the two of them curiously. "Do you two live together? I thought he was just your assistant."
Alex froze, scrambling for a plausible explanation, but before she could even open her mouth, Gloria's eyes gleamed.
"I knew it!" Gloria smacked the table with a triumphant grin. "I knew you both were dating the moment you walked in. The chemistry is undeniable. So, does this mean you've finally dumped that loser? What was his name again? Chase… Chat…?"
"Chad," Alex corrected. "And yes, we've broken up."
"Thank God," Gloria sighed in relief. "That guy was draining you dry. I'm glad you've found someone else."
"No, Julian and I aren't—" Alex started to clarify to Gloria, but her phone rang, cutting her off. Seeing Willa's name on the screen, she quickly answered. Her expression darkened as Willa's panicked voice filled her ears.
When the call ended, she turned to Gloria. "I'm sorry, but we have to go. Something's come up at the office."
Gloria gave her a warm smile. "No worries, dear. Come visit again soon."
Alex hugged her goodbye before hurrying out with Julian.
Once they were in the car, Julian shot her a curious look. "What happened? I was really enjoying myself there."
"Willa needs my help dealing with some pests," she muttered, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.
It didn't take long to reach her small company. Though Alex mostly worked from home, this space served as a base of operations, with Willa managing the day-to-day affairs.
As soon as they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sound of yelling.
"What do you mean you're fully booked? Do you have any idea who my boyfriend is?!" Ellen's grating voice rang through the room.
Alex's expression darkened when she spotted Ellen screaming in Willa's face while Chad stood in a corner, watching silently. The sight made her blood boil. How dare they come here and harass her employee?
"Who let the trash in?" Alex said coolly, arms crossed as she regarded them with disdain. Tilting her head slightly, she added, "I was wondering what that awful stench was. Now I know it was you two."
Ellen scoffed and turned to face her, hands on her hips. "Finally, you're here." She lifted her chin, her tone dripping with entitlement. "I need you to plan an event for us."
Alex let out a humorless laugh. "We're fully booked. Are you deaf?" She jabbed a finger toward the door. "Get out."
"You didn't even let me finish," Ellen said with an infuriating smile. Flipping her hair to the side, she extended her hand, flashing a diamond ring before linking arms with Chad. "Chad proposed. Our engagement party is coming up, and we figured you'd be the perfect person to plan it; after all, this is all thanks to you. So, how about you do it for old times' sake?"
Julian, who had immediately caught on to their pathetic game, glowered at Chad, who stood beside Ellen with a smug grin.
It was obvious that they were here to rub their engagement in Alex's face, hoping to make her feel miserable. What a cheap shot.
"She said no," Julian stated calmly, his tone laced with an underlying threat.
Chad scoffed. "Stay out of this, dude," he sneered before turning his attention back to Alex. "You shouldn't let your jealousy get in the way of doing something good. We could give you the exposure your business desperately needs."
Exposure?
Alex couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head in amusement. How predictable. They must have seen Lauren's viral post and wanted to join the hype. It wouldn't surprise her if they couldn't afford the services they rudely demanded.
Pathetic.
"Can you even afford my service?" She arched a brow in plain mockery, eyeing them both from head to toe. "Fine, I'll plan your engagement. My base fee is $20,000, and depending on your requests, the total could range between $90,000 to $100,000."
Ellen's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "What are you, God?! Twenty thousand dollars is outrageous! All we want is a private cocktail party at the beach. You should be doing this for free!"
Bingo!
Alex smirked. Just as she suspected, they weren't there to hire her. They were there to bully her into throwing them a free engagement party.
Not happening.
"If you can't afford it," she gestured toward the door with a smirk, "you know the way out."
Ellen scoffed in disbelief before stomping toward Alex until they stood toe-to-toe.
"You're nothing but a bitter little whore who can't stand being single and alone," she spat. "Since you've clearly forgotten your place, let me put you back in it."
Ellen raised her hand, aiming for Alex's cheek.
But before she could strike, another hand shot out, gripping her wrist with a force that made her wince in pain.
A cold, deadly voice cut through the air, "Touch her, and I'll break your wrist."