My eyes burned as I scrolled through Pinterest numbly, pinning gorgeous decorations to my boards with no end goal in mind. My exhausted body was fighting my racing mind in a losing battle. I couldn't sleep. Not with everything that was happening. James was right- to some extent. My performance on this job was a joke. Looking at what I've done so far, my work was pitiful.

I was given a simple task, basically done for me, except for decorations and a proposal idea, but somehow I couldn't finish it. This was a first. I always excelled at my events. Always.

The client was always the focus, but I couldn't seem to focus on Abby long enough to get valuable information.

How had I managed to make an engagement proposal about me?

Somewhere between my thoughts on where I went wrong and how to fix it, my body caved into my exhaustion.

I woke up to my 'Final Countdown' alarm, letting me know I was beyond late. I made it into the office thirty minutes late, crossing my fingers that Isabella hadn't called for me, and that James hadn't spoke to her.

"What's wrong with you?" Susie's gaze followed me with wide eyes. I assume she's referring to my jeans and flats, to which I never wear to work. Or maybe my ponytail. Or the sunglasses.

"I may have just lost a client, my promotion, and maybe this job." I slipped off my shades and let my hands run over my face.

"Rough." Susie watched me as I stared at her blankly before turning to my desktop.

My workday was no longer just eight hours. Eight hours turned into four hundred and eighty minutes which turned into twenty eight thousand, eight hundred seconds. My mind was playing a broken record, and my emotions were in a loop of dejavu.

"What happened?" Susie finally cracked, turning to me after glancing over at my progress for the last three hours.

"I just haven't been focused." I knew my answer wouldn't suffice by the expectant look on her face. So, I explained- mostly everything.

"You need to think about this, Samantha."

"I have been."

"No. Like you need to really think about it. I've never said anything because what I'm about to say never really mattered for your events, but this is different. These things should be personal- it's not a birthday that you have once a year. This is a once in a lifetime event."

I dropped my pen and leaned back in my seat. "So what should I do?"

"You want my honest opinion?"

I nodded, tired of wallowing.

"It shouldn't just be at a hotel or some banquet hall. It should be somewhere that she'll love remembering, somewhere that's already memorable to her. Add more value to a place she already loves." Susie sounded like a true hopeless romantic.

"The hotel's already booked and the down payment's been paid."

"Well, I'm just saying. It shouldn't have been booked there in the first place if it has no significant value."

My eyes fell from hers. There was nothing I could do about that. The deposit was paid, and either way I had no idea what would blow her mind.

"Look, I'm just telling you what I think, but you need to figure out what's more important. Getting this job done or actually making sure the proposal is perfect- for her." With that Susie turned in her seat and returned to work.

What could I do?

My phone rang pulling me from my thoughts. "Hello?"

"Come up. Now." Isabella hung up before I could answer.

I slugged up to her office, knocking softly on the door.

"Come in."

I walked in, obviously surprising Isabella as she went to speak but froze at the sight of me. "I just received a call from Mr. Coll-"

She blinked once. Then twice. She pursed her lips. When it looked like she couldn't form words, I took the lead, "I know. I need to fix this."

Isabella nodded, "Mhm." She cleared her throat, her eyes shifting to her desk before she shook her head and returned my gaze. "Yes. You do need to fix this. I don't expect anything less than your usual commitment and dedication to the job. Mr. Collier is an important person, not only for this company's network, but your promotion is on the line, Samantha."

I nodded.

"I'm tired of taking on CEO and COO. You already oversee most of the beginners- for the exception of weddings and proposals- but you need to show us that you're able to put yourself aside for the client."

I let my head fall at the weight of this assignment. Not only was this job challenging my expectations for the pride I take in my work, but James needed this to propose to Abby, and my promotion is on the line. I needed a miracle, and I needed it fast.

"I'll fix it." I repeated, not knowing what else I could say.

"Alright." Isabella spoke dismissing me. As I turned to the door, she spoke again, "Samantha." I glanced over my shoulder. "In the future, if you're not feeling well, just let me know." Her eyes drifted down my outfit.

I nodded again, and left without another word.

The rest of the day dragged into seconds like it had earlier. I spent most of the time lurking around the printer. I printed photos for my signature vision board for every event I planned, letting my mind reel over everything.

I continued working even when I got home. I didn't let myself relax. I couldn't. Susie kept replaying in my mind.

You need to figure out what's more important. Getting this job done or actually making sure the proposal is perfect- for her.

I knew what mattered most to me. Making sure she was happy. I knew it, but I hadn't really been focusing on it.

It wasn't until two in the morning, surrounded by two empty pints of Ben & Jerry's, and mindmaps of every little thing I knew about Abby and what she liked that I got it. 

I got it. A smile broke across my lips, and I rubbed my crusty eyes. I could feel that this may actually make her happy.

"I got it!" I laughed out loud, my voice sounding more weak than relieved.

Susie was right. This wasn't just another party. The party that was planned should've only been used as a template. It was too formal and if I hadn't been so distracted and avoiding of engagements, I would've realized that. 

We weren't planning what Abby would like. It wasn't being treated like it was going to be one of the best days of her life, but it would. And I had to make it like that.

"Uh!" I threw my hands in the air, freely. I had to tell someone. 

Will.

I bit my lip, staring at his contact in my phone. The last time I called him I had cried. I swore he was disgusted by me, that he hated me. He hadn't been responding to my texts, or my calls. Fifteen voicemails. I remember, because each time I grew colder and colder.

I remembered the calls too. "When are you coming back? Call me. Text me. Reach out to me, for godsakes, anything, Will." Or when I felt like it was the end of the world. "I'm dying without you. Call me back."

I shook my head.

Did it matter? Susie was probably sleeping soundly, and she'd kill me if I woke her up at two in the morning to tell her I was doing my job. Will did tell me to let him know when I needed help, and if I pulled everything off right, I'd need a lot of help.

He didn't answer until the fourth ring. "Sammy. Are you alright? It's two in the morning."

I wasn't sure if it was how caring he sounded over the line, my lack of sleep, my relief, or just everything combined, but I couldn't express myself properly. "I got it." I chuckled awkwardly. I pushed my hair off my forehead as I felt a tear trickle down my cheek.

"You got what?" I could picture his brows furrowing like they always did when he was so confused, and I laughed a bit.

"I think I know what's really going to make Abby happy."

"That's great." He responded groggily, yawning into the phone. "Have you been up this entire time?"

"Yeah."

"I promise, if you call me in the morning I'll bring you breakfast or whatever you want. But we should go to sleep now. You need to rest, and I'm not even awake right now." He mumbled.

"Okay. Thanks, Will."

"Night, Sammy." I bit my lip, not bothering to correct him.

"Night."

I didn't go to sleep. I couldn't. Finally getting clarity and everything becoming one big picture in my mind kept me running on endorphins. I organized all the pictures and magazine clippings together and began assembling my board.

*

"So, what do you think?" I bit my lip.

Susie's mouth opened, and then closed. "It's actually beautiful," She smiled, reaching my gaze, "but it's the exact opposite of what was planned. Are you sure this is the right move?" She spoke calm and carefully.

"This feels right. I'm not one hundred percent sure she's going to love it, but she's definitely going to like this better than some formal event at a hotel. I really think this is going to make her happy."

"Did you even sleep last night?"

"Not really. Why?"

"Your hands are jittery, and your eyes are red."

"Minor worries." I rolled my eyes, turning my attention back to the board that made me happier than normal, "I got all my notes together and finally planned everything, figured where everything would fall. I got inspiration from all of her events. Fairy lights from when her parents and James' parents met." My fingers moved along the board to display what I got from where as I elaborated on all the clipping and pictures.

I wasn't sure if Susie had gotten anything I said, because her eyes kept moving from my hand to my face. She hadn't been looking at the board long enough to appreciate my work. "How many coffees have you had?"

"Six, from this morning."

"When this morning?"

"Since midnight. Which isn't a lot if you think about it. It's already eleven."

Susie watched me carefully, "Did you sleep at all?"

"Maybe for an hour or two around four, then I got back to work."

We shared a moment. I wasn't too sure what she was searching for, but I still had a dumb grin on my face. I was too happy to care or let the lack of sleep bug me. This entire thing was eating away at me, and just when I thought I wouldn't get it- and probably lose my job ergo leading to my homelessness- I got it.

"You did good, Sam. Now that you've got the hard part down, go take care of undoing Julie's work." She chuckled, facing her screen again.

Poor Julie. At least she provided me with a great outline. Susie was right, of course, with my vision board a lot of Julie's reserved caterers would have to go. We didn't need the DJ, I had to try and get as much back as possible for the hotel, and this was all if James' approves my new idea.

Unfortunately, he didn't sound as convinced as I had convinced myself.

"You want to what?"