Cici sat at her desk finalizing the check list for Annie's surprise birthday party.
CHECK LIST:
1. DJ (give him a list of songs to play)✔️
2. Balloon center pieces ✔️
3. Order 3-layer birthday cake and choose design.✔️
4. Go over buffet menu with the hotel banquet coordinator✔️
5. Belly Dancer (Aziza)✔️
6. Lit up dance floor/and strobe lighting✔️
7. Confetti✔️
8. Slide show (pictures need to be imported onto thumb drive)✔️
9. Photo Booth✔️
10. Fortune teller (tent set-up) ✔️
11. Photographer✔️
12. Confirm Performances by Selena Gomez (Birthday), 50 Cent (In Da Club) ✔️
13. Invite Family, friends & celebrities✔️

Cici exhaled loudly, leaning back in her chair.

"Finally done..." She said to herself. It turns out to be a lot more work than she thought especially when most of it was done by her.

Charlotte and Sheila's mother, Becky, were busy with the bridal shower arrangements. And Shelia had been on her own with Michael and the wedding.

So much for Michael's idea of using Annie and me to get out of his duties as the groom, Cici snorted. Serves the pervert...

Rubbing her temples, her phone started ringing, straightening up Cici pressed the speaker button. "Yup," She answered.

"Is that anyway to greet your father?" Her father's voice boomed into her office. Cici cringed inwardly. 

"Hi daddy! Sorry...I was a little preoccupied with the birthday planning!" Hoping he'd drop the subject of her rather curt and abrupt greeting.  "What can I do for you Mr. T?" She smiled drumming her fingers on her desk while addressing his so formally.

"Well," amusement evident in his tone, "I wanted to inform you your sister came into my office earlier and pleaded to come back to work." Cici frowned and leaned closer to her phone listening intently. "I said yes, but under certain conditions." That's her father always with an ultimatum. "I told her she is not to over work herself and she couldn't help you, your mother or Shelia with the bridal shower party and the wedding details..." He finished.

"Perfect thinking dad, we could still be incognito and she wouldn't suspect a thing..."

"Of course. This should keep her away from all the planning and it will still end up a surprise. You're welcome." Cici could imagine the satisfied smirk her father had on his face at this very moment.

"Thanks dad! You're the best!" She replied back enthusiastically.

*********

"Not in public Julien!" Annie panicked as she pushed him away when he tried stealing another kiss from her. He was an insatiable man. All throughout the time in the restaurant he held and kissed her at every opportunity.

"You are irresistible." He declared in a husky voice as they stood behind their parked cars. By the time they finished lunch and talked, several hours passed. Time flew by and they didn't even realize it because they were so occupied with each other.

Looking around she spotted a few cameras in the corners looking down upon the parking lot. Glancing back to Julien, she found him patting his pant pocket retrieving his vibrating cellular phone.

Julien ended the call without answering, giving her a smirk. "Exchange numbers and e-mails with me so I am able to contact you."

It didn't sound like a request nor a demand, Annie felt as if it was a expectation.

However, she had been waiting for him to ask her for a while now. Handing his phone to her, Annie dialed her number, her cellular phone going off in her handbag. Julien's eyes lit up as she continued to input her contact information.

"You can e-mail me and I'll save your information, I don't want to take up more of your time. Looks like you had an important phone call just now. And I need to go too before my phone starts firing off with worry." Offering his phone back to him. Julien pulled her wrist and enfolded his palm over hers while she still held his phone.

They have been gone for a few hours, and Annie thought it odd nobody has called to check in with her yet. Although relieved nobody interrupted their time together, a frown marred her brows  as negative thoughts started swirling in her head.

Julien looked like he wanted to argue but noticed her eyes cloud with worry. "What is it, Duchess?" Kissing her wrist.

"Since I passed out last week, my family hasn't left me alone, and today my phone hasn't rang once." Julien's eyes narrowed in confusion but waited patiently as she continued. "Now I'm worried something might have happened."

Julien realized why immediately and hugged her to him, hiding his smile.

"I'm sure all is well, don't worry." Trying to distract her. "I recently learned your brother is getting married soon. I'm sure they are all overwhelmed with the planning."

Over a week ago, Cici came into the office and informed, Julien, Victor and Duncan of the surprise Birthday party she was throwing for Annie, on the eighteenth, which was now a week away. They also received an invitation from Charlotte who spoke to his mother and informed her of the surprise.

According to Kate, Cici and Charlotte have been planning the surprise for some time and the unexpected turn of events with Sonny and Sheila's short notice wedding plans suddenly wedged their plans.  They were forced to divid the responsibilities for the birthday, which Cici took over while Charlotte and Sheila started planning the wedding.

Their main concern was how they were going to keep it a secret from her. She was highly tuned into her surroundings and immediately noticed something was off and they just slipped up today by not calling. 

Julien kissed her forehead softly. Stepping back he studied her profile and wondered what to get her.

It would have to be something unique and rare. Some piece of jewelry that she could wear that would always remind her of him.

"Thank you for lunch, it was delicious. Quite unexpected, but nice." She said while smiling.

"It was my pleasure, trust me." Winking at her. "Drive safely." He told her as he walked to her car and opened the door. "See you soon, Duchess.."

Annie nodded giving him a sweet smile.

Julien watched her leave. He got into his car and started his destination to Cartier.
***********

A blond, tall woman quickly stood upon seeing him enter. Her bright red lipstick stood out against her tan as her lips formed a seductive smile. Julien nodded in her direction, never giving into her flirtatious smile. At one time he would have given her his time but not now.

He had eyes for one female now.

The blond smoothed out her gray pencil skirt and came toward him. "Hello! My name is Christina. How can I help you today? Are you looking for something in particular?" She asked, extending her arm.

Julien shook her hand. "I'm Julien St. James." He searched the glass cases while informing her of what he had in mind. Christina's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets at his demands. She gulped heavily and nodded, grabbing a notepad jotting down notes.

"This needs to be commissioned straight away. I expect to have this completed by next week, Tuesday. The cost is of no consequence. Just make sure It. Will. Be. Done." Fixating his hard gaze at her.

A clearly intimated Christina shook slightly at his dangerously low voice, noticing it held a hint of a threat.

"Yes sir. I'll have them working at it right away." Her hands were shaking nervously, and she wouldn't look him in the eye.

"Good." Reaching into his suit jacket he handed her his business card. "This is my information, I need frequent updates and any further questions that need asking, don't hesitate to inform me." He told her curtly.

Julien left satisfied. I hope she'll like. He thought, smirking to himself.
********
Annie didn't realize she was home until entering the foyer. Her mind had been so occupied, recalling the day's events it led her body automatically home. 

The house was eerily quiet and dark.

Before she could think, hands wrapped around her mouth and waist, holding her tight and pulling her up against a hard chest. Annie was too shocked to react at first, clearly caught off guard. The assailant lowered his head to her ear, as she began struggling.

"Hmmm, you smell good enough to eat sweetheart..." Said a low deep familiar voice. Annie ceased struggling and sagged against her assailant, breathing in relief and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

The hand on her mouth disappeared and the man kissed her shoulder then nuzzled her neck playfully keeping both hands wrapped around her.

"Uncle Brett, how can you do that to me?" Admonishing her mother's brother. "I was planning to do some serious damage to your head and your precious manly parts." Annie felt his smile against her shoulder. Annie frowned in disapproval. "You are such a child! When are you going to grow up!"

Uncle Brett was very handsome man in his mid-fifties and he had all the ladies wrapped around his fingers. A player, a charmer, extremely silly and playful and a father to one of Annie's favorite cousins, Zachary.

"It's not how old you are, doll face, it's how old you feel." Turning her around to face him. "Beside, the opportunity presented itself and I couldn't hold the urge to scare the heck out of you."  Adding a shrug and grinning. 

Merriment shone from his eyes as he looked down at her. He still looked the same—bright blue eyes, sun-kissed bronze skin, his once blonde hair had more streaks of gray especially on his side burns since the last time she saw him.

"Thanks for the warm welcome by the way." He gave her one of his dazzling smiles, making the lines around his eyes crinkle.

Annie rolled her eyes again on purpose, knowing how much it bothered her Uncle and as if on queue, it automatically made him frown. "You asked for it! You just don't go around attacking innocent females and ask for love back." Folding her arms across her chest, feigning her displeasure when in fact she loved giving him a hard time too.  They always had fun and acted more like best friends than niece and Uncle. 

Brett snorted. "Ha! You innocent! I feel for the poor helpless soul that crosses your path. Your looks are deceiving I'll tell you that." Pecking her cheek. "A she-devil in disguise." He joked and Annie scowled at him and punched his shoulder.

"Owww," rubbing his shoulder. "I was only kidding!" Annie turned to walk away but her Uncle Brett caught her elbow halting her movements. "Hey doll, you smell like a man." Sniffing her hair and neck.

Oh. No!

Annie tried pushing him away, her face betraying her as she blushed. She couldn't risk anybody finding out about her rendezvous with Julien. His scent was evident all along her the skin of her neck thanks to the countless peppered kisses he gave her.

"Relax," he orders gently and gripping her upper arms.  "You want to tell me what's going on?" Raising an eyebrow, the suspicion evident in his tone of voice. Annie ceased her struggling, starring at him innocently.

"What do you mean?" Fluttering her lashes innocently.  Brett's lips were set in a grim line and his expression spoke volumes. He wasn't going to let this go, Annie could tell.

Rolling her eyes was a constant habit when her Uncle was present and she did it once again, earning a irritated like-growl from him. "Stop doing that, you know I hate it!"

Annie laughed in his face and cupped her hands on his neck and pulled his head down smashing her lips against his cheek giving him a quick kiss.  Releasing him she turned and escaped before he could badger her more and made a straight line towards the stairs which she was planning to take two steps at a time to evade him.

"Angie!  Get back here you minx!"

"Catch me if you can!"  Annie squirmed in delight as she heard his heavy steps coming after her.  She really loved her Uncle.  He was fun and full of life and acted like a child than a mature adult.  But she knew she was only buying herself time distracting him from his earlier question. 

What to say, what to say...she asked herself over and over running in the direction of her room, her feet protesting in agony thanks to her high heels.  But she remembered the flowers in her room and suddenly stopped in the hallway. 

Having him see them will only heighten his suspicion.

Annie whirled and her uncle's broad chest nearly bumped her to the ground had it not been for his hands holding her upright.  "Steady..." He said, slightly out of breath.  "Now I expect you to give me a legit answer as to why you smell like men's cologne."  Fixing her with his stare.

Annie tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.  "Okay!  If you must know I went in to visit daddy at the office today. He kissed and held me.  I needed comforting because I was so lonely."  Mentally crossing her fingers he bought half of her lie.  "Satisfied?  Ask him if you don't believe me!" 

Sympathy emitted out of her Uncle as he pulled her in his arms for a hug. "Your mom told me what happened to you, doll.  You need to take it easy though.  Taking time off is like medicine for your overworked body." 

Annie closed her eyes relieved he believed her. 

They both turned to the voices in the foyer.  Looks like everyone is home.  "Where's Zack by the way?"  Annie's asked him, changing the subject quickly.  

"He's taking a nap, honey, long trip from Miami."  Annie nodded and followed her Uncle to greet everyone downstairs. 

But a sliver of anxiety crawled up her spine.  If her Uncle caught a whiff of Julien's scent on her than the others will notice too. 

It stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Uncle Brett I'm going to freshen up, I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes..." 

Brett turned and grabbed her hand kissing the back tenderly. 

"You know where to find me."  He winked and gave her mischievous smile.  Annie couldn't help but laugh at his antics.  He was one of the biggest charmers she's ever witnessed. 

Heading to her bedroom door and making a direct line to the bathroom, Annie looked herself in the mirror as she grabbed a washcloth, soaking it wet.  She started dabbing her neck, ridding herself of the leftover evidence of Julien's cologne.  

When she finished, Annie reapplied her light perfume and leaned against the counter letting out a long sigh. 

Her secret was safe and sound, for now. 

--------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for reading! 

I hope you enjoyed this one...please vote and if you like, comment your positive feedback.  

Thanks again, Shaz!