"So Annie. What do you want me to help you with?"

Annie took a deep breath before raising her eyes from her plate to meet his across the table. She had to commend him. The guy knew how to entertain a guest when it came to food. He had asked the kitchen to prepare a three course meal and had the decency to wait until they were halfway into the second course before speaking up.

Annie wiped her hand with the white napkin beside her plate,sipped her glass of water,before leaning back into the back of her chair. An air of confidence she didn't know she possessed surrounded her,which she was grateful for.

"My parent's wedding anniversary is coming up next month." She paused waiting to see his reaction. He gave her none. "My brothers are busy with the company, and their wives are a little busy with the children. Ella is pregnant, while Cassie's six month old baby is Teething. So the responsibility kind of fall on me. I want to surprise them with a party and a vacation to somewhere nice."

He placed his fork on his plate and leaned back into his chair too. "And how is that my business?"

Ouch. Annie winced inwardly. She should be used to his cruel words by now, but the truth was she was not. But this was her one shot to asking for his help and she didn't intend to blow it.

"I can't plan it all alone."

"Then hire people for it. Is that not why wedding planners are around?"

Annie bit back a groan of frustration. "I want to make the plans myself. Part of it being so special. They would appreciate it more. And besides,I don't have enough money as it is." It killed her to admit it,but if that meant he was going to help her, then she'd suck it up.

He remained quite. His eyes regarding her as he stroked his jaw. Annie suddenly felt so unsure. What he decided to just walk away from her,or go into one of his epi-

"Let's say for instance, I agree to help you. What would this plans entail?"

Annie reaches for her purse and withdrew her PalmPilot from her purse. With few swipes, she opened the planner she organised the day before.

"There's the anniversary invitation card which I am yet to find a perfect design for,and I can't even decide what should be written on it." She swiped her thumb across the screen. "Then the venue too. I don't want to host it in Philly because the plan wouldn't be a surprise anymore,seeing how the people are interested in me now,since I am the only single and only child of the Mckade's. And seeing that we are already getting close to winter as it is, I am against hosting the thing outside. And..." Annie trailed off when she realized that she was rumbling while he stared at her with a glint,she couldn't put a name to,in his eyes. "Sorry."

He waved a hand in the air. "My grandma's house is here in Mercer island. And it has a ballroom on the third floor,you might want to check it out though. What's next?"

Annie picked her jaw from wherever it fell of too. Although he hadn't agreed just yet, he offering his house had her insides doing cartwheels. At least he contributed.

"I was thinking of inviting live bands who'd play oldies. Something ninety-sixties or seventies." She looked to him for approval.

Jovon hummed in response and nodded for her to continue.

"There's flowers, food,entertainment, a photographer and Mom and dad's dress. Oh, and I have to pick a dress for myself and sister-in-laws too. And matching clothes for the grandchildren."

"Tuxes."

Annie stared at him. "Oh God. You're right. The guys need tuxes." She smiled at him. "I'll take care of the dresses myself. The dress is purely a girl thing."

"Do you plan to get a say in the tuxes?" He asked.

"Sure."

He waited while she began sputtering.

"Wait a minute," Annie said. "Mom's dress has to be something special. She's only going to mark their fifty years anniversary once."

"I could say the same thing about your Dad. He'll want to look good and you don't trust me to make that happen. Why should I help you?"

Annie waved her hand. "Fine. We both get equal says in the Tuxes and dresses." A giggle escaped her before she could stop it. "I can't believe you want a say in the dress."

He leaned forward. "Think of all those models I've dated. Some of their fashion sense must have rubbed off on me."

"Did you talk about fashion much?"

"We didn't talk at all. If I remember correctly."

Annie grinded her teeth together. She knew nothing about him,but judging by the way they fell into bed together, she had no doubts about models falling over themselves to get to him. But still, he was a jerk to rub it off in her face like that. There was even no pictures to give her insights on what those so-called models look like.

"Cassie once owned a flower shop," Annie ignored him. "I'll ask her for recommendations on the flower front."

"I know a photographer." Jovon told her.

Annie widened her eyes. "Does he take pictures of people with or without clothes?"

"Both. You'll enjoy looking at her work."

"I don't care about naked. Does she do wedding anniversaries?"

"They're are favourites."

"Good. I'll put her on the list. Nothing too artistic though. Regular pictures would be fine."

They went over few more things before they were interrupted by their servers who wheeled another cart in and exchanged their almost empty plates with mouth watering desserts.

Annie turned to him after they left. "I think this is going to be fun."

"I haven't said yes to helping you."

"Think about the fact that we would get to know each other better."

He scowled at that. "Who said anything about getting to know each other?"

"You don't like me much do you?"

"I don't know you."

"You don't want to."

"Actually I haven't decided that. Amazingly enough,you haven't been on my mind at all."

One point for his side, she thought. "You didn't say nice things about me before."

He tilted his head as he stared at her. "You have a reputation which I think you enjoy. But people form impressions based on the front you present."

"You think I'm shallow."

"I don't think you've ever had to work very hard at anything but your studies."

Annie placed her PalmPilot on the table as she rubbed her temple with the balls of her hand. He was infuriating, and it took all she had not to walk out of his fancy hotel room right now. Was there a time he didn't throw insults at her each time they met? If only he knew how her life was not all rainbows ans sunshine.

"You don't know me." She said quietly. "And if you're not going to help me at all,just tell me now instead of getting my hopes up."

"What if I say no?"

Annie felt a pang in her chest,but she shrugged at him. "I can always find someone else." For some bizarre reason, she saw him clench his fist and his jaws were clenched.

"If I am helping you I want something in return."

It was her turn to clench her fists on her laps. What would he request for?

Swallowing nervously,she asked. "What is that?"

"You."

~     ****    ~

Jovon watch her open and close her mouth few times, before she closed it again. Her face didn't mask her surprise at all. He was also surprised at his own words. But he already said it and there was no taking it back.

The thought of her smiling at another guy made his blood boil. Jovon told himself that it was the thought the guy taking advantage of her,since she was too nice and clueless at times, that made his fist clench.

Ha!

If only she knew how much he knew about her. Lying to her seemed the best thing at the moment. If anything he knew about Annie, he doubted that she would be pleased to learn that he ran a background check on her just to be sure she was who she claimed to be.

"Y-you want me?"

More than you'd ever know.

"What do you think?" It was a rhetoric question,but Annie's gaze searched his face as if seeking the answer. She must have found what she was looking for, because she let out a deep sigh,and nodded her head.

"Okay."

Jovon let out a sigh he didn't know he had been holding. "For every time we spend together, you owe me dinner and also sex."

Annie's cheeks darkened with red crimson. "You speak bluntly."

"There's no point beating around the bush,is there?"

"Am I supposed to sign an NDA or something,Seeing as you value your privacy and all?"

It was his turn to be taken aback. The girl was really full of surprises. Before he could stop it, a smile ghosted over his lips.

"I am giving you a chance to prove my assumptions about you wrong."

"Oh."

"So, do we have a deal?"

Jovon watch her look away from him as if waging an inner battle with herself. He can't say he won't be disappointed if she declined and walked away. Hell, he didn't even know why he agreed to help her plan an anniversary, when he had better things to do,like reading his emails and signing approvals.

Yet,deep down inside of him, he wanted to know more about Annie. He wanted to know what made her tick. He wanted to know her deepest and darkest secret. Jovon wasn't ready to let her go.

Not yet,anyway.

Annie squared her shoulders, then turned to look Jovon,their gazes met and held. Desire and determination swirled in her eyes as her mouth dropped open to reveal the words he had been itching to hear.

"Yes."

Just to be sure, he asked. "Yes what?"

Annie licked her lips as he lips curves into a smile. "Yes. We have a deal."