Looking Beyond

Chapter 14: Spying and Secrets

     Savannah did her best to behave herself over the next few weeks. There were a few snide comments muttered under her breath at times, which Erik was quick to stop. Erik made sure that it was worth her effort to not involve herself in their matters. It had the bonus effect of calming Savannah down, taking a lot of stress and tension away from her. The more he could get her mind off of their friends, the better - their party planning business was picking up for the holidays.

     "Erik? How many people, do you think, get engaged over the holidays?"

     "I have no idea. Why are you asking?" Erik didn't look up from his laptop.

     "Because we could get more business between the holidays and summer if we encourage clients to recommend booking us for engagement parties."

     Erik finally looked up. "You know, that's not a bad idea. Business is getting better. Having Trevor and Jacob willing to MC and perform for some events helps too. Maybe we could branch out from birthday, baby shower, and office holiday parties." He pondered the possibilities. "Maybe we could eventually gain enough experience to offer wedding services."

     "Speaking of Jacob..." Savannah's eyes shone with excitement. "He's been sending Brea flowers. The card has cute things written on them, but he never signs it. Brea's been letting them dry."

     "I knew it was too good to be true. You just HAVE to spy on them." He shook his head.

     "It's not spying on them when she shows them to me." She stuck her tongue out at him.

     "That's okay, but not as impressive as this..." Erik flicked his tongue out and wiggled his fingers at her. He winked in response to her almost dropping her coffee mug.

     "You play dirty Erik." She hissed.

     "You love it. Admit it." He flashed a smile at her. "Now, where were we? Which decoration options should we offer to the Murphy office party?"

* * *

     Dan walked back into the office, holding a small bouquet of flowers. "Yet again, another delivery for you Brea. Who's been sending you these?"

     Brea grinned as she took them from Dan. "I really don't know. The card's never signed." She leaned over to smell the flowers. "The card is never signed. But I have my suspicions. Whoever it is has to know that my favorite flowers are daisies, and not too many people know that."

     "Exciting." Dan sat down at his desk. He aimlessly clicked on a few items on the screen, in a half-assed attempt at trying to get his work done.

     "Okay Dan, what's wrong?" Brea questioned.

     "Huh? Oh, just thinking."

     Brea instantly became skeptical. "That's not your 'I'm thinking' face. That's your 'I'm nervous as hell' face. Spill it." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, demanding an answer.

     Dan sighed. "You're not going to let me off on this, are you?"

     "Nope." Brea smirked. "So spill. And don't worry. Whatever you tell me will be kept between you, me, and the four walls of this office."

     "You can't tell anyone."

     "Promise."

     Dan stood up and closed the sliding door to the office, looking to make sure that nobody was near. He turned back to Brea. "You remember how I told you about that girl I liked, and how I asked her out?"

     Brea thought for a moment. "The one from last year? Yeah, but only just – it was a while ago. What's her name?"

     "Scarlett, and I'm going to propose to her tonight and I'm so freaking nervous."

     Brea's jaw dropped. "Propose? Hold on...you've been dating her this whole time?"

     Dan stared at her like she had another head on her shoulder. "Well, yeah. We get along really well, and I think we're both ready for the next step."

     "Aren't you young?" Brea blurted out.

     "I'm twenty-three, and I'm confident that this is the woman I want to spend forever with – why not?"

     Brea blinked several times before answering. "I'm sorry, I'm just in shock."

     "Not everyone wears their hearts on their sleeve like you Brea."

     "If that was a thinly veiled attempt to remind me that," she used finger quotes, "'I told you that Trevor wouldn't be interested," you're an ass. I'm over it."

     "Keep telling yourself that." Dan started to get pissed. "You're not focusing on our projects! Get your head in the game! Erik and Savannah are going to be asking us for freelance work soon!"

     "Wow. You tell me that you're nervous about proposing to some girl that you don't talk about and now it's 'Let's blame Brea for being unfocused' day? You haven't been too sharp lately either!"

     Dan huffed and sat back down. "I'm sorry. I don't deal with stress very well." He looked back at Brea, concern gracing his face. "I worry about you. I knew it was pretty shitty of Trevor to do that to you."

     Brea scoffed. "At the time, it was, but I can't let that get to me. I made mistakes and he couldn't have known. While it was obvious to everyone around here what I felt, I could see how Trevor wouldn't have." She glanced back at her computer screen. "Besides, I think deep down I knew I never had a chance. He's got quite the reputation."

     "So, why have you been off your game lately?"

     "I've got other things on my mind. Other, nicer things on my mind. I'll get my head back into it. I'm sorry." She eyed Dan carefully. "When are you going to tell the rest of the house your plans?"

     "If she says 'yes' then I'll break it to everyone else. So, not a word to anyone."

      "I promised you, didn't I?" She turned back to her monitor again, wondering how she was going to keep not just her own relationship a secret from Savannah, but now Dan's too.