Chapter 32 #4
“It is a beautiful space. It’s not my thing but I can appreciate beauty,” Maddox added as he gave me a knowing look.
“I don’t necessarily believe we will have any security issues at all, let alone on the first night in a secure facility inside a private room.
Each person has their security team, and they are free to stay with them or not—whichever they choose.
If I am going to run into any issues with the layout of one of the gatherings as it pertains to security, it will more than likely be the gala.
That is because it is outdoors and harder to shield from potential threats. ”
Bonnie nodded her head with a huge smile on her face. She had gotten approval from Maddox. They had two more venues to go, but she got the green light on this one. He took his job seriously and expected others to respect that. He wasn’t difficult—his job was.
“You should be beaming. This is magnificent and you did all of this.” I smiled at her, knowing she could stop stressing out a little now.
“Thank you. I love it when people get as excited as I do about things such as this.” She was bubbling.
“So, is this where the cocktail party is going to be on the first night? Also, dinner the following evening. Correct?” I asked, hoping I was right.
“Absolutely, you are going to be easy to work with. The men don’t really pay attention to the small stuff. To them it feels like that is all we worry about. I have too much pride to give up the reins just to prove a point and have to fix what they break.”
“So how will the layout be in here Wednesday night for dinner?” I said wondering if there was going to be any kind of cocktail hour to loosen people up.
Especially after I had planned on them hearing Scott’s version of events first. The aftermath could hinder the mood of some while elevating others. It was going to matter.
“So, we are going to keep all the outlying furniture. We will have a cocktail hour from nine until ten. Dinner will be served at ten. I am going to have a single communal table set up in the middle of the room, long enough to accommodate everyone. The gala, I am thinking round tables outside, but I really do like the look of a single table. We will see.”
“I like a single table also. Then there isn’t a bad table, no one feels any type of way about their seat—at least I would hope not.”
“You would be amazed at what cryptids can find to complain about,” Bonnie said.
“That sounds like their human side to me,” I replied with a laugh.
“You’re not wrong,” she added. “Well, if you are both good with this then I will move into the solarium so you can see how dinner will be set up the first night.”
She continued to the far-right corner of the room in an alcove where there was another set of double doors.
These doors were elaborately designed with what appeared to be gold and frosted glass.
Maddox opened the door. Bonnie walked through the doorway first. When I entered the room was just as vast as the library.
It resembled an enormous greenhouse. The whole room was outside of the main structure of the building itself.
It was constructed entirely of glass and metal except for the wall adjoining the library.
The entire room was filled with dozens of species of plants; they were hanging, in large pots that sat on the floor, even inside ornately decorated raised flower beds.
Climbing vines covered the wall that wasn’t made from glass.
There was a calming effect that almost immediately enveloped me.
It was full of color and life, and you could smell fragrant blooms and earth.
When we reached the center of the solarium, it opened up, and there were four tables arranged in a U-shape.
The tables framed another set of double doors that stood open.
As I approached the open doors, the view was breathtaking.
It overlooked the garden; there were stone steps that led down to the entrance.
It was currently the middle of the day. It would look very different at ten o’clock at night.
The lanterns in the garden would be lit along the pathways.
The unique fountain would be lit, with water flowing.
It was truly going to be an enchanting sight.
The tables were covered in sheer fabric, and the table settings that we had selected. The green and white plates trimmed in gold sat on gold chargers. Small crystal vases contained white roses and overflowed with greenery. I could visualize the room after dark with low romantic lighting.
“You can’t see them at the moment, but I had maintenance string twinkle lights all over. If you two have time after it gets dark, you should swing by and check it out. The switch is on the wall,” she said, pointing to a light switch next to the door we entered through.
“We still have to plan the after party,” Maddox said to Bonnie.
“The after party?” I hadn’t heard anything about an after party.
“Yeah, it’s a little more laid back and something that we had only talked about yesterday.
It’s more of a thank you to everyone for coming instead of another official function they have to attend.
We were thinking of a big bonfire in the firepit outside of the cabins.
Maybe branch off from that idea,” Maddox answered.
“That sounds like an amazing idea. Are we talking like the kind of party where you pass out in a corn field?” I asked, rubbing my palms together. I loved a good party.
“Well, we don’t have any corn fields, and they are, for the most part, adults. But it would definitely be in the same realm,” Bonnie tried to keep a straight face as she spoke. Maddox just shook his head.
“You two are human. It’s literally the nature of the beast,” he said, giving me a smoldering look that almost made me blush.
“I can leave—if you two need some privacy,” Bonnie said, looking back and forth between us. “The air got a little... charged.”
“Absolutely not, Bonnie. We are adults and Maddox can most certainly contain himself,” I said seriously.
“She has all these human rules she makes me follow, Bonnie. It’s really not fair,” Maddox was comfortable around Bonnie. He usually wasn’t so... open.
“Aw sweetheart, where’s the fun in that?” she asked with a grin. That did make me blush. Maddox laughed as I scowled at him. “I have been giving the party some thought and think I know what we should do.”
“Do you want to shoot me an email with your thoughts?” he asked her.
“Yes, that works. Also, Ronan got in touch with me to set up apartments for Alexander and Scott. Do you know when Scott will arrive?” she said, looking at Maddox.
“He should be here in the morning. The apartments you are using need to be gone through before you finalize anything. One of them is a murderer, and we are not one hundred percent which one that is yet. They are to be treated as guests, but they are also not allowed to roam freely. When this thing is all said and done, one of them will be joining us at the gala and the other will be getting ready to face the consequences of their actions.”
“You know how I feel Maddox; you have for a while,” she said, with a hint of sadness in her voice as she placed her hand on his forearm.
“I do.”
“Well, it is Friday. I should let you guys have some time to relax before everything gets crazy around here.”
“Yeah, I think I want to get into some comfortable clothes and relax. Not think about anything; even though that never works. I can’t shut my brain off. I wish I could.”
“That’s usually when your brain works things out. When it has reached its limits, and everything is firing all at once.” Maddox stated it as though it was fact. Maybe he knew something I didn’t—probably a lot.
Bonnie started walking toward the double doors that led to the garden. Maddox grabbed my hand and followed her.
“I think everything is going to come together beautifully,” she said, looking around at her hard work.
“You did a wonderful job, and I am positive you are correct,” I said, taking everything in.
“We will see you later, Bonnie. I have to meet with my team and hand out their assignments. We have to go over the rundown for the events. I require them to work like a well-oiled machine. I am going to touch base with Alexander and then I will get in touch so you and I can check out the accommodations for him and Scott. Will that work for you?”
“Yes, I will go take care of that now and make sure the doors lock from the outside and are reinforced,” she responded.
“Sounds like a plan.” Bonnie disappeared back into the building. Maddox turned to me.
“Do you have things that you have to attend to today?”
“I wanted to meet with Ronan and talk to him about how everything is going to work and get his feedback.”
“I would prefer it if he wasn’t around at all, but you are correct. You have to let him do the job he was hired to do, and if you can’t, then maybe he needs to find a new position.” Maddox wasn’t wrong, and he knew the decision was mine and mine alone.
If I got rid of Ronan, it would make his life easier, but that wasn’t fair. I pushed up onto my toes and put my hands on the back of Maddox’s neck, pulling him to me. I kissed him softly.
“I will come find you in a little while.” I turned and walked back into the building.