The Architect of Dreams
The next day, Dan sat in Cristina's huge workroom watching her pack another massive corporate order. Cristina was probably one of the smartest people Dan had ever known, and he assumed that was why she and Amber had always been such great friends.
She was a psychologist and behavioralist, and she put together activities for clients to complete to reach goals or realize some intention or internal issue. Most of her clients were corporations, and she set up complex activities that they had to work through together. It was always a lot of working parts and complex paths that the group or individual had to navigate on their own, and Cristina planned meticulously for weeks to bring together unique tasks specific to the group or individual.
Now she was putting the boxes together in a specific way. She had already sat Dan and David down to watch her—saying no one understood the process except for Amber, of course. Cristina spoke into one of the three large boxes, frustration clear in her voice. "Dan, the teahouse at the lake will be perfect. Virginia is already on board, and she has picked out enough dresses for six weddings." She looked up. "She said if you two don't find your clothes, she will be doing it herself."
Dan rolled his eyes. It seemed he only knew high-strung, driven women. "But she is always at the lake. Don't you think she would want a change?"
"But she said it was a great place for the proposal, and she said she would've loved to get married there."
Dan's eyes snapped to David, just as his best friend was smiling lovingly into Cristina's eyes. "She said she would've loved to have been married at the teahouse?!"
David slowly nodded. "Yes. When I asked her about planning, she immediately said the teahouse and said she would've loved it herself. She used the word 'love'."
Dan smiled just as Cristina's doorbell rang. She looked pleasingly at David. He smiled and went to answer the door, returning without much hesitation with Virginia.
The youngest Lance daughter entered the room like she owned it. She smiled broadly. "I have the dresses—we are going to be gorgeous, Cristina—and I think we should have the Blue Serene decorate." She looked to Dan with a frown. "Can they do it without her finding out?"
David spoke. "She thinks it will be for Cristina and me, and I already spoke to Julia and told her what it is really for. She will inform the decorators and workers. It seems they are quite excited."
Virginia nodded with a smile, then looked at Dan's surprised face. "Good thing you have such a business partner, huh? And why does she need to wear flats?"
Dan straightened stiffly, looked away, and tried to change the subject. "I really want to thank all of you for all of your help."
Cristina looked up with a frown. "No heels? Amber loves heels." She looked to Dan. "Is something wrong?"
Dan looked to David, then back to Virginia and Cristina. He sighed, and his entire body sagged. "You have to ask her specifics. She fainted at the laser tag facility, and the doctor said she needs rest. I am not sure if she can do that, but at least she doesn't have to navigate things in heels."
Both Virginia and Cristina looked worried. Amber was always on the go—and why did they need to speak to her? Why couldn't Dan just tell them the issue? The two ladies looked to each other and silently decided to spend more time with Amber and find out what was going on.
As Virginia was sitting down to go over the vow renewal with the others, Jessica's schemes were coming together.
She was on a video call with Anthony—they seemed to be talking so much these days. She leaned her head back and laughed. Anthony smiled lovingly at her as she calmed. She looked into the camera at him, and his entire being seemed to be shocked; she was so beautiful. Looking at her was like an electrical shock going through his body.
"The tea is ready. Thank you so much for helping me, Anthony."
He nodded at her, still in a bit of a daze as he responded, "This is very sour?"
"Yes."
"Good. That will cover the taste of the drug well. Do you know how you will add it in?"
"I will make him a cup. From the videos, I can tell Amber Ann doesn't like it as much as Dan." She sneered. "Virginia sent out notices that Dan and Amber are renewing their vows. I think this present and a sample will be a great gift." She smiled sweetly. "Amber will be renewing her vows, but Dan will only be looking at me."