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how you were always my hardheaded child, but always protective. Let me tell you about the time he went to beat up the Senator’s son for picking on his younger brother…” Iris started, looking at Devyn.
    “Mama, Ms. Williams doesn’t want to hear about my childhood stories. I’m sure she has some work to do,” Nikola said, avoiding eye contact with Devyn.
    “Oh well. I’ll save those stories for later. Now, he’s not being too hard on you, is he Devyn?” Mrs. Collins asked.
    “No, ma’am. He’s not at all,” Devyn answered honestly.
    “Mama, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Nikola asked with a hint of concern in his voice.
    “Of course, son. I just wanted to pop by for a visit. You never visit.” Nikola tried not to roll his eyes.
    “Mama, I was just over this weekend.”
    “Oh, that’s right. Well, I just wanted to see you again to discuss this year’s gala. You’re coming this year, aren’t you Devyn.” Devyn smiled brightly, and Nikola’s heart flip flopped. “Yes, ma’am. I am, of course.”
    “Great. We will have to discuss our gala attire later.”
    “I’ll be here,” Devyn retorted.
    “Come, Mama.” Nikola took his mother’s arm, guiding her to his office.
    “She such a nice girl,” Iris sighed as she entered Nikola’s office.
    “And doesn’t she look fabulous in that red, today?” Iris asked innocently. Nikola nodded, not wanting to give away that his heart rate tripled when Devyn walked into his office this morning wearing a red chiffon blouse with a white skirt with red pumps. Red was definitely her color. In fact, Nikola figured that e very color worked well on Devyn, but red was definitely his favorite on her.
    “I don’t know what happened, but when she first started working for Andre, she never wore color. It was all blacks, dark browns and blues, but about a year and a half ago she began wearing more and more color. She looks happier too. I wonder what changed.” Iris looked quizzically at Nikola. His mother was very observant. He knew she could hone in on subtle changes and draw serious conclusions. He began to wonder if something made Devyn change her wardrobe, but refused to give his thoughts away to his mother. He shrugged. “I don’t know, Mama. I hadn’t noticed,” he lied.
    “I’m sure,” she said in that way that let him know the wheels were turning in her head. Wanting to get her mind off of Devyn, he decided to change the subject.
    “Speaking of clothing, have you chosen a dress for the gala yet?” Iris loved the gala and looked forward to it to ring in the summer season. They spent another few minutes discussing the gala, and what they were wearing, who was attending and all the items that had been donated for the silent auction. Of course, afterwards, Iris asked Nikola if he was dating anyone, which turned into another ten minute speech on how she was not getting any younger. Iris Collins wanted grandchildren. Nikola held his tongue as his dramatic mother lamented about not being able to enjoy grandchildren because she would be old and shriveled by the time either one of her sons settled down and had children. Nikola knew that was a lie. His mother was in her sixties, but was still had a very active social life and looked nearly twenty years younger than her actual age. After about thirty minutes, Nikola walked his mom to the elevators, with promises to visit her this weekend, which he often did when he was in town. As he returned to his office, he couldn’t help taking another peek at Devyn as she worked on some report on the computer. She wore her hair up in a high curly puff, once again showing off the column of her neck. When she smiled at him upon his return, Nikola had to put his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out and touching her.
    He sighed. One more week and Andre would be back, Devyn would return back downstairs and everything would be back to normal.
     

Chapter 6
    “Now that the menu has been finalized, I