–Nate: But that car is proof that he loves her.
A pink Cullinan? That doesn’t sound so bad. Yuna would look adorable in a pink car, especially in her amazing dresses and shoes. Given the number of pink outfits she has, it’s probably her favorite color, too.
–Ivy: Can you help with prep too, Declan? I heard you’re too busy.
Fucking Benedict. He should’ve checked first.
–Me: Never too busy to do something for Yuna. I’d love to.
–Ivy: Awesome! We have people to do the big stuff like dealing with florists and decorators and stuff, but there are so many little things.
–Pascal: I don’t know how Yuna did everything when she put together parties for us.
More texts are exchanged, some of them jokes, some of them tasks to be done. My first assignment is to reserve a cake from a place called Bobbi’s Sweet Things.
–Tony: It’s Yuna’s favorite bakery because it’s owned by Ivy’s former bodyguard. And if you tell Bobbi it’s for Yuna’s birthday, she’ll bake something totally amazing.
–Me: I’ll get it done. Anything else?
Normally, I delegate tasks like this to my assistant, but of course that’s not an option this time. But even if it were, Yuna deserves my personal attention. I smile, imagining the bright expression on her face when she sees the cake. And the surprise party.
–Ivy: I don’t have the list right now, but I’ll text you if I think of something.
–Me: Great.
Then I realize we’re having the party in the U.S.
–Me: BTW, is her mother coming?
–Ivy: Yes.
Hmm. Hopefully Lady Min will behave for Yuna’s sake. I mean, I can be an adult about her trying to buy me off and all. Which reminds me of what she said. How I never took Yuna to a Korean restaurant and fed her her favorite Korean food.
–Me: What’s Yuna’s favorite Korean food? Barbecue?
Somebody in the group should know.
–Tony: No. She says it makes her clothes smell.
–Nate: Which is a weird thing to object about, because kalbi smells so good. I’d totally use eau de kalbi.
–Court: And have every dog in your neighborhood try to hump you.
I press my lips to avoid laughing. If Yuna asks me what’s funny, I don’t want to have to lie.
–Ivy: She likes Korean table d’hôte. I can send you a couple of places in Koreatown she likes.
–Me: Thanks.
Ivy sends me three. I look them up, pick the one with the best online reviews and make an online lunch reservation for later today. This should make her happy, since she loves to eat and it won’t violate her unofficial curfew.
Then I remember to ask for another table. In the notes section, I write, Make these guests sit as far from us as possible.
I’m not having Mr. Choi and Ms. Kim hovering around when I take Yuna out.
Chapter Forty-Five
Declan