Dean had never been good at keeping secrets, but this time, he didn’t have a choice. If he wanted everything to go perfectly, he had to stay careful, calculated, and patient.
Every move mattered now.
He woke up earlier than usual on a quiet Sunday morning, careful not to disturb Amelia, who was still curled up on her side, tangled in the blankets. He glanced at her for a brief moment, taking in the soft rhythm of her breathing, before quietly slipping out of bed.
By the time he made it to the living room, his phone was already buzzing with a reminder. Dean picked it up, glanced at the time, and dialed the first number on his list.
“Mr. Vescari, it’s me,” he said softly when the line connected.
Kairo’s deep voice came through immediately, steady and calm. “You’re up early. Everything alright?”
“Yeah,” Dean said, lowering his voice automatically even though Amelia was still asleep. “I just wanted to confirm our meeting with the planner next week. Everything on your end?”
“All arranged,” Kairo replied without hesitation. “She’s expecting us. Don’t worry about Amelia — Arielle and I will keep her distracted if needed.”
Dean let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
They ended the call, and Dean immediately checked his notes. He’d made a detailed list over the past few days — times, dates, suppliers, backup plans. There couldn’t be any mistakes... 
By the time Dean returned to the bedroom, Amelia was still asleep. He stood by the doorway for a moment, watching her stir slightly under the blanket, then walked over and sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
She blinked her eyes open slowly, still half-asleep. “Why’re you up so early?” she murmured.
Dean smiled faintly, brushing a hand over her messy hair. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes closed again as she curled closer to the pillow. “You’re weird lately.”
He froze slightly, masking his reaction with a soft laugh. “Weird how?”
“You disappear. You make calls. You sneak around,” she mumbled, her words slurred with sleep. “If you’re secretly living a double life, just tell me now.”
Dean leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Go back to sleep, detective.”
She let out a quiet, sleepy chuckle and did exactly that.
=======================
The following afternoon, Dean called Clara while Amelia was out shopping with Diane.
Clara didn’t even let him speak at first. “So you are planning something,” she said, her tone sharp but amused.
Dean hesitated, lowering his voice. “You can’t say anything to Amelia.”
“I figured as much,” Clara said smoothly. “I know that look you get when you’re hiding something. What do you need from me?”
“A distraction,” Dean said simply. “Actually, several.”
“Let me guess,” Clara replied. “Shopping trips, random errands, maybe a sudden spa day?”
“Exactly,” Dean confirmed with a small smile. “She’s getting suspicious. If she keeps digging, she’ll figure it out too soon.”
Clara laughed softly. “Consider it handled. But, Dean…” She paused briefly. “You sure about this?”
Dean didn’t hesitate. “More sure than I’ve ever been.”
That answer seemed to satisfy her.
======================= 
Three days later, Dean met with the event planner Kairo recommended. They sat in a private office, away from prying eyes and ears.
“I want this to feel personal,” Dean explained carefully, his tone steady. “Nothing overly grand or flashy, but something meaningful.”
The planner nodded, jotting notes. “Something intimate, but memorable. Got it.”
Dean leaned forward slightly. “And… it has to be a surprise. No hints, no suspicions. She can’t know until the exact moment.”
“We’ll make it happen,” the planner assured him. “I’ll send you a few concepts tonight.”
Dean nodded in approval but reminded himself to be cautious when checking emails around Amelia.
=======================
That night, Amelia flopped onto the couch beside Dean while he pretended to scroll through a news article. She glanced at him suspiciously, holding a mug of tea.
“You’ve been smiling at your phone a lot lately,” she pointed out.
Dean didn’t miss a beat. “That’s because you keep sending me ridiculous memes.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Don’t deflect.”
“I’m not deflecting,” he said with a small grin, leaning over to steal a sip of her tea. “I’m just… happy. Is that a crime?”
Amelia studied him for a moment, her expression softening slightly. “No,” she said finally, curling up beside him. “Just don’t forget I can tell when you’re hiding something.”
Dean draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “I’m not hiding anything bad,” he promised, his voice low and steady.
That much was true.
=======================
Later that week, Dean met Kieran at his office, making sure to schedule it during Amelia’s work hours.
“Alright,” Kieran said as soon as Dean stepped inside, leaning back in his chair. “You’re running a tight operation, I’ll give you that.”
Dean smirked slightly but didn’t deny it. “I have to. She’s too observant.”
Kieran chuckled, shaking his head. “Amelia’s always been like that. You so much as change your routine by half an hour, and she’ll notice.”
“Yeah, I’ve realized that,” Dean said dryly. “Which is why I need your help too.”
Kieran raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess — more distractions?”
“Exactly,” Dean confirmed. “And… when the time comes, I need you there.”
Kieran studied him for a moment, then nodded. “You really love her, don’t you?”
Dean didn’t hesitate. “I do.”
That was all Kieran needed to hear.
=======================
Two days later, Dean picked up a small black box from a discreet jeweler downtown, one Kairo had personally recommended.
When he opened it inside his car, his breath caught slightly.
It was simple, elegant — nothing flashy, nothing excessive. Just… perfect.
He snapped the box shut quickly, sliding it deep into his jacket pocket, then immediately checked his phone. Amelia had texted him a picture of her coffee, teasing that she was on her third cup already.
Dean smiled faintly, replying with a short, “Save some caffeine for me.”
=======================
By the following weekend, Amelia’s suspicions were nearly at their peak. She tried not to pry, but Dean could see her glancing at him whenever he stepped outside to take a call.
“Dean,” she said one evening as they were folding laundry together, “if I find out you’ve secretly joined some underground poker club, I’m going to be very disappointed.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Relax. No poker, no secret societies.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Then why do I feel like everyone knows something I don’t?”
Dean folded another shirt carefully, hiding his smile. “Maybe you’re just imagining things.”
“Hmm,” she hummed suspiciously, clearly unconvinced.
=======================
Dean spent the next week finalizing the details — the location, the timing, the people who needed to be there. Every small decision mattered, and every choice brought him one step closer.
He coordinated with Kairo, Arielle, Kieran, Clara, and even Diane, making sure everyone understood their part. Not one of them slipped up around Amelia, which was impressive given how sharp she was.
There were close calls, though.
Once, Amelia nearly found a confirmation email on his tablet, but Dean distracted her by suggesting they grab dinner out instead. Another time, she almost overheard him talking to Clara, but Clara played it off smoothly, rambling about spa reservations until Amelia stopped asking questions.
Bit by bit, the plan came together.
=======================
It wasn’t easy, keeping something this big from Amelia.
There were nights when Dean lay awake beside her, tempted to just tell her everything — to see her reaction, to stop hiding. But every time, he reminded himself why he was doing this.
He wanted it to be unforgettable.
He wanted it to be perfect.
And perfection took patience.
Dean had no idea how much longer he could keep it up, though. Amelia was getting closer and closer to figuring something out — and he could already see the questions building behind her eyes.
Soon, he thought.
Just a little longer.