She Plans His Mother’s Surprise Party, Unaware The Billionaire Son Is Planning Their Wedding Next
An Unexpected Partnership in Planning
Over the next few weeks, Fiona executed Maria’s retirement dinner flawlessly while secretly gathering information for Elena’s surprise party. She connected with Elena’s friends and discovered her favorite foods, music, and flowers.
The more she learned about Elena Garrison, the more she admired her. She was a woman who had rebuilt her life after early widowhood and supported countless charities.
She had raised a son who, despite his apparent absence, had created a business empire that reportedly revolutionized sustainable architecture.
Fiona had just finalized the guest list when her phone rang with an unknown number.
“Fiona Vale, this is Ethan Garrison.”
His voice was deeper than she’d imagined, with a quiet authority that made her sit straighter at her desk.
“Mr. Garrison, how can I help you?” She managed, wondering how he’d gotten her number.
“My mother mentioned your handling Maria’s retirement party. I’d like to contribute something special for the occasion.”
“Maria was practically my second mother growing up.”
Fiona smiled at this unexpected glimpse of sentiment.
“That’s thoughtful of you. I’m sure she’d appreciate your presence more than anything.”
“Unfortunately, I’m in Singapore until next week, but I’d like to arrange something meaningful. Could we meet when I return?”
And that was how Fiona found herself sitting across from Ethan Garrison at a quiet restaurant seven days later. They discussed retirement gifts for a housekeeper while she tried not to stare at the man who looked even more intense in person.
At 38, Ethan Garrison had the confident ease of someone who had proven himself repeatedly. His dark hair showed hints of silver at the temples, and fine lines around his eyes suggested he smiled more than his reputation indicated.
He listened intently as she described the plans for Maria’s celebration.
“Perfect,” he nodded.
“But I was thinking of adding something more lasting. Maria always wanted to visit her hometown in Portugal but never took time away.”
“An all-expenses-paid trip would be wonderful,” Fiona agreed.
“I was thinking of buying her a small cottage there, somewhere she could spend part of each year, eventually retire fully.”
Fiona blinked.
“That’s incredibly generous.”
A small smile softened his features.
“Maria taught me to tie my shoes and stood by my mother through the hardest years of our lives. A cottage seems inadequate.”
Actually, something shifted in Fiona’s perception of this reportedly distant billionaire. The genuine affection in his voice contradicted everything she’d assumed.
“Your mother will be touched by that gesture,” she said.
His expression changed subtly.
“How well do you know my mother?”
Fiona hesitated, unsure whether to reveal her secondary project. Professional instinct warned against sharing plans for a surprise, but something about Ethan Garrison made her want to be honest.
“We’ve become friendly since the charity auction. She’s an extraordinary woman.”
Fiona took a deep breath.
“Actually, I’m working on something else for her, though it isn’t a professional engagement.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“I’m organizing a surprise party for her birthday next month. She mentioned that no one remembers it anymore. And I thought…”
She trailed off suddenly, aware how presumptuous it might seem. Rather than appearing annoyed, Ethan’s eyes widened with interest.
“You’re planning my mother’s birthday on your own time?”
Fiona felt heat rise to her cheeks.
“She’s been kind to me. It seemed like something that would make her happy.”
Ethan studied her for a long moment.
“Would you consider letting me help? I’ve missed too many of her birthdays.”
That conversation marked the beginning of an unexpected partnership. Over the next three weeks, Fiona and Ethan collaborated on both celebrations, meeting for coffee and exchanging texts about menu options.
Occasionally, they found themselves deep in conversation that had nothing to do with party planning.
Fiona learned that Ethan’s business trips weren’t evidence of neglect but necessary to oversee his company’s commitment to building sustainable communities worldwide.
He’d expanded his father’s modest construction company into an international enterprise that created affordable, environmentally friendly housing and commercial spaces.
The intensity she noted in his photograph was the focus of someone determined to solve problems others deemed impossible.
Ethan discovered that Fiona had built her event planning business from nothing after leaving a toxic workplace. She’d started with small parties for friends, eventually earning enough reputation to coordinate gatherings for New York’s elite.
Yet she still personally handled every detail, refusing to sacrifice quality for expansion.
“You could be running an empire by now if you’d franchised,” he noted during one of their planning sessions at his office.
Fiona shook her head.
“I’d rather do one thing perfectly than 10 things adequately.”
“People trust me because they know I’ll be there personally making sure everything is exactly right.”
“A philosophy my father would have appreciated,” Ethan said, his voice softening.
“He believed in building things properly or not at all.”
As Maria’s retirement party approached, they found increasingly frequent reasons to meet. Ethan suggested that Fiona visit one of his local building projects to understand the acoustics for the string quartet he wanted to surprise his mother with.
Fiona invited him to a food tasting to ensure the menu reflected his mother’s preferences. Neither acknowledged the flimsiness of these excuses.
