In the aftermath of Sage and Aidan's party, Mia was concerned about others finding out the woman Edward defended and the one making cookies for his son were the same. It took more than a week before Taylor approached her.

"What game are you playing?" She snapped at Mia one morning.

Mia looked up for her spreadsheet. As always Mia was hard at work and Taylor was just arriving. She lacked the work ethic Mia had, since she needed her salary to live. Celia was not in the office, so Mia knew Taylor wasn't concerned about being polite. Mia saw her friend Rosie lingering outside her office. Rosie had never trusted Taylor while Mia didn't have an issue with her — at least not until Mia had moved.

"Excuse me?" She suspected it was the moment she had been dreading. She only hoped she had learned a few tips from Edward about hiding her emotions.

"You are the one giving Elaine's kid cookies!"

"I'm sorry but I wasn't aware it was a crime. I bring cookies for all of you."

"How long did you plan your manipulation?"

"You think I stayed up at night calculating ways to get a four-year-old boy to like me? Giving him cookies, which I am known for making took some scheming? Taylor, listen to yourself."

"Not the kid! Ted! Don't pretend you didn't plan your move to get close to him."

"I absolutely didn't. First the circumstances causing my move caught me by surprise. I had been watching the beautiful old home go through a transformation every day on my way to work. When I called the number on the for rent sign, it was a leasing agent. I didn't know who my neighbor slash landlord was. How would I know Edward Calhoun lived there? Any glimpses of him, he was in work clothes and climbing into a pickup truck. Edward Calhoun never crossed my mind."

"I don't believe you."

"Fine, but I tried to help you in your quest to be the next Mrs. Calhoun, but you weren't interested. The most important thing in his life is his son."

Taylor laughed. "Wrong! It's power and money."

"Even now you refuse to listen to me. I would never have chosen to live next to Edward, because I deal with enough self centered wealthy people in this job. I find most of your people unkind and selfish."

"Ted isn't selfish."

Mia agreed. "Edward is cold and calculating." She had no problem saying it, because she had said something similar to his face — Tori had too.

"He's a successful businessman."

"Yes, and at his request, I kept the identity of my landlord private. His reasons had everything to do with him and nothing to do with me. I can tell you he is well aware of your interest in him. Seeing as he has yet to act is an excellent indication he is not interested, but how am I to know? I was clueless when my boyfriend of two years broke up with me. Maybe Walter Leonard has a brother or a friend for you."

"I still don't believe you. I know you want him for yourself."

Luckily, Taylor left her office without waiting for a response, because Mia would have to lie.

Taylor continued to be professional with Mia, but the two would never be friends. The stress of the last month before the ball caused tensions with everyone, but they weren't prepared when the venue for the ball had a fire and closed for repairs. A lack of location had Celia stressed out and Mia did her best to keep her head low.

She had enough going on in her own life, so she wanted nothing to do with Edward Calhoun or the ball. She was almost certain Sage was pregnant and while Mia was excited she felt left out. Every time she spoke to Sage, she mentioned Brenna and Brenna spent a lot of time with Sage. Brenna had recently announced her second pregnancy and neither of them were working, so they had plenty of time while Mia did not.

If feeling left out didn't put her in a funk, Brenna called to tell her Derek was engaged. The guy she dated for two years found a woman he loved enough to marry in a matter of months. It hurt worse than their break up. It was one thing to accept they weren't right for each other, but another to learn he had replaced her.

One afternoon, she heard Celia. "It's not ideal, but she has a room large enough. Taylor get Maria and her communications staff to spread the splendid news."

Mia whispered to Maria. "Where is the new venue?"

"At her friend Bea's estate."

Mia instantly thought of a different ball held there years ago.

Tori Calhoun visited her brother and nephew on Saturday afternoon. Unlike her former sister-in-law when Tori knocked, Mia welcomed her in. Little Ed as Tori called him was with her.

"It's nice you two are close." Mia commented.

"I see this little man at school, right?"

"Uh huh," He was busy eating a cookie. "Miz-ily, Auntie Tori has big kids."

"Little Ed, you should call her Mia not Ms. Reilly and my kids are not much bigger than you. Next year you'll be in kindergarten and then first grade like my kids."

"First grade?"

"I'm a teacher at his school. We may be Calhoun's, but we all work, except my mother and my brother's ex never did. Sloane and I are lucky, because we could have worked for the business but never felt the same pressure as Ted."

"Miz Mia thank you for the cookie. Can Daddy have one?"

"I'll put some in a bag for you to take to him."

"Mia, come out with me and meet my friends, they aren't rich."

"I always thought my family was rich until I met Sage. I don't know. I kind of like staying home."

"You and Ted. He hates parties."

"No, he doesn't."

"You'd be surprised."

Later, Mia babysat for Declan while Brenna and Noah went out to dinner. Ted and the cookie monster knocked on her door.

Ted walked in. "I came to see my friend." He stopped. "Has it been that long? He's grown."

"He crawls."

Ted picked him up and kissed him. At that moment, Mia was certain her ovaries quivered. In front of her was the man she was in love with. He was also a man she suspected very few people knew. Thinking of Tori's visit, she was certain he was the man who preferred to stay home. Mia knew he deserved a woman who would love him and give him more children.

"I'm convinced Sage is pregnant. She hasn't told me, but she's been spending time with Brenna."

"So you figure since Brenna has a child?"

Mia nodded. "Tori said you hate parties, but you are so popular."

"What else was my little sister saying?" He held Declan who was content with the stranger.

"You are very good at that."

"At what, Mia?" His voice sounded more like Edward.

"At changing the subject when it's about you."

He looked at Declan. "Your aunt is very persistent." Looking up at Mia with his gray-blue eyes, he sighed. "I don't like many of the people I'm forced to associate with. They will knock a person down to get ahead."

"Like Taylor is trying to do with me?" Mia regretted her question immediately.

"Mia." It wasn't a question but a command.

"Edward." She tried to copy his tone.

"What has she said to you?"

"Nothing your wife hasn't. As if I don't know I'm not your type."

He smirked. "My type?"

"Yes, someone very wealthy, but kind like Sage. She would have to love your son and based on the way you're holding my nephew, want more children. Her priority should be family over her social life."

"You realize I have a better chance of finding a magical unicorn than a woman like that. And your type is the guy in the restaurant."

"If he's my type, I'm in trouble because I'm not his and I'm not about to waste two years on any man again." He was posed to comment, but she cut him off.

"I need to get this little one to sleep and yours is looking tired, too."

The cookie monster had been entertaining himself with the baby's toys while they were talking. After they left Mia wished she was a unicorn.

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