After the successful lunch,Alicia made her way back home excitedly.She couldn't wait to tell her hubby of the plans she and Mi Rae had cooked up!He would be so amused.And she needed to tell her little baby Ru also.He was an awesome cupid and would be able to get an aunt sooner.Alicia could hardly wait for tomorrow when the plan was going to be executed!

Twenty Three Hours later:

Everyone in the law department was walking in broken gla.s.s because of Neil Long!True to his name,he was biting the head off of any person who approached him like a shark.As was the norm,whenever Neil was angry,the blinds to his office were left open.The better to view the beast!currently he was in the middle of a conference call with the company's CEO and some foreign investors and it was already lunch time.People were hungry and had started to leave slowly in groups.They would go downstairs and gobble up the food before rus.h.i.+ng back up.The reason for this was that if Neil needed anything from anyone and if no one was there in the offie then the consequences would be dire.Just as the conference came to an end,the secretary slowly started moving towards the door to make a timely escape but before she could do that a whirl wind of black pa.s.sed by her.Alicia Lu was in the office and already at the door to Neil's cabin before anyone could warn her. 

Neil was in a foul mood!Of course the reason was because some people were incompetent.His mood had nothing to do with the fact that he had not been able to talk to Mi Rae for so many days.She had not even called him to discuss her impending case.And he had even convinced himself that he wanted to talk to her only to clear the air.After the bouncer ball she had thrown at him the other day,he had not been able to confront her.By the time he had packed up the picnic and rushed after her,she had already escaped in a cab.And was since then ignoring him!And how would she woo him by ignoring him,he had no idea.Of course all this was NOT on his mind.He was only busy with work...

Just then the door to his cabin opened without so much as a knock(not like he would have known even if Alicia had banged on the door).Ready to scold the person who had entered with such temerity,Neil swallowed his words after he saw Alicia.His face almost broke into a smile but then he remembered the torture he had been subjected to and his face settled into a scowl.

All the employees were now ready to watch a show.Everybody was aware of Alicia's ident.i.ty as well as her rapport with Neil.But n.o.body remembered that she could handle Neil with her small finger.

Seeing him scowl,Alicia had a big smile on her face as she closed the door and sauntered to him.he did not say anything and just glared at her.As he was about to open his mouth to give her a scolding,she gave a bright mega watt smile and moved in a big hug.Making an aigoo face(cute face),she blinked her eyes and said in a baby voice,"Unca Neee.Why so angry?Mama lorves you...papa lorves you.babyy lorveess you...."

Neil stared at Alicia for a full ten seconds while she continued her antics before he burst into laughter..Under thirty seconds!Everyone was amazed and awed that Neil's bad mood had evaporated in less than thirty seconds..They were in awe..

Just then a delivery person walked into the office.He was holding a brown wicker basket like the one used for a picnic but this was smaller in size.Smiling at the distracted secretary,he announced,"Delivery for Mr.Neil Long."The secretary who was in a daze directly pointed towards Neil's cabin guiding him there.Only when the delivery person had uttered a thank you and reached the door did she realize her mistake.The delivery person had already knocked on the door and been bid to enter.

Neil glared at the delivery person.Of course his good mood was limited to Alicia only.In a curt voice,he asked,"What is this?"

The delivery boy answered,"Delivery for you sir.Please sign here."With that he extended the note pad for Neil to sign.

Neil did not budge to take it or the delivery and questioned,"Who sent it?"It was a small picnic basket and Neil could guess who had sent it.So of course he was not going to accept it.

But Alas before he could refuse,Alicia was too curious and taking the pad from the boy,signed it and placed the basket in front of Neil.The delivery boy thanked them and with a jolly"Have a good day."left the office.

Alicia was happy with her timing of course and the fact that Mi Rae had been right that Neil would refuse to accept it.Mission accomplished.It had beenher job to see to it that Neil accept the delivery!And now she was too curious.Neil made no move to touch it and Alicia was not rude enough to open somebody's present.But of course she was not averse to checking out and guessing by shaking the basket and holding it in light etc.She made wild guesses from a baby dog to the latest equipments before finally smelling it and exclaimed in surprise.

By now Neil was also unable to contain his curiosity and s.n.a.t.c.hed the box from Alicia and opened it swiftly!He was a man and could not dilly dally like a woman over a small present!And immediately was a.s.saulted with the fragrance of fresh blueberries!

Alicia smiled at that and made to pick the card from inside the basket only to have her hand swatted at like a fly!So she decided to tease him."Neil!Mt dear brother!who sent you blueberries?I want to know!Won't you tell me?Let me see pretty please..."

But this time Alicia's magic did not work and Neil paid no attention to her.So she stealthily moved behind his chair and peeped at the lines written,"I thought you must be missing blueberries by now!"