(Chapters 7-14)
Chapter 7: "The Partnership
Purpose: Establishing working relationship + negotiating boundaries
The Deal: They create a contract. Professional only. No personal discussions after 6 PM. No touching except handshake. No looking at each other during sunset (Milo's addition, Vivian strikes it).
The Wedding Scope: 500 guests, three-day event, celebrity attendance, livestreamed, corporate sponsors. The most complex wedding either has attempted.
Early Collaboration: Disastrous. Vivian's timeline crashes into Milo's "organic flow." They fight about whether love can be scheduled.
Breakthrough: They map their approaches — Vivian's structure as skeleton, Milo's moments as flesh. It works. They're brilliant together.
The Slip: Late night, celebrating a vendor win. They break the "no personal" rule. Vivian talks about her fear of disappointing her mother's memory. Milo talks about his father's disapproval of his career change.
Recovery: They re-establish boundaries. Harder this time.
Subplot: Keisha (from mock wedding) reveals she's pregnant and moving up her own wedding — she wants Vivian and Milo to plan it, together, in six weeks. Practice run for Zara.
Complication: The timeline forces them into constant proximity. The "no touching" rule is tested daily.

Chapter 8: "Keisha's Countdown"
Purpose: Proving their partnership works + deepening intimacy through work
The Compressed Timeline: Six weeks to wedding. Vivian's precision essential. Milo's flexibility essential. They need both.
The Challenges:
• Venue falls through (Milo finds backup: his cousin's restaurant)
• Keisha's dress disaster (Vivian's network saves it)
• Darnell's military deployment moved up (wedding must happen before he leaves)
Partnership Evolution: They develop shorthand. Finishing sentences. Knowing when to push, when to yield. Professional trust becoming personal safety.
The Moment: 3 AM, assembling centerpieces. Vivian falls asleep on Milo's shoulder. He doesn't move. Watches her breathe.
The Crack: Eleanor Sterling appears, "checking on the Zara account." Sees them close. Delivers news: developer offer increased. Ballroom must prove profitability in 90 days or sale proceeds.
Vivian's Spiral: She pushes Milo away professionally — takes over Keisha's timeline, eliminates his creative input. Returns to solo perfectionism.
Milo's Response: Doesn't fight. Observes. Waits.
Chapter Climax: Keisha confronts Vivian. "This isn't the wedding I wanted. This is your anxiety wearing my dress." Vivian realizes she's replicating her mother's pressure, not her grandmother's courage.
Recovery: She finds Milo at the restaurant venue, alone, rebuilding the arbor she'd rejected. "I don't know how to do this without making it about my fear."
Milo: "Then make it about your hope."

Chapter 9: "Keisha & Darnell"
Purpose: Successful collaboration + public vulnerability
The Wedding: Small, perfect, true to the couple. Vivian's structure makes Milo's moments land. Milo's warmth softens Vivian's precision.
The Ceremony: Vivian catches the bouquet (set up by Milo). He catches the garter (set up by her). Laughter. Recognition.
The Speech: Keisha thanks them as "the team that taught me marriage is two different people making one beautiful thing." They look at each other. The metaphor lands hard.
The Reception: Dancing. Vivian, who never dances, lets Milo lead. He teaches her to follow — "not control, just respond." She gets it. Briefly.
The Exposure: Zara livestreams the wedding. #WeddingWars trends. Media wants "the love story behind the love stories." They deflect.
Private Moment: They break all rules. One night together at Vivian's apartment. No pretense. No performance. Morning after, Vivian panics.
The Retreat: She claims it was "stress relief." He agrees, hurt. They return to professional only, but the lie is thinner now.

Chapter 10: "The Ex Factor"
Purpose: External threat tests fragile relationship
New Character: Sofia Reyes, Milo's ex-fiancée, appears. Corporate lawyer, relocated to Charleston for "a fresh start." Still loves him. Wants reconciliation.
The Pressure: Sofia is everything Vivian isn't — stable, predictable, approving of Milo's old life. She offers him partnership at her firm. "You were brilliant as a lawyer. This wedding thing was a phase."
Vivian's Insecurity: Sees them together. Assumes Milo will choose "appropriate." Doesn't ask. Withdraws further.
Milo's Test: He refuses Sofia's offer. Tells her he's happy. But Vivian's coldness makes him wonder if he's fighting for someone who wants him.
The Misunderstanding: Vivian sees them having dinner (Sofia ambushed him). Assumes betrayal. Doesn't confront him. Sabotages their Zara planning session with excessive criticism.
The Explosion: Milo finally calls her out. "You push me away before I can leave, then blame me for going. What do you actually want?"
Vivian's Truth: "I want you to stay without me having to ask. Because if I ask and you say no, I don't survive it."
His Response: "That's not fair. And that's not love."
Separation: They request Zara assign them separate responsibilities. She refuses. "Figure it out. Wedding's in six weeks."
Chapter 11: "Parallel Planning"
Purpose: Working apart reveals what they've built together
The Structure: They divide Zara's wedding — Vivian handles ceremony and logistics, Milo handles reception and experience. They communicate only through Zara's assistant.
The Problems:
• Vivian's ceremony is beautiful but cold. Zara cries — "this feels like a performance."
• Milo's reception is fun but chaotic. Jax's grandmother can't navigate the "experience." Exclusion, not inclusion.
The Realization (Both): They need each other. Not just professionally.
Parallel Scenes:
• Vivian visits her grandmother's grave. Talks to the stone. "You weren't perfect. Why did I think I had to be?"
• Milo calls his sister. "I think I messed up the best thing because I wanted her to say I mattered first."
The Reach: Vivian sends Milo a note — not apology, invitation. "Adele's journals. You should read them."
His Response: Sends her a playlist — songs from their late nights working together. No message. Just music.
The Bridge: They meet at the venue. Neutral ground. "I don't know how to do this," she says. "Me neither," he says. "Want to figure it out together?"
The Agreement: Not dating. Not just colleagues. "Practicing partnership." Terrifying. Necessary.

Chapter 12: "Practicing Partnership"
Purpose: Rebuilding with honesty + testing new dynamic
The Rules (New): Honesty about fear. No assuming. Ask directly. If panic happens, say "panic" and pause.
The Test: Zara's dress fitting. Zara hates everything. Vivian wants to push through (efficient). Milo wants to stop (emotional). They use the rules — Vivian admits she's afraid of failure. Milo admits he's afraid of disappointing her. They find middle ground: pause, talk to Zara, discover she wants her mother's sari incorporated (family secret, mother disapproves of Jax).
The Solution: Vivian's network finds a designer who can blend traditions. Milo's creativity makes the reveal emotional. They succeed because they're honest.
The Growth: They begin "practicing" outside work. Coffee. Walks. Vivian meets Milo's chaotic, loving family (restaurant owners, no filters). Milo meets Vivian's friends from her "before Sterling" life (college roommate, amateur theater group).
The Contrast: Both see each other's worlds. Both choose to stay.
The Intimacy: They sleep together again. This time, morning after includes breakfast. Conversation. "I'm still scared," she says. "Me too," he says. "But I'm more scared of not trying."

Chapter 13: "The Sterling Ball"
Purpose: Crisis forces commitment + public declaration
The Event: Eleanor hosts her annual fundraiser — the Sterling Ball, ballroom's signature event. Vivian must attend. Tradition demands she announce her "intentions" for the business.
The Pressure: Eleanor has invited the developer. Sale announcement prepared. Vivian must choose: safe sale or risky future.
Milo's Role: Not invited. Crashes anyway. "You don't have to do this alone."
The Confrontation: Vivian stands before donors, family, the developer. Sees her mother's expectation. Sees her grandmother's legacy. Sees Milo in the back.
Her Speech: "My grandmother built this space for celebrations. Not for safety. I'm not selling. I'm not replicating her — I'm building something new. With partners. With risk. With joy."
The Fallout: Eleanor furious. Developer withdraws. Ballroom's future uncertain.
The Victory: Vivian free for the first time. Milo finds her after. "You were magnificent."
The Commitment: "I'm choosing you," she says. "Not because you're safe. Because you're worth the risk."
First Real Date: No rules. No pretense. Just dinner. It terrifies them both. They love it.

Chapter 14: "Two Weeks Out"
Purpose: Pre-climax calm + deepening stakes
The Wedding Timeline: Final preparations. Everything working. Partnership solid.
The Intimacy: They move in together temporarily (Milo's apartment closer to venue). Domestic life — arguing about coffee, sharing shower schedule, discovering habits.
The Depth: Vivian meets Milo's father, who finally admits he's proud. Milo helps Vivian reconcile with Eleanor — not resolved, but talking.
The Foreshadowing: Small problems emerge. Vendor cancels. Weather threat. They handle it together.
The Reflection: Walking the venue at night. "What happens after the wedding?" Milo asks. "We plan more weddings," Vivian says. "Together?"
The Agreement: They'll merge businesses. Sterling-Reyes Events. Compromise on name later.
The Hope: For the first time, both believe in future.
Act Two Climax Setup: Sofia returns. Not for Milo — for business. She's representing the developer who still wants the ballroom. And she has information: the ballroom's deed has a clause. If Vivian can't prove "innovation in event planning" within 30 days of the Ball, Eleanor can force sale as majority shareholder.
The Clock: Zara's wedding is in 10 days. It's the proof they need. But Eleanor knows this. And she's planning something.