Chapter 28
27 months ago
“Is that her?”
Gabby asks the question as soon as we enter The View. It’s the first time we’ve held our holiday party here, in the lounge on the top floor of the Marriot Marquis hotel. Until now, our company wasn’t big enough to rent our own space.
And while this does offer some of the most incredible views of the city, my eyes are exactly where Gabby’s have landed, on Olivia Diamond.
“Yep.” I gulp. I’ve told my sister all about Olivia. Well, everything I know, which isn’t a whole hell of a lot. But everything I do know, I like. I’ve wanted to ask her out for weeks, but I’ve been too worried about making her feel uncomfortable at work. Though with Gabby’s urging, and Mitch’s incessant “just man-up and get it out of your system” complaints, I’ve decided to finally go for it.
Yes, this is a work event, and maybe not the most appropriate time to do it. But it’s the closest thing I have to seeing her outside the office. And she looks fucking incredible. Her wavy hair drapes around her shoulders, shining like firelight. She’s got so much of it that she’s constantly tucking it behind her ears and every time she does it my fingers itch, wanting in on the action. And the dress she’s wearing. She’s glittering as much as the city lights outside the window.
Gabby starts tugging on my hand, but I’m too lost in thought to realize where she’s dragging me until the sparkling dress is directly in my line of sight.
“Hey, Gavin,” Liv greets me. “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but a hoodie.”
I chuckle, but I’m not sure how to respond.
“You have no idea how hard it was for him to agree to wear the jacket,” Gabby replies. “He’s all about comfort.”
“I’m Liv,” she says, stretching a hand to Gabby. “Are you Gavin’s girlfriend?”
We both sputter.
“Absolutely not,” I practically shout. Gabby glares at me.
“Siblings,” Gabby clarifies. She laces an arm through mine and tugs me toward her. “He’s very single.” Christ. “Actually, Gav was telling me?—”
“Gavin,” Mitch interrupts with a hand to my shoulder. “Are you busy?” He looks toward Gabby, then Liv and seems to decide on the answer himself. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
I’m nervous about leaving Gabby and Liv alone together, but luckily Andie comes over to chat right as I leave. She hired Gabby last week to be a part-time intern.
“Ask her out yet?” Mitch snickers as we walk toward the bar.
“Not yet.”
“Pussy.”
“Fuck off. Who do you want me to meet?”
“You should be nicer to me, you know. How many times have you told me you want to work for a Venture Capitalist firm next?”
Shit. I’ve told him that a hundred times. I’ve never been afraid to use connections and Mitch has more contacts in Silicon Valley than anyone else at Sizzl. Probably because he’s one of the only people over forty, but still. He’s worked at four different start-ups, two of which have hit unicorn status.
“Is someone here?” I ask
“All our investors are. Haven’t you ever met them before?”
“Only Caleb from Spangled. But not since we got our big round from AngelBak in February. I missed the last off-site they came to.” I was pissed about it, but I had a migraine that kept me in bed for two days. AngelBak is where I plan to be in two years. Hell, maybe less if Mitch can help me.
“Well, I guess it’s your lucky night.” Mitch turns to the bar and calls a server. “Three tequila sodas.” Another man comes over to us from the other side of the bar and Mitch hands him one of the drinks. “Ian, I want you to meet Gavin Scott, our top seller. Gavin, this is Ian Thompson.”
Ian Thompson is the youngest partner AngelBak has ever had. He’s thirty-five and has already backed three start-ups through their IPO. He literally has my dream job. Possibly my dream life. You can just tell by the way he carries himself that he doesn’t go home at night and stress about paying the rent. He probably owns. And he probably paid all cash.
“Great to meet you, Ian,” I say, shaking his hand. “I’m really fascinated by what you do at AngelBak.”
He responds with a raised brow and not much else, so I continue. “I sort of fell into sales after college. But talking to so many different companies each day, I’m always thinking about what makes them successful, or what might make them fail. Especially when I look at their growth trajectories and?—”
“Truly. He won’t shut up about it,” Mitch says. “The kid’s gonna be working for you one day, as much as I’d love to convince him to stay. Pulled in ten million this year.”
Mitch claps me on the back and walks away, seeing someone who’s apparently more interesting than me or Ian.
“So, you’re looking for a job?” Ian asks, his voice tinged in mockery.
“No? Sorry if it came off that way. I really just find it interesting. I’d love to work for a VC firm one day, but I’m happy at Sizzl for now.”
“Where’d you go to school?” he asks.
“UC-Davis. With Daanesh, that’s how we know each other.” I smile, hoping my friendship with our CEO can make this conversation a bit less awkward.
“That’s how you got the job? You guys are buddies?”
“Umm, sort of. That’s how I got the interview at least. I’d say it’s worked out well though.” Did he not hear Mitch just mention the ten million dollars I closed this year?
Ian licks his teeth, his face overtly smug. Suddenly I want nothing to do with this conversation or this guy. There are plenty of firms around the Bay Area; I’ll have to pick a different one to strive for.
My eyes snag on Olivia for the zillionth time since I was dragged away. I’m going to blame her dress that keeps catching the light.
“What about grad school?” Ian says, surprising me.
“Oh, no grad school. I started working right after college.”
He smirks again. I’m really starting to hate this guy.
“You might wanna stick to sales with that background.”
Fuck this guy.
I hope by some miracle he plays rugby because I’d love to see him again on the field. Considering his firm is our largest investor, it might not be a good look if I punched him in the face right now.
Olivia’s dress catches my eye again. At least I have that conversation to look forward to when I can get away from Ian.
“Who’s the girl you keep looking at?” Ian asks, thankfully changing the subject.
“Olivia? She’s the newest member of our team, started a few months ago.”
“You sleeping with her?”
“What? No, why would you say that?”
“You want to sleep with her, then. I don’t blame you. Nice rack.” Now we’re both staring at her and I’m praying she doesn’t notice.
“Gav, come on. We’re getting a group pic,” Daanesh shouts over my shoulder. “Oh, hey Ian. Mind if I borrow this guy? Sort of a tradition for the original eight.”
I raise my glass as a farewell to Ian the Asshole and follow Daanesh to the area with a photobooth set up.
It is tradition. Every year since I started here, we all take a ridiculous photo together and then do a shot of Don Julio 1942. Though I would have left that conversation for some questionable moonshine.
“Ian’s great, right?” Daanesh asks after the second round of shots. “I really think he’s gonna take us to the next level.”
“Yeah, seems like he knows what he’s doing,” I murmur.
I realize it’s been at least ten minutes since I’ve spotted Olivia. My eyes drag through the space in search of something sparkly. They finally land on her tucked into a small table in a dark corner.
With Ian the Asshole.
She’s giggling.
And his hand is in her fucking hair.
Seething, I look back at Daanesh. “Any chance he plays rugby?”