Chapter 8
Marley
I grabbed my ringing phone from the counter and saw my assistant, Tami, was calling.
“Hey, Tam.”
“Ugh, Marley. I’m so sorry to do this, but I can’t work tomorrow.” Her voice sounded horrible.
“Tami, what’s wrong?” I asked in a panic.
“I just got back from Urgent Care, and I have strep throat. I’m so sorry. Will you be able to find someone to help you?”
I glanced at the couch where Olivia and Penelope sat watching Sex And The City.
“Yeah, I’ll get someone. Feel better.”
“Thanks, Marley. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be. You take care of yourself.”
Walking over to the couch, I squeezed in between my two best friends and hooked my arms around their necks.
“So, which one of you is helping me with the party tomorrow?”
“What happened to Tami?” Penelope asked.
“She just called. She has strep throat.”
“Oh hell no,” Olivia said. “You know me and kids don’t mix.”
“Well, I have that baby shower I HAVE to go to for my cousin, Thea. You know I can’t miss it, or my mom will kill me,” Penelope said.
“Looks like it’s you.” I smiled, kissing the side of Olivia’s head.
“I’m putting it out there now. I am in no way responsible for what I may say or do in front of those kids.”
“You’ll have fun.” I grinned. “It’s a ballerina party.”
Olivia stuck her finger down her throat and acted like she was going to vomit.
The following morning, Olivia and I loaded the boxes for the candy table in my car.
“Is this it?” she asked as we put in the last box.
“Yeah. Everything else is already arranged.” I glanced at my watch. “We have to leave now. I don’t want to be late and have Mrs. Lake up my ass. Her anxiety is through the roof as it is.”
We climbed into my car and drove to Brooklyn, arriving at the Lake’s townhome with five minutes to spare.
“Are you still thinking about Charlie McBillionaire?” Olivia asked, pulling a box from the back of the car.
“No. And I never was thinking about him,” I lied.
“Yeah, right.” She laughed. “He lives around the block from us. Walk over and say hi.”
“No. What is wrong with you?” My brows furrowed.
The front door flew open, and Mrs. Lake ran down the steps.
“Marley, thank God you’re here. We have a problem.”
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Lake?”
“The floral arrangements are all wrong!”
“Impossible. I saw them yesterday. Miguel did an excellent job.”
“No. Hurry up and get inside, and I’ll show you.” She flew up the concrete steps.
“I have no idea how you put up with these people.” Olivia shook her head.
Stepping into the monstrous townhome, I set the box down and walked over to the table where the centerpieces were sitting.
“Mrs. Lake, they’re beautiful.”
“Marley, they’re all wrong. I wanted a white ribbon around the tutus, not pink!”
Was she serious?
Taking my phone from my purse, I pulled up the notes I had taken.
“Mrs. Lake, you said you wanted pink ribbon.” I held my phone up.
“Why would I want that? The white stands out more. You misheard me.”
“No. I did not mishear you.” I shook my head.
“You want my honest opinion?” Olivia walked over.
“I’m sorry. Who are you?” Mrs. Lake asked.
“I’m Olivia, Marley’s friend and assistant for today. The white ribbon would have taken away from the entire look of the centerpiece.” Olivia looked around and grabbed one of the balloons with a white ribbon string. She wrapped the ribbon around the centerpiece. “See, when you look at the centerpiece, the only thing your eyes focus on is the white ribbon. You don’t want that, Mrs. Lake. You want your guests to focus on the beautiful roses and the cute little tutus.”
“Oh. I suppose you’re right.”
“That’s why you said pink ribbon because you already knew that. You just forgot,” Olivia said.
“Then I guess we don’t have an issue.” Mrs. Lake smiled at me. “I’ll let you ladies get things set up while I finish getting ready.”
“Thanks.” I glanced at Olivia.
“That woman needs a Xanax. Let’s get the rest of the boxes from the car.”
The entire party was ballerina-themed. Mrs. Lake’s five-year-old daughter, Sadie, loved ballet, so all the little girls who attended the party had to dress in ballet costumes. She even sent me to the New York City Ballet Company to hire three ballerinas to perform.
“This is way too much pink,” Olivia whispered in my ear. “It’s like a pink unicorn threw up all over the place.”
“Stop it.” I laughed.
All of Mrs. Lake’s guests started to arrive, and the competition between the mothers began. Fifteen little girls ran into the home, dressed in their finest and most expensive ballet costumes and shoes. Their hair was pulled up in a bun, and their makeup was exaggerated.
“Good God. I need a drink,” Olivia said.
“We don’t drink at our client’s parties.”
“She’s not my client.” Olivia walked away.
I went into the kitchen to make sure the catering staff was on top of everything. When I walked out, I froze, my heart racing, when I saw Charlie standing there.
“Marley?” His brows furrowed.
“Hey, Charlie. What are you doing here?”
“Uh, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Mrs. Lake is my client.”
“Client? What do you mean?”
“Ah, Charlie.” Mrs. Lake walked over. “I see you’ve met my event planner, Marley. Didn’t she do an outstanding job?”
“Thanks, Mrs. Lake.” I smiled.
“Event planner? I thought you were a barista?”
“Surprise.” A grin crossed my lips. “I’m an event planner.”
“You said you were a barista.” His brows furrowed.
“No. I never said that. You just assumed. I was only helping Penelope and Olivia out. They own the place.”
“I see.”
“Charlie McBillionaire. Fancy seeing you here.” Olivia walked over with a drink in her hand and stared at me.
“Hello, Olivia.”
“Charlie, over here,” Mr. Lake called over to him.
“We’ll talk later,” he said, walking away.
“How weird is that?” Olivia said, sipping her drink.
“That he’s here?” I cocked my head.
“Yeah, and looking so damn fine, too.” A grin crossed her lips.
“Give me that.” I grabbed the drink from her hand and threw it down my throat.
As I ran around, ensuring the party was running smoothly, I couldn’t help but steal small glances at Charlie as he and Chase stood and talked to Mr. Lake. He caught me, and when he winked, I quickly looked away. He walked over, lightly took hold of my arm, and leaned in so his lips were close to my ear.
“I’m leaving now. I’ll see you tonight.”
My brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m taking you to dinner. Olivia gave me your phone number and address and told me you don’t have plans for tonight. So, you’re having dinner with me.”
“We had sex one time, Charlie. Why do you insist on making this weird?”
“Three times, Marley, and I like weird.” The corners of his mouth curved upward. “I’ll pick you up at seven.” He walked away.
“Wait!” I shouted.
“I’ll see you at seven.” He kept walking.
“What the hell did you do?” I walked over to Olivia, who was eating a piece of cake, and grabbed her arm.
“This cake is so good. And what are you talking about?”
“You gave Charlie our address and my phone number?” I asked, cocking my head.
“Oh, yeah. I did. You can thank me later.” She grinned.
“I don’t want to go out with him tonight, Olivia.”
“Yes, you do, Marley. If anyone is making things weird here, it’s you.” She pointed her fork at me. “What’s the big deal? Charlie McBillionaire wants to take you out. Go and have fun.”
“Will you stop calling him that?”
“No.” She tapped my nose.