20. Teamwork
Chapter 20
Teamwork
Lila
“So now that the decorations are ticked off, what are we working on next?” Cole asks, staring at the folder in his hands. I sit across from him watching as he studies my list with a pensive frown on his face. I always make a list just like this one when I’m working on a project, to make sure that I don’t miss out on any of the elements I’m including into the project.
“Well, I think we’ve already established that this gala has to stand out from anything Sue and I have done before. We pride ourselves on each one being unique—it’s our magical night where everything comes together in the best possible way. That means the best of everything, from the décor—”
“Checked,” he nods, ticking that off the list.
“Venue.”
“Double check,” he grins.
“Yes, we’ve got a stunning venue that I think will surpass everyone’s expectations. I think the food and drinks are pretty much figured out, but we’re going to have to come up with a signature drink. Something unique, memorable. Last year, we came up with this cocktail that seemed like a crazy idea in the beginning,” I chuckle, unable to help myself as the memory bubbles to the surface of my mind. It took a lot of tries before we found the perfect combination.
“In the end, it was a hit. Everyone’s still talking about it. This year Sue isn’t here, so I’m not sure—”
“We can do it,” he shrugs.
“What?” I ask.
“No reason we can’t do it. I’ve had my share of cocktails from the hundreds of parties I’ve been dragged to over the years. How hard can it be?”
“No offense, but it wasn’t just about making a cocktail. This has always been about a bonding moment between me and my best friend.”
“I get it, but there’ll be other times to bond with her. Right now, the most important thing is making sure that this event is everything you and Sue hope it will be. You want to give people a night they’ll never forget, just like you’ve done in the past, right?”
I nod slowly, staring at him quizzically.
“Then we’re going to pull out all the stops, and include every single tradition that you and Sue have started in these galas, including—”
“The signature cocktail,” I finish for him.
“That’s right.”
Trying out cocktails with Cole Matthews? That sounds like a dangerous idea. The last time Sue and I did this, we tried so many combinations that we eventually got drunk. This is more a girlfriend type of experience. The last thing I need is to act like Cole and I are on friendly terms. He and alcohol are two things I don’t even want to consider in the same sentence. Especially after that dream.
“Come on, Lila. You’re making this more complicated than it needs to be by overthinking.” Cole’s deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts. He leans back in his chair, brow arched as he watches me. “Look, we don’t have to figure it out right now. You can decide what you want to do later, and I’ll go along with whatever you want. It’s your call. I just want to make sure things turn out as good as Sue wants. She’s not just my best friend’s wife, but she’s also my friend.”
“Yeah, well, she’s been my friend for longer, so how about you let me worry about what my best friend wants!” I cringe a little at my sharp tone.
For some reason I’m even more irritated with him than usual.
He raises his hands up in mock surrender, leaning even further back into his chair.
“Maybe we should work on something else right now. Let’s see what’s the next item on the menu. Looks like music,” he says, as he scans through the list.
“About that,” I say, leaning forward now, elbows on the table and fingers clasped together in front of me. My excitement bubbles back to the surface. “It got me thinking back to Sue and Greg’s wedding. I’d booked this unknown, up and coming live band who turned out to be incredible! The melodies they had together were out of this world. It really felt like something magical was happening, like”— I pause, searching for the right words to convey how it made me feel.
“Like love was in the air all around us and if we reached out, maybe we could all snag a piece of it for ourselves, even just a sliver,” he finishes for me. “Something as pure as what Sue and Greg have has a way of giving hope. Personally, it reminded me that love was still a real thing, and just because mine hadn’t—” he pauses, clearing his throat sharply.
Just because yours hadn’t what?
I’m tempted to ask, but I can tell from the solemn expression on his face that he regrets that last sentence. Something about that expression tugs at me, and I remind myself that he is none of my business.
“You’re right, the band was great. I enjoyed the evening more because of their performance,” he said.
“Oh, so you did enjoy the evening after all,” I say.
“Lila, I—”
“Anyway,” I cut him off, bringing both of our focuses back to the work at hand. “As much as I would love to have them back, especially since I know how much Sue loved them. There’s a problem.”
“What is it?” Cole asks.
“Well, they’ve always been good, but now they’ve hit the big time. No way they’d perform for us.”
I watch as his eyes darken with curiosity. “Why don’t you let me worry about that?” he says.
“They only perform for influential people. Plus, even if they by some miracle agreed to come, we couldn’t afford them.”
“You’re forgetting something, Lila,” he says silkily.
“What’s that?” I respond.
“You’re forgetting that I’m on Forbes ’ billionaires list. I’ll make a few calls.”
Instead of being annoyed at his grandiose statement, I find myself intrigued by him. It didn’t come across as bragging, just a matter of fact.
I stare at him a moment longer. I’ve always thought of him as a self-centered jerk who only cared about himself. Yet here he is going out of his way to help Sue out with all this when he’s obviously a very busy man. Now, he’s going to get us this band, at what’s for sure going to be a great expense on his end, all without batting an eye.
I’m starting to wonder if maybe Sue is right, and there is something more to him.
“Can I ask you something?” I say, curiosity finally getting the better of me.
“Sure. Ask away.”
“Why are you doing this? You said yourself you’re on Forbes ’ billionaires list. You have multiple companies to run, yet you insist on personally planning this event with me, when you could have easily passed it on to your events team.”
An emotion I can’t quite place flickers across his face so quickly I wonder If I’ve actually seen it.
“I pride myself on knowing every part of my business,” he says, “and since the event planning division is a new addition, I thought it would be good for me to spend some time learning it.”
“Thank you for your help,” I say sincerely. “I guess we can wrap it up for today and—”
“Thank God,” he mutters under his breath, sighing heavily. I eye him sharply . “I’m starving.” He gives a boyish grin, and it never fails to make my stomach flutter.
“You should have told me. I would’ve—”
“No. I wanted you to finish.”
“Well, I’m finished now.”
“Good. Then you should come with me,” he says, watching me intently.
“To go have lunch? I’m not hungry.”
“We’ve been working on this for hours. We both could use a breather. Well, I could use some food, but some fresh air would be nice too.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I’ve got a lot to do, like—”
“Going back home to your office to continue slaving away on this project?” he asks.
How did he know that’s exactly what I was going to do?
“It’s just lunch, Lila. Besides, I’m going to need you to give me all the details about what you need from the band for their performance at the gala. I’m sure they’ll want a very detailed contract if they’ve gotten as big as you say,” he says, already getting out of his seat and adjusting his suit.
The decision is obviously already made for me.
“Fine, but I’m not staying long,” I mutter, trailing behind him and through the door he holds open for me.
It’s just lunch, Lila. Relax.