Chapter 4 Create Design Concepts #2
If Javi heard him, he doesn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he says, “I hear you might be getting back into the wedding scene?” He raises an interested eyebrow. “Was that Tom McClintock’s son I passed on the way in?”
“It was,” Kami confirms. “Sam and his fiancée are our newest clients.”
“Weddings are my specialty.”
“Were,” Jordan reminds him. “When you worked at Elite Events.”
The corners of Javi’s mouth pinch.
Kami squeezes Jordan’s shoulder. “The McClintock wedding is Jordan’s project. Maybe you two can exchange ideas?”
“I’d love to,” Javi says, pointedly smirking at Jordan.
It takes everything for him not to react.
“We’re excited about Jordan’s plans for the happy couple’s big day,” Kami says.
Guilt gnaws at Jordan’s insides. He needs to tell her the truth. That he’s opting out of the McClintock wedding.
Just not with Javi present.
“Kami, can we—”
Kami’s phone buzzes in her dress pocket. A smile lights up her face when she looks at the screen. “One sec, Jordan,” she tells him before answering.
“Mama!”
Jordan can’t help the way his own mouth curls up at Mikah’s excited squeal on FaceTime. He adores Kami’s seven-year-old son.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Kami says, her voice fond but still completely professional. “I’m at work—”
“Suraj saw a bone sticking out of a body last night!”
“Mikah!” From off-screen, Jordan hears Suraj’s familiar voice. He’s in his second year of pediatric residency. “That was our little secret, remember?”
“He’s gonna show me how to do a splinter,” Mikah cheers.
“It’s a splint,” Suraj calls, then gasps, mortified. “Forget I said that, love!”
Jordan presses a hand over his mouth to stop a laugh from leaping out.
Kami pinches the bridge of her nose. She says, loud enough for anyone off-screen to hear: “We’ll talk about what Suraj is and isn’t going to teach you over summer break later, okay, Mikah?”
“Okay, Mama!”
“Now, sweetheart,” Kami says, patience thinning, “pass the phone to Suraj.”
On her way to the door, she mouths, I’ll be right back.
“Please don’t kill me,” Suraj begs tinnily over the speaker. “I only have one year of residency left.”
“Perfect timing,” Kami all but growls. “Then you’ll know exactly how to revive yourself after I—”
The door closes before she finishes.
Immediately, Javi pivots to face Jordan.
“So.” He leans against the conference room table. There’s something about his stance Jordan doesn’t like. He’s already too comfortable. “You’re the new Denz around here?”
“I’m the Jordan around here,” Jordan bites.
Javi stares expectantly, like he’s waiting for more.
Jordan hates that he obliges. “I’m highly qualified. My organizational skills are exceptional. As is my record with clients. Feel free to ask any of them.”
“Impressive,” Javi says dryly. “But weren’t you an assistant the last time I saw you? Working under Kami?”
A tightness moves from Jordan’s back molars down through his shoulders. “What’s your point?”
“Oh, nothing.” Javi waves a dismissive hand. “You’re obviously good. I doubt the CEO would promote someone who wasn’t. Unless…” he trails off.
Jordan doesn’t need him to finish the sentence. The implication is obnoxiously loud.
It’s not something Jordan hasn’t heard before. Or seen in people’s faces when they find out he’s related to the former owner of the company. The current one too. But Kenneth didn’t hire Jordan because he was family. Kami didn’t promote him because of it either.
Jordan earned his spot.
“You’re awfully interested in my career,” he observes.
Javi laughs. “Because we’re colleagues!”
Jordan doesn’t believe his answer.
“By the way.” Javi’s grin teeters on the edge of smug. It makes his face decidedly punchable. “Isn’t there an events manager position open?”
Jordan narrows his eyes. “Why?”
“Just curious. It was my old position.”
“At your old job.”
“You keep bringing that up,” Javi notes.
“Because it’s relevant information.”
“To you, maybe. I’m not the enemy.”
Jordan can’t tell.
Javi steps closer. “Listen, I’m here to learn from the best,” he begins, sincerity in his voice. “I want to help shape 24 Carter Gold into whatever Kami envisions. Sorry if it didn’t come across that way earlier.”
A beat passes.
Jordan’s eyes never stray from Javi. Like he’s a cat in a room full of breakable objects. He can’t be trusted.
“And I’m sure,” Javi goes on as he drops a careless hand on Jordan’s shoulder, “you’re capable of handling a big-name client like the McClintocks.”
Jordan is more than capable. If he was still planning on working with them. Which he’s not.
“With your experience, it should be no problem,” Javi adds. He flashes Jordan a winning smile. “But if not, I’d be happy to step in.”
“Is that so?”
Javi gives his shoulder a small squeeze. “A wedding like theirs would look amazing on my résumé.”
Jordan bites hard on the inside of his cheek.
“It would also make me a stand-out candidate for the events manager position.” Javi’s eyes gleam. “Don’t you think?”
Finally, Jordan shrugs his hand away.
Fuck no. He refuses to let this (nicely dressed) prick waltz into their company and take over a spot Jordan’s busted his ass for. He’s not working under Javi. He doesn’t even want to work with him.
Before he can get any of that out, the door pops open.
Kami’s head peeks in. “How’s everything going?”
Javi smiles brilliantly. “Phenomenal! Jordan was just—”
“Telling Javier,” Jordan interjects with a smirk, “that I can’t wait to get things rolling with the McClintocks.”
An eager grin tugs at the corners of Kami’s mouth.
“I’m picturing big things for the wedding,” Jordan carries on. “The cover of People. A four—no, five-page spread in Southern Bride. Even Oprah’s gonna have FOMO if she misses this event.”
Kami laughs. “Okay. Calm down, Jordan.”
But he can’t. His heart thrums like a luxury car engine. Adrenaline buzzes hotly in his system. It’s like a Carter family Monopoly night and he owns both Park Place and Boardwalk. It’s like being in double overtime during a basketball playoff.
His competitive drive has taken over.
There’s no way Jordan’s backing out now.
“I should go.” He swipes up his iPad.
“So soon?” Javi says with fake disappointment.
Jordan ignores him. He locks eyes with Kami. “I’ll have theme ideas and potential vendor options for you before end of day.”
In the doorway, Jordan beams widely for Javi.
“Sam and Amy’s wedding will be the biggest event Atlanta’s seen in a long time.”
On the way to his office, he feels a bead of sweat slide down his back. His hands shake at his sides. Did he really commit to this wedding?
Once inside, Jordan paces in circles. Usually this helps. Walking off the stress. Clearing his mind so he can focus on his goals.
After a fifth lap, he pauses. He steadies his breathing and smiles.
He’s fine. Everything is fine.
Because Jordan is a professional.
He was made for this.
How difficult can planning one life-changing wedding—and spending an entire summer with Jamie Peters—be?