17. Piper
17
PIPER
“ Y ou know, back in my day, a bride exposing her shoulders was considered scandalous,” Nana Dee said with a conspiratorial glint in her eye.
We were standing in a quieter section of the massive room as the cocktail hour began, feeling the love swirling all around us. After the stressful prior day, we were all thrilled that the wedding itself had been a perfectly perfect dream of swoony romance. I’d done my bridesmaidly duties like a pro during the ceremony and the beginning of the reception, and I finally felt like I was off the clock and could enjoy the rest of the night.
Nana Dee and I had finally met, and I’d instantly felt like the woman was my long-lost grandmother. She was an elegant, white-haired stunner in a sparkly purple blazer and dress who loved to laugh as much as I did.
“Really?” I asked. “Scandalous? So you’re saying Chloe’s strapless gown would’ve raised some eyebrows.”
She nodded primly. “Yes indeed. And you’ll never guess what I wore to my wedding.”
“Um, a turtleneck?” I joked.
She threw her head back and downright chortled, the sound of her laughter lighting up the room. It wasn’t just a laugh—it was the kind of full-bodied joy that pulled you in, made you feel like you were in on a secret with her. “A turtleneck ! You’re a piece of work, you know that? No, I wore a strapless dress too, because scandal is my middle name!”
I laughed along with her, our connection natural and easy. She launched into the details of her wedding gown, describing the event with the kind of humor and grace that told me this woman had lived through and seen it all, yet managed to keep her spirit intact.
“What are you two gossiping about over here?” Vincent’s father Richard grinned his way over to us then touched his tumbler to our champagne flutes.
“Cheers, love,” Nana Dee said to him as they toasted. “Just chatting about the not-so-good old days, when women were judged for being fashion forward.”
“Then I’m completely out of my depth.” Richard turned to me with a laugh. “I just got back from playing a round of golf at Augusta National, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Piper. Have you ever played that course?”
I sighed, because I’d never been lucky or well-connected enough to play what just happened to be the second-best course in the country and home to the Masters Tournament. “I haven’t, but I’d love to someday.”
“Well then, I think we need to make that happen! What’s your handicap again?”
I didn’t even notice someone walking by close to where we were chatting until he turned and joined us.
I gulped. It was the last person I wanted to spend time with—Prentiss in a ridiculously preppy polka dot bow tie. I’d managed to avoid him during the ceremony and keep my distance during the photos afterward. I craned my neck to find my mom. She never stood up to Prentiss for me, but she could be counted on to steer him away from me to avoid a scene. Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be seen.
“Are we talking golf over here?” he asked, inching closer.
“We sure are! I just played Augusta National. You a golfer too?”
Richard was unaware that he’d just invited the enemy to join us. I had no choice but to introduce him.
“Everyone, this is my mom’s husband, Prentiss Mercer,” I said in a flat voice.
I didn’t bother mentioning Richard or Nana Dee’s names because I hoped he wouldn’t be staying long.
“I am a golfer, quite a good one, actually,” Prentiss answered. He pointed his drink toward me. “I taught this one everything she knows.”
“Oh, not really,” I corrected quickly, managing a fake smile. My stomach dropped; I knew exactly where the conversation was going, and I didn’t want to deal with it in front of an audience. “I started when I was like ten. You didn’t even meet my mom until I was fifteen.”
Prentiss smirked. “You think that duffing you did as a kid was actual practice?”
“Hey, hey, not so fast,” Richard said gently. “Starting young provides a strong foundation.”
“A foundation full of bad habits for me to come in and correct,” Prentiss cackled. “It’s what I’ve always done for her. Not that she listens. I have so much good advice for this one, and she blows me off constantly. Take her career choice, for example. She insists on photography of all things. That’s a hobby, not a job! All you have to do is point the camera and push the button.” Prentiss pulled his phone out of his pocket and pretended to take a picture. “Hey, look at me, I’m a photographer too! All that’s missing is the three-thousand-dollar camera. I keep telling her she’ll never amount to anything if she keeps chasing her crazy dreams. Have you heard about the ridiculous camera strap idea she seems to think she can make into a real business?” He shook his head, full of pity for me.
“Prentiss, is it?”
Vincent appeared out of nowhere, startling Prentiss enough to spill his drink. He loomed over the man, a full head taller. My heart swelled at how protective he looked.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Prentiss replied, annoyed.
“I’m Vincent Forde. Strange that we’ve never met after all these years,” he offered his hand. “Piper works with me at Summit Fragrances. She started as a photographer, and I loved her vision so much that I quickly promoted her to creative director. She’s an important member of our executive leadership team. Now, what were you saying about her needing your advice? Because maybe I need to listen in as well. I mean, all I do is run a billion-dollar company—I’m sure I could use some tips.”
I wanted to applaud Vincent, but I stayed neutral and watched the sparring continue.
Prentiss cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sure the tips I’ve given her over the years helped her get to where she is now. I’ve always been a guiding force in her life.”
“Guiding force, or know-it-all?” Nana Dee mused just quietly enough that we could all pretend we hadn’t heard her even though all of us definitely did.
“Listen, I’ve taught Piper everything she knows. If she’s successful in your company, it’s because I set her up to achieve it. Trust me, before I came into the picture, Piper was a whiny, spoiled brat.”
I ground my teeth together, just the way I used to when I was younger. I’d forgotten the way my jaw used to ache at the end of the day, back when I had to deal with him full-time.
Vincent stepped closer to him, and Prentiss leaned away like he was frightened. “I think you’re wrong about that. Piper is a self-starter with an eye and vision unlike anyone I’ve ever met. And she’s amazing with people, a skill that she couldn’t have learned from you because you’re sorely lacking in it. So rather than take credit for her success while you insult her at the same time, maybe take a hard look at all the tensions in your relationship with her over the years and realize she’s not the problem—you are.”
Prentiss started to sputter out a rebuttal but quickly realized he was outgunned. I not only had Vincent staring him down, but I also had the combined firepower of a very angry Nana Dee and Richard.
“Whatever. I need a refill,” he muttered and stalked away.
I finally felt like I could breathe once he was gone.
“You okay?” Richard asked, his brow furrowed over what he’d just witnessed.
I nodded and tried not to look as beat down as I felt.
“Honey…” Nana Dee reached out to take my hands. “Don’t let men like him get to you. You have so many gifts, and he can’t take credit for any of them!”
“Exactly,” Vincent said. He was staring at me, taking me in to make sure I wasn’t going to let Prentiss ruin the day. “I think we all agree that you’re exceptional, Piper. Bright, creative, dedicated…if that asshole doesn’t see it, then he’s blind and stupid.”
A stray tear slid down my cheek despite my attempts to choke down my emotions.
“Hey, hey,” Richard said soothingly. “We all know how special you are, Piper. And we’re going to be cheering you on as you keep winning. You can do anything you set your mind to, I’m sure of it!”
“Thank you,” I said softly. It sure felt good being on the receiving end of some fatherly praise.
“Agreed, and you know what’s next on Piper’s list?” Vincent asked.
“Securing some bacon-wrapped scallops?” I sniffled and mumbled.
I sort of wished he’d wrap his arm around me, but he was focused on something, or someone , across the room.
Vincent chuckled. “Close. Next up is making her biggest dream yet come true, with a little help from my friend.”
He pointed through the crowd, and I strained to see what he meant.
“It’s time to meet Mercedes.”
My heart stopped as I scanned the crowd to find her. “ What ? Now? She’s here?”
“Mercedes Horan?” Nana Dee asked. “I just read a piece about her in Time Magazine , she’s a force to be reckoned with!”
“She is indeed, and it’s time for this firecracker to meet that flame,” Vincent said. He finally focused on me. “Are you ready?”
“Oh no, absolutely not,” I backed away from him, shaking my head. “Right now? I’m a mess! And I’m not in the right headspace to pitch after all that bullshit. Oh my god, I’ve had three glasses of champagne! I’m wasted!”
“Piper,” he said with a patient smile. “Your first glass was five hours ago, and you’ve been snacking to soak it up—you’re perfectly coherent. Besides, you pitched the concept to me without preparation, so I know you can perform under pressure. This is exactly what you’ve been waiting for. You can do this. I believe in you.”
His words washed through me, giving me a badly needed dose of courage and confidence that made the sting of Prentiss’s cruel words disappear.
“You’re right,” I finally said, straightening my back. “This is the perfect moment, whether I like it or not. It’ll look casual.”
“Perfect moment for what?” Nana Dee asked as she glanced between us.
“We’ll tell you everything once we get our yes from Mercedes,” Vincent answered.
He reached out his hand, and I took it.
“Good luck, whatever it is,” Richard called after us. “We believe in you, Piper!”
Vincent leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You don’t need luck.”
He squeezed my hand and then let go to press it against my lower back, propelling me forward into the most important introduction of my life. The crowd parted, and there stood the woman I’d been stalking for years.
Mercedes Horan was a big personality in a tiny body. She must’ve created her persona to make up for her stature, because her voice rang out louder than anyone else’s in the vicinity, and her orange dress was as bright as a traffic cone.
“Well, look who it is,” she said as she spotted Vincent. “The creator of my signature scent! Vincent, so wonderful to see you.” She leaned in for cheek kisses.
Even from where I stood, I could feel her energy—and it was magnetic. Intense but charming.
“Always a pleasure, Mercedes. And which one is that?” Vincent asked.
“You mean you can’t smell it on me?” She held out her wrist dramatically. “Here.”
Vincent leaned in and closed his eyes as he inhaled it. “Ah, of course. That’s Belle Nuit . You wear it well.”
“I adore your fragrances. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!” Her eyes sparkled as she glanced at me, curiosity piqued.
“Well, if you want to hear about something exciting and new,” Vincent said, transitioning effortlessly, “this is the person you need to talk to.” He guided me forward, a hand gently resting at the small of my back. “Mercedes, this is my very talented colleague, Piper Doyle. She was instrumental in helping me secure an important ingredient for our next fragrance, and she happens to have incredible instincts when it comes to business.”
I held out my hand, trying to project a confidence I wasn’t sure I felt. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mercedes. I’ve been following your work for ages.”
Mercedes appraised me with a sharp eye, but there was something warm about her smile. Her gaze was calculating, but not unkind—a woman used to evaluating potential.
“And if I may be so bold,” Vincent continued, “I think the feeling is going to be mutual very soon.”
“Oh?” Mercedes raised an eyebrow at me. “Do tell.”
“Piper is a gifted photographer who noticed a hole in her market space and created a product to fill it. I’ll let her explain more.”
Every eye in the group shifted to me, and I swallowed down my fears, leaning back a little into Vincent’s hand. Darcy and I had practiced our pitch in our tiny family room a hundred times, but doing it solo in front of an audience with a tiny buzz was an unexpected twist.
Still. This was my moment—all I had to do was claim it.
“It all started at a wedding many years ago, when I was a newbie photographer,” I began.
Darcy and I had honed the project’s origin story to highlight the humor of what had been a stressful scenario of having to juggle cameras for a bridezilla and her momzilla. Thankfully, everyone laughed in all of the right spots. By the time I finished, Mercedes was beaming at me.
“May I see this product?”
My hands were shaking so badly I was worried I’d drop my phone, but I still managed to pull it out, navigating to my camera roll. I’d nailed the elevator pitch, and showing her what Strapped looked like was the equivalent of sliding into home. I scrolled to a photo of me wearing it and held out my phone to her.
“Huh. It’s even better than what I envisioned,” she said as she scrutinized the image. “This is Italian leather?”
I nodded. “We shopped the world and fell in love with it. We especially appreciate that it’s a women’s collective of crafters. We’re one hundred percent woman-powered.”
“As it should be. I like what I’m hearing, Piper.”
I held my breath as she stared at the photo, the long seconds feeling like an eternity. I stole a glance at Vincent, and he gave me a quick, reassuring wink.
“Obviously, this isn’t the place to get into numbers and projections, but I’d be interested in another conversation,” Mercedes finally said as she handed my phone back to me. “Let’s get something on the calendar with your partner. Call my office next week, and we’ll get it worked out.”
“Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Mercedes!”
I stood there frozen in place, staring at her grinning like a fool until Vincent finally intervened.
“We’re going to get refills,” he held up his empty tumbler. “Mercedes, I’ll see you at the next board meeting.”
They chit-chatted about the library which gave me some time to catch my breath and try to calm down.
I’d done it! I’d actually piqued Mercedes’s interest enough to get a coveted meeting! Darcy was going to die . As much as I wanted to run outside to call her, I forced myself to pretend to be cool. When we finally walked away, I felt like my face was going to crack in half from smiling.
“Way to go,” Vincent leaned down and whispered in my ear. “You knocked it out of the park.”
“Thanks to your setup.” I beamed up at him. “We make a damn good team.”
“We do indeed.”
At that moment, the band kicked off the dancing portion of the night. I knew for a fact that Vincent Forde didn’t dance, but tonight, while we were basking in my victory, I had a feeling I could make that happen as well.