Chapter Five
Dante
As the event drew near, I was very grateful I’d had the foresight to hire an assistant.
Rather…I’d had the good sense to follow Karma’s advice.
At the time, I’d thought it was just an offhand comment, as in, “I’d never be able to get anything done without my assistant,” but it rang so true, I couldn’t get it out of my head.
If I were to grow, I’d need help. Especially since the Animals job took up all my time, and until the event, I wouldn’t be able to take on any other contracts.
Not on my own. So I hired Andi, who had showed up before I had a chance to even place an ad, having heard “somewhere” that I might need help.
She had no experience in event planning but had been an executive assistant and was more organized than I’d ever be. A sponge for soaking up information and a real hit with the clients whether on the phone or in person. Plus, she’d handled the bakery situation.
This afternoon, she was meeting with a bridal party, while I visited Animals to go over final detail. Karma was long since back from San Diego, and I planned to check in with her while I was there, see if she’d come up with anything else she’d like us to do or any changes she might want.
Considering it was the biggest contract I’d taken on by far, I counted my blessings on what a great client Karma was and how helpful she’d been.
When I arrived and parked in the rear employee lot, she happened to be in the kitchen going over something with the chef.
But when the door clicked closed behind me, she turned around and gave me a bright smile.
“Just who I was hoping to see. I was telling Chef that we’re turning the kitchen over to the caterer the night of the event, and he was telling me that he would be here in case he’s needed. ”
Translation: He was not letting strangers into his beloved kitchen unsupervised.
“Oh, that’s great.” I approached the chef and held out my hand. “The caterer is very good. I’ve used them many times with no issues, but I always think it’s hard to be in an unfamiliar space. Or certainly easier if someone familiar with the area is present. Are you sure you don’t mind helping out?”
The chef, a cat shifter of some kind, went from tense and hissing to a pussycat. “You see, Karma, the event coordinator recognized the wisdom of my ideas. I can be of great help to the caterer.”
“And by that”—I shook his hand and slapped him on the shoulder—“You mean you will get to relax for once and watch others sweat. Your only reason for being here is to let people know where things are and that you are not going to let anyone leave a mess in your kitchen. Not to do extra work.”
I watched him for a moment, fingers mentally crossed. Would he go for it?
The chef gave a brisk nod.
“That’s right.” I released his hand. “Chef, can you give me a short tour?”
I caught a glimpse of Karma’s smile over the chef’s shoulder before he took me around and actually was very helpful before Karma and I went off into the club.
“Smart,” she said. “He’s very good at his job and makes sure the kitchen runs perfectly at all times.”
“Of course he’d be concerned if you don’t normally have caterers.” I studied the high ceiling on the main floor. “He isn’t upset that they are cooking?”
“No. I was a little surprised, too, but I didn’t think it would be helpful to have you try to supervise my staff, especially Chef. But he was insisting on being there, and I was a little afraid he’d interfere. You headed that right off. You’re good with people.”
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” A faint fragrance tickled my nose, and I looked around but saw nothing or nobody close enough for me to smell. Maybe some lingering cologne? “But, that said, show me where the silent auction is being set up? Is it near the buffet tables?”
Karma led me from place to place, pointing out how the parts of the event I was not handling—like the auction—intersected with those I was, and all through the tour, I kept smelling that tantalizing scent.
Did they pipe something in? I couldn’t tell, but Karma must be used to it because she didn’t say anything and for some reason I couldn’t explain, I didn’t want to talk about it.
“We will be closed to the public for the duration of the event,” she was saying, “so only those who have RSVP’d will be in attendance, but as you know, it’s still a lot of people.”
“I have the head count. It’s a large space but still…”
“I know. We are within fire department rules, but very close to the limit. Not that they come here, but if they ever do, we’d hate to have trouble. Way back when Warren opened the club, nobody besides bear shifters even knew they were here, but it’s really expanded.”
“You even allow dragons now,” I teased. “Troublemakers though we are.”
“Sometimes,” she said, “I think everyone can be a troublemaker in the right circumstances.”
We spent another half hour cruising around before Karma had other things to do, and I bid her goodbye and headed for the kitchen door.
As I unlocked my car, I saw a couple of people come out the door behind me and head past the parked cars to where a couple of benches perched on the edge of the cliff.
While I watched, they took off their clothes, laid them over the back of a bench, and took their feathers.
Eagles, they spread their wings and lifted off, soaring over the desert floor below.
I abandoned my car to walk over by the benches.
There were several outfits there, and a wolf trotting up a path that had been hidden from view until I got close enough.
It seemed Animals had a shifting area. Would it be safe for a dragon?
I’d have to ask Karma.