Chapter 24
Grizzly
Moseley had rearranged the conference table three times.
I knew this because I had walked past the glass wall of the space three times in a half hour span.
Each time there was some slight difference to the arrangement.
Whether it be the chairs or the mobile refreshment stand, he’d done multiple maneuvers, like he was a realtor trying to stage a home or something.
He’d also, at some point, changed his shirt. I hadn’t commented on any of this. Some things were better handled without acknowledgment. Moseley's feelings about Auden Keyes fell firmly into that category.
I had known since the first time Moseley mentioned Auden in professional context.
At first it had been legitimate. Auden was a midsize agency agent out of Atlanta who represented a handful of clients with some overlap in our circles.
They’d been a great suggestion when I thought about bringing someone else on to help with clients.
But the talk of Auden continued past the point of necessity.
Moseley had started referencing things Auden had said in ways that suggested he had read the emails more than once.
He had asked me a week ago whether I thought it would be appropriate to follow Auden's professional social media account. I knew what was actually being asked.
Rather than tease him about it, I figured I could let things play out. I already knew Auden planned on making a trip to Bellport. Once I told Moseley, I was sure there would be even more panic though.
He had said right, yeah, totally, obviously in a tone I suspected meant he’d be following said pages the minute he was out of sight. It was rare for my intern to keep his cool for long.
The in-person meeting had been Auden's idea, framed as a business development opportunity, which it was. Part of me wondered if they somehow knew about Moseley’s crush. Maybe an interaction had tipped them off?
Either way, the time had come for all of us to be in a room together. This would be interesting.
"The table looks fine," I said, sticking my head through the open doorway.
"I was just checking the views."
"From where?"
"From… from Auden's seat. To the whiteboard." His words were mumbled, as if an afterthought than a true plan.
"We're not using the whiteboard."
"Riiiight." He looked at the table. "Do you think the chairs are too formal?"
"Moseley."
"Yeah?"
"Auden is coming here to discuss whether there's a collaboration structure that makes sense for both agencies. That is what this meeting is. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
He nodded several times. "Totally."
"Good."
"Should I have gotten flowers?"
I shook my head and walked back to my office.
Auden Keyes arrived fifteen minutes early. It was a great way to start things.
Early arrivals in the industry came in two varieties: the anxious, who needed to orient before the meeting started, and the strategic, who arrived early to see how the other party behaved before the formalities began.
The way Auden came through the door made me question my opinions. They were unhurried, each step a steady flow from head to toe. They had close-cropped natural hair and wore a linen blazer paired with billowing wide leg pants. It was a showstopper of an outfit.
Cheyenne stood from her desk and extended a hand. "Auden. Welcome. I'm Cheyenne."
"Cheyenne." Auden shook it and smiled. "I've been on the other end of your correspondence. You are extremely efficient. I like that."
"I know. Can I get you anything? We have water, juice, and coffee." She practically beamed at the praise.
Well, crap. Were they both going to be drooling this whole time?
"Whatever Grizzly's having," Auden said, glancing toward me with a grin.
I raised the juice bottle in my hand. “Good ol’ OJ.”
Auden's mouth curved. "Juice it is."
Moseley had appeared from the back hallway at some point, his attempt at being casual that wasn't entirely convincing. Standing near his desk with his hands in his pockets, he looked more like an eager puppy waiting for a treat.
Auden turned to him.
Moseley squeaked out, "Hi."
"Hi," Auden said. They looked at him for a long moment. "Moseley."
"Um, yeah. That’s me. I’m Moseley.”
"Yes, I know. We've exchanged several emails as well."
"Right." He nodded. "I knew that."
Auden looked at him for one more beat, the corner of their mouth tipping up before they returned their attention to me. "Ready when you are."
I glanced at Cheyenne, who was looking at the ceiling as she fought back a laugh. Clearly the exchange had amused her as well. At least she was no longer thirsting over my potential new business partner.
"Conference room is this way."
I’d chosen to go with something less formal for my meeting with Auden. They were younger, part of a generation whose attention spans were shorter than the ones before them. I also suspected they appreciated people not wasting their time.
Just a vibe I picked up.
So it made sense to assess them while explaining the company and what I was looking for. “You’re one of the people I’ve found to be the better fit. It’s tricky planning to bring someone into this space. I’ve done it alone for so long. Having to share the decision-making is a tough pill to swallow.”
Auden was good. Sharp on the contract side of things, which I had expected from their reputation, and good with things I hadn’t already learned about them.
Their questions, the pace they moved at, the way they listened when I was talking rather than preparing their next point all made a big difference in my book.
I’d been in enough rooms with people who were waiting to talk to spot impatience a mile away.
Moseley took notes on his laptop while Cheyenne manned the phone lines. I’d originally considered having her in here, but I knew Moseley would be too curious to actually pay attention to the phones. If he wanted to know more about Auden, then I needed to give him a front row seat.
Surprisingly, Auden glanced at Moseley once, briefly, and then looked back at me. It appeared to be part acknowledgement, part curiosity.
We went back and forth talking about clients we had, projects we wanted to pursue, and how we thought we could blend the work. I was confident they were the one. My instinct said as much.
The only drawback was how much of a distraction they’d be for Moseley. He’d been looking at Auden for longer bursts, the notes on his laptop ignored. It was kind of adorable.
I had been that young once. I remembered what infatuation felt like.
We moved to lunch after my stomach let out an embarrassing growl. Auden had shaken their head, a grin in place like it was cute rather than unprofessional. I knew I’d turned beet red from the interaction.
“I’ve been feeling a bit peckish myself. Really, I should have mentioned something sooner. Let’s all grab a bite together. Maybe Cheyenne could come too?”
The four of us strode down to Bellport Eats, since Auden said they weren’t picky. It would be the best place to get a table quickly. Plus it would give them an idea of what Bellport was truly like—a midsize city that functioned more like a small town.
Multiple people greeted us along the way. Some by name, others with just a smile or hand in the air. Auden’s shoulders dropped with each step. Like they’d expected to find judgement or something and instead found acceptance.
The restaurant was busy as usual. We were pointed to a table in the middle of the chaos – perks of being a regular who tipped well. I looked to Auden to make sure they were fine with it. They shrugged indifferently.
Cheyenne became a mother hen the minute we sat down. I was across from her with Auden to my right and Moseley to my left. Our waitress dropped off waters, then sped away to help another customer.
Everyone took to looking at their menus, as was customary in a restaurant. For me, it was a touch more difficult given the small font. I knew it would be an issue from when I’d been here before with Daddy.
If he were here, I wouldn’t have any problems.
While I definitely wished he could be with us, I knew Daddy had a career of his own to attend to. Rather than pout about it, I made do with what I could decipher from the page. If nothing came in clearly, there was always the option of gumbo again.
I moved the menu slightly to use the left peripheral more. Better. I could manage it.
Auden was talking to Cheyenne, something about a client who had relocated to Atlanta for a season. Moseley was listening in, his face practically doing heart eyes. I kept my eyes on the menu even though I could barely read it.
I was about to put it down when I noticed Auden looking at me.
Not pointedly. Just… aware. Like they’d noticed I wasn’t really doing what I pretended to. They had the menu flat on the table in front of them, choice of meal decided.
"Good?" Auden asked when I sat my menu down too.
The waitress arrived right as I nodded. We went around the table sharing our orders. When it came my turn, I went with a burger, since I knew a diner like this would have one.
After a promise to get the food right out, we were left alone again. Cheyenne dove into conversation with Moseley, who reluctantly looked away from Auden to answer her.
Auden chuckled, leaning closer to me. “He’s adorable. I see why you’re doing so well. Your team is made of good people.”
“Thanks. I like to think the universe gifted them to me. Heaven knows I need them.” I paused, careful of my next words. “I could use your help too. If you really do think Bellport is a place you can live, then I believe a partnership would be good for us both.”
Their smile didn’t dim or shift in the slightest. But their eyes… well they practically came alive. I could see the relief in them. The change that told me my offer meant a lot.
“I believe the universe brought me here for a reason. Whether it be client related or not, I can tell Bellport is my next stop in life.”