Chapter Twenty-Nine
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
NATALIE
H ere’s a Pepsi, friend. You look rough,” Kate lovingly said, handing me a bottle she snagged from the office fridge. “Did something happen with that photo from Monday? You sent it, right?”
I unscrewed the lid and took a quick drink. “Yes, and yes.”
“I’ll need a little more than that,” she pressed.
We walked out of the building and onto the grounds, taking in the hustle all around us, as everything was in full swing. Employees and guests would arrive within the hour. The sun was shining, and the final forecast even promised a cloudless night. I couldn’t imagine things working out better. Earlier in the day, I had sent the interns throughout the six floors of the company to gauge what the vibe was for the evening, and they came back reporting positive buzz heard all over. Victory smelled sweet.
Kate looked over at me and stopped. “What did you mean by yes and yes?”
Bending down to adjust the strap on my sandals I had worn to the wedding, I saw her foot tapping impatiently, garnering a laugh from me. “I can’t say yet. I promise I will tell you, but not until after this thing is over. Hey, do I really look that bad?” I asked, feeling my body tense up.
Deciding what to wear tonight had been on my mind for two weeks. I had torn my closet apart a few times, put Carlie through a FaceTime fashion show twice, and nearly given myself an ulcer. I settled on an emerald green maxi wrap dress with short sleeves and paired it with a thick gold belt. My hair had been French braided diagonally across the back of my head loosely and collected in a bun at my neck on the opposite side. I looked effortlessly fun and relaxed while also commanding the evening. I wore the same favorite gold leather earrings from my first date with Joel. As silly as it seemed, it made me feel he was a part of the evening, and I hoped they would bring me luck.
Before she could answer, the company photographer swung by and told us to take a few steps over, line up with the river behind us, relax, and smile. We obliged, and once he left, I tensed again, repeating, “Do I really look bad?”
“No! You look tired, but amazing. That dress! Jill always wears pant suits to this thing. You look like company royalty. I should have checked with you before I chose this.” She pointed to her classic fit ankle pants and sleeveless cashmere turtleneck. “My heels are going to kill my feet before the end of the night.”
“You look perfect,” I promised her, then tipped my head close like we were sharing a secret. “What do we think of him?”
Luca came strutting by in bright green skinny chinos, a white polo and thick navy-blue cardigan with a white anchor embroidered on it. He had slicked back his hair and trimmed his usually unruly beard. Expensive aviators perched on the top of his head. Without breaking his gait, he called out, “Reddington! Porter! I’m ready to get my drink on! You coming with?”
We shook our heads, and he kept going, high-fiving people in his path and leap-frogging over one of the interns who had squatted down to pick up their dropped wallet.
“We think he’s his grandfather’s favorite and not at all qualified for the job he was given, but we smile politely and put up with him because it keeps us employed,” Kate answered with a giggle. “He’s definitely not boring.”
“Not boring is right,” I agreed. “And I mean, I have to give him credit. He has been kind of helpful with all of this.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t humanize him. He’s still an arrogant rich boy who dates every woman in Portland and does as little as possible while driving us crazy. Okay, last question.” She bumped my hip. “Is this”—she waved her hand around my haggard face—“a result of good or bad?”
“Good. It’s all good. I’m on no sleep—literally was up all night—but it’s good.” I handed the Pepsi back to her and walked off to greet the first arriving board members before she could ask anything else.
Per tradition, the Bliss by Banks annual Employees Blissfully Give Back gala started in the late afternoon and went much too far into the night. It filled me with excitement at how well attended it was right off the bat and how everybody was raving about the changes. After a rainy start to the summer, the warmer weather had pulled people out in droves, and preliminary reports said we were on track to raise more than last year by nearly twenty percent.
Mr. Banks found me multiple times to introduce me to various city officials, big donors, board members, and an assortment of who’s who in Portland. He loved bringing together all the people he had met over four decades as CEO to his company’s events, but this was the first time he had made sure I got face time with all of them.
Excusing myself from a conversation, I checked my phone for the hundredth time, and saw it was nearly eight. Luca came up holding a gourmet corn dog in one hand and a frozen berry drink in the other. He looked like a school kid let loose at a carnival .
“Who are you waiting for?” he asked, sinking his teeth into his food.
I clicked off my phone and narrowed my eyes. “Nobody. Why?”
“You’ve been checking your phone an awful lot tonight, and I think it has to do with that guy,” he said.
My face heated at his accusation. “How do . . . wait, what?”
He let out a loud laugh that drew nearby stares. “You were going to say ‘How do you know?’ I knew it! All of you underestimate how much I pay attention. I pick up on things, I hear things, and I know there’s a guy. That’s cool. You’re a catch, Reddington.”
I wasn’t entirely sure if he was complimenting or patronizing me, but either way, the universe had sent him my way right when I needed him. “Luca, I need your help. I am not waiting for somebody, but I have somewhere I need to be.”
“Tonight?” His eyes lit up with playfulness. “Oooh, but this is your night, boss!”
He wasn’t wrong, but there was something much more important I had to do. “I need you to tell Kate to cover for me.”
Luca scanned the crowd like he was looking for Waldo. “She’s over by the raffle, tell her yourself. I need to go sign up for karaoke.” His eyes stayed on her, tracking her movements as she wandered over to a food cart. His lips turned up ever so slightly as she laughed with an intern while sampling a flavored lemonade.
“You sure you don’t want to do it?” I asked him, nudging his arm with mine.
His eyes snapped back to me. He knew he got caught watching her, but played it off as if he were going to be doing me a huge favor. “Okay, fine, Reddington. What do you need, exactly?”
“Tell Kate she’s in charge”—I slid my iPad under his arm—“and I need you to give the closing remarks for me. Wouldn’t that be unexpected and fun?”
He looked me up and down once, then clicked his heels together and threw a salute. “Aye, aye! My grandpa is not going to like that you gave me permission to have the mic.”
That drew a smirk as I swiped the untouched drink from his hand. “Don’t make me regret giving you some power. Talk to Kate—tell her I’ll call her later.” With that, I turned and beelined for my car.