Chapter Fifteen
“I got roped into helping organize,” Liam had said when Samuel answered the call the morning of the gala. “Speaking of which, we may need some hands. You up for it?”
Of course, the only answer for that was ‘yes.’
He’d been to the hotel and the ballroom before; it was a great location—high ceilings, sculpted walls—but now it was chaos. Tables and signs and people dropping things off, all signs of an impending event. And for the next few hours, Samuel found himself in the midst of that chaos, lifting and carrying all sorts of items from the arrival table to the requested locations until he needed a breather and a bottle of water.
As he took a swallow, he found himself with the odd realization that loading art for an auction taking place in the middle of a gala was oddly similar to loading in at an expo. Especially if the gala was a charity gala and the proceeds from it went to the charity organization being honored.
“We need some help over there,” Liam said. “Break time is over.”
Following where Liam was pointing, Samuel could see three guys were doing their best to maneuver a sculpture past an entrance. It was on a dolly cart and very, very, very unstable.
“They don’t just need help,” he managed. “They need a miracle.”
“And we—” Liam grinned as they headed across the room “—are their miracle.”
When they got there, one of the guys pushing the sculpture straightened up, stepped away from the dolly cart.
“Thank you, Liam, for saving the day,” said the one and only Isaac Lieberman in a tone that reminded Samuel exactly where he was and what he was doing. Hero worship went out the window, replaced with the understanding that he was help at that moment, as opposed to a random person.
“Well, totally not a problem,” Liam said, pointing a thumb in his direction. “My assistant and I are here to save the day.”
“And you are?”
“Samuel Levine,” he said.
“Oh right,” Isaac replied with a smile. “You made my ketubah, and the mezuzah.”
His brain stopped completely as he digested the information Isaac was giving him. “Uh…”
Liam said, “You are not only talented, but unaware of how talented you are. You’re also being mentored by me so I’m taking you to great places.”
“He knows what he’s doing,” Isaac said, approval in his tone, even as Samuel tried to keep himself tethered to the earth.
“These two,” Isaac continued, “are driving me nuts.”
“Over there?” Liam asked, in the tone of someone who was trying to get a hold of the situation.
Isaac nodded, and Samuel followed Isaac’s gesture only to see the two guys standing around the sculpture. One dark-haired guy and one lighter-haired one. “Abe,” he said pointing to the lighter-haired guy, “lift there maybe.”
“Got it,” the man said.
“That spot,” Isaac continued, having taken control so even Liam stepped back. “I think that’s sensitive, so Jacob you move over there.”
This time, the dark-haired guy nodded. “Steady hands win the race, huh?”
As they watched the two guys get into position, there was a moment where they were getting their hands into place.
“Don’t drop it,” Isaac said, shaking his head before he turned toward Liam. “Can you cover the back end?”
It took a bit to get them all situated; Isaac and his two friends, and Liam and Samuel, but they were just about ready to lift when another voice split the silence.
“I cannot believe,” said the voice he recognized but couldn’t quite place, “that one sculpture has this motley crew lifting it.”
“Are you going to jaw at us, Evan?” one of the guys (Jacob, was it?) said. “Or are you going to help lift this?”
Evan. Evan Lefkowitz?
Right. The guy he met at Leah’s cocktail party, who most likely would get a kick out of all of this.
But he couldn’t let his mind whirl at the possibilities because the sculpture needed to be lifted.
“On three,” Isaac said.
And when Isaac reached the count of three, Samuel lifted his part of the sculpture, holding his breath, doing his best to play his role in the movement.
Finally, they settled the sculpture and took a breath.
“Now I can say a proper hello. How are you, Samuel? I love the logo, by the way.”
“I’m glad to hear,” he said, feeling pride run around his chest. “I really enjoyed the process.”
“I also like the synergy with Bryce’s mask,” Evan said, “and if you haven’t seen it, make a point of stopping over there tonight.”
Samuel nodded. “I will.”
“Good,” Evan said. “It’s rare I get to do an event like this,” Evan continued. “Tzedakah Exchange does a lot of different things but usually with adults, usually focused on the arts as opposed to sports. Anyway, we need to talk more if that’s something if you’re interested in.”
He nodded. “I’d love to.”
“Okay,” Liam said, “my mentee and I have to get changed and settled. Then we’ll come down and enjoy the gala.”
“And wow,” Evan said with a laugh, “now I know I’ve been dismissed by my old soccer buddy. You better come down, Hernandez. I know where to find you.”
Liam smirked, and as Samuel followed him out of the room, he hoped he’d be able to manage the obligations of the evening without losing his mental facilities.
*
There were many different reasons Leah was very glad she hadn’t spent the money to hire a hairdresser or a makeup artist for the night. One of which was that she needed her cousins with her for support as she put on her armor.
She’d picked up the dress from the dress shop recommended by Shayna and it fit her like a glove. “Gorgeous,” Naomi said before wrapping a towel around her shoulders. “Now let me work my magic.”
As Naomi did her thing, finishing off the makeup, Leah thought about what the evening would be like: business, social, family and Samuel. She was now in a situation that mixed them more and more, tangling them in a web she hoped she’d be able to separate at some point.
Soon.
“You look gorgeous,” Naomi said with a flourish as she put the makeup brush down.
Leah knew how to put on makeup, but Naomi was more of a professional. “Thanks,” she said.
And as she headed toward the mirror, Leah took a long look at herself. Naomi’s artistry on her face was just…flawless. The dress was a pale pink and went down to her ankles, hugged her curves. Her hair was glossy, dark and gorgeous, courtesy of Liv, who was a queen with a straightener. “I love you guys,” she gushed.
“We love you more,” Naomi said. “You are going to shine. Who’s coming to get you?”
“Shayna and Ramona because Samuel is busy doing stuff.”
Which was when she heard the knock at the door.
“Go get him,” Naomi said.
“You’ve got your armor on,” Liv said. “He will not be able to withstand the gorgeousness. All you have to do is be vulnerable for a little. Let him see you.”
“This isn’t just date night,” she said, trying not to snort. “This is also work for me. My client is being honored,” she said as she gathered up her stuff. Put her wrap across her shoulders and grabbed her bag.
There was another knock at the door, and this time she could hear the giggles.
“I think,” she said with a laugh, “my ride is getting impatient.”
Liv opened the door, only to see Shayna and Ramona waiting. “Are you ready, Auntie Leah?” Ramona asked.
“I am,” she said. “Are you ready for tonight?”
And as they headed into the car and Shayna buckled Ramona into her car seat, Ramona talked about her dress and how her hockey team was going to help present the award to ‘Miss Carly.’
“Do you have a plan, Leah?” Shayna asked. “Or are you just going to wing it?”
“Plan? For?”
“Samuel.”
“Samuel’s not the only reason I’m going,” she said, reminding Shayna and herself. “Carly’s my client.”
“Which is true. Carly’s being honored.”
“By all Unicorns! The whole team. All of them,” Ramona said from the back of the car.
“Woow,” Leah said with a smile, exaggerating the word on purpose. “That’s wonderful. I’m excited for her and all of you. Do you have a speech to give?”
“No speech,” Ramona said. “I’m four.”
“No.” Shayna laughed. “You missed the event five years ago when your big brother Shim spoke at Asher’s opening banquet.”
“But unlike with Asher and my sister,” Leah replied, “it’s going to be interesting to see how I manage a date night with Samuel, who’s also got professional obligations, as well as act as a professional agent representing the firm along with Carly.”
“You’re going to do great,” Shayna said. “Ramona and I are here to support you, and you know that Judith and Asher will run any sort of interference, and anything else you might need.”
As they pulled up to the entrance, Leah wondered exactly how this was going to go, and hoped for the best.
And not a tangled web.