Chapter 17 #2
I decide to just go with it. I’m not here to tell him all about my life.
I’m here for business, and I want to make sure it stays that way.
“My work pretty much is my life,” I admit.
“I know that sounds kind of lame, but I think it’s true what they say about doing something you love and it won’t feel like work. ”
He nods. “Absolutely. Great answer.”
I smile. “And you?”
“I’m the same way,” he says, continuing to nod like he’s excited about finding something in common between us. “There are no off hours when you do what I do.”
I wonder what he would have thought if I had a whole list of things I like to do when I’m not working.
Maybe I like to go camping, or ice skating, or maybe I run marathons.
I wonder if an answer like that would have been off-putting to him, or if he would have still nodded enthusiastically and said he likes to do the same exact thing.
We continue talking a while longer. Some of the topics stray from the reason we’re here—discussing the charity events he wants me to plan—but we always circle back to business.
I’m feeling good about this. The more that I think about it, the better an exclusive deal with ANY-Time sounds.
I could sign a contract for a couple of years, build up my portfolio, and decide from there if I want to continue on with Malcolm or find other clients.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Malcolm asks.
I peek at my phone to see what time it is. We’ve been here for almost two hours, but that’s not what catches my eye. It’s the long list of text messages from Tina filling up my screen.
“Oh. Yeah,” I say, distracted. “I guess it is pretty late. I better get home.”
I slip my phone into my bag and look back up at him. He smiles, but his brow is wrinkled. “Right,” he says. “Let’s meet up at my office next week. We can talk specifics then.”
I nod, agreeing. “I can get this,” I say, gesturing toward the empty glasses on our table. He’s had multiple martinis. I finished my margarita and switched to water a while ago.
He shakes his head. “It’s already on my tab. Don’t even worry about it.”
“Thank you.” I stand up, and so does he.
He smiles. “No. Thank you ,” he emphasizes. “It’s always a pleasure having drinks with a smart, beautiful woman.”
My ears burn. I feel this weird tingle come over my body, but it’s not the good kind of tingle.
It’s this eerie, anxious sensation like I’ve misread a signal.
I tell myself that he’s not hitting on me.
Of course he’s not. A guy like him wouldn’t be going for a lowly bottom-of-the-totem-pole event planner like me, even if I do own my own business now.
I’m not like Tina. My fashion choices don’t scream wealth and class like the women he probably likes.
We make it to the front door and step outside. The air is cool and damp.
“I’m this way,” he says, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb.
“I’m the other way,” I tell him. “It was great to see you again. I’m looking forward to our meeting next week.”
“I’ll text you the details,” he says.
I hold out my hand to shake his, but he pulls me in for another hug instead.
This time, his arms wrap around me a little tighter than when he greeted me on our way in.
He continues to hold onto me for a moment after I’ve let go.
When he releases me, I take a step back, angling myself toward the parking lot.
“Have a good night, Priscilla,” he says.
“Goodnight.” I turn and hurry back to my car. As soon as I’m alone, I let out a breath. I pull out my phone to catch up on all of my messages.
Tina
This isn’t going to get in the way of my thing, right?
I thought I gave you enough money that you wouldn’t have to worry about working for anyone else until you’re done with me.
Please answer.
Priss…
You’re making me nervous. Just answer me.
Priscillaaaaaaa…
I almost hope that you’re lying and you are on a date… haha.
I’m just kidding.
Sorry. Rereading my texts now and I’m totally acting like a bridezilla, aren’t I? Ugh please smack me next time you see me.
Just not on the face, ok? I just got my lashes done.
Ryan doesn’t believe me that you’re with that guy for “business.” I think he’s texting Oliver.
Just warning you so you can get your story straight.
As I’m reading her texts, a new one comes in, this time from Oliver. And then a couple more come in before I even have the chance to answer.
Oliver
Are you on a date?
Not that it would matter if you were. Since I’m not really your boyfriend.
But if we’re doing this whole fake-dating thing then we probably shouldn’t be seen in public with other people, right?
I groan. I ignore Tina for now, and only reply to Oliver.
Priscilla
No. Business meeting with Malcolm Ridges.
Oliver
Wow, I’m dumb. You told me about that last night. I didn’t realize it was today. Sorry!
Priscilla
It’s ok. No need for you to be jealous.
I smirk, staring at my phone. I watch the three little dots pop up as he types a message. I wait for him to get defensive and tell me that he isn’t jealous, but the three dots go away without a new message popping up. Another one comes in from Tina instead.
Tina
Never mind. Oliver backed up your story.
Priscilla
Told you.
What were you doing there anyway? Are you too good for the dive bars we used to go to?
Tina
Business meeting.
Priscilla
With Ryan?
This time, Tina doesn’t answer. I’m about to leave the parking lot when she knocks on my window, startling me. I start to roll down the window, but she runs around to the other side of my car. She lets herself into the passenger seat.
“What are you doing?” I ask. “Where’s Ryan?”
“I told him I would catch a ride home with you.” She buckles her seatbelt, then turns to look at me, smiling expectantly.
“I guess that’s fine.” I put my car in gear and pull out of my parking spot.
“Oliver said that was Malcolm Ridges you were with.”
I nod. “Yeah, we were talking about?—”
“What the hell, Priss?” she interrupts. “Didn’t he get you fired? Why are you even giving him the time of day?”
“It turns out I was wrong. Delmar lied.”
“What about my proposal?” she asks. “You’re not going to let Malcolm’s things get in the way of that, are you?”
“Of course not.” I gesture to my phone. “But what’s with all those texts, Tina? Promise me you’re not about to become a bridezilla. You’re not even engaged yet.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry,” she says. “I just got nervous.”
“I can handle multiple projects at once,” I assure her. “I did it all the time working for Delmar, and I never screwed anything up except for when I believed him that Malcolm wanted that badly reviewed caterer for his event.”
“Okay.” She bites her lip. “But how are you doing with booking everything? What about the flash mob? You haven’t told me anything in a while.”
“You have no reason to worry,” I tell her. “I have all the dancers we need. We’re meeting at Lana’s studio for the first practice on Tuesday.”
Her eyes light up. “Tuesday? Can I come?”
I hesitate. Oliver and all of his band students will be there. I can’t exactly say no to her, but I’m not sure how to make this work.
“Are you sure? Don’t you want it to be a surprise?”
She laughs. “A surprise for Ryan. Not for me. I need to know how every little thing is going to go so that I can propose to him at just the right time.”
“Right. Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I guess I was hoping it would be a little easier to keep the whole thing a surprise for Tina. If she wants to be more involved, it will require some more careful planning on my part.
I pull my car up to her neighborhood’s front gate, then lean out the window to punch in the gate code.
“So?” she says as I drive down the block. “What time on Tuesday?”
I park in front of her house. “Five thirty.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”