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“If you ever get bored where are you working, please come see me. We fully approve of nepotism in the Line family. After all, what good is it to have a family business if you can’t hire your friends and relatives. By the way, Cal, I heard you were looking into acquiring a few ad agencies. Whatever happened to that?”
“I’m buying one and passed on the other. The client book was solid, but Trident said that there are a lot of underlying personnel issues. It’s having unusually high turnover. The clients will eventually leave, so there’s no need to buy it,” he answers.
These conversations are very different than the ones I have with Ariel. We talk about awful bosses, the changing menu at the local coffee shop, and how we love the new Dior purse but wouldn’t ever be able to buy it. These people talk about trading companies like you’d exchange gift cards. Despite the expensive dress, I don’t really fit in here.
“When do you think the wedding will be?” Aunt Gia interrupts.
“I was thinking next week,” Cal answers. Aunt Gia’s silverware drops onto her porcelain plate with a loud clatter.
“You can't be serious.”
“We haven't really discussed timing, but I'd like it sooner rather than later. We can always have a large party after the marriage license is filed.”
“There are so many details to take care of, lawyers to consult, for example,” Aunt Gia protests.
“Since I don't plan on divorcing Harlow, there’s no reason for one. You aren’t going to abandon me, are you?” He turns to me.
I shake my head because the only thing keeping me upright at this point is the possibility that he’s really into me. I want this to be true even if it’s the height of stupidity to believe in him.
“There. No divorces. Even if Harlow would want to get rid of me, it wouldn’t be possible. I’d stick to her like an annoying fly.”
“Flies only live twenty-four hours,” Karen supplies unhelpfully.
“I’m a magical fly. I regenerate every night.” He winks at me, and a semi-hysterical cackle escapes my mouth.
Cal’s playful expression turns to worry, and the small amount of soup I just ate threatens to come up next.
“Excuse me,” I croak. I get to my feet. Karen points toward a doorway, hopefully leading me to the bathroom and not the exit door. Or maybe I should just leave. I stand just outside the dining room; the murmur of voices, the tinkling of dishes, and the realization that I am batting outside of my league sets in. My phone pings. I pull the device from my pocket and read the message. It is accompanied by a photo of Mindy and a man, smiling into the camera.
Look who I ran into. Rick Fellows. He had an interesting story. He said he was almost hired to pretend to be some girl’s fiancé so the girl could get the board’s approval for the title transfer of an apartment she inherited from her grandma. And you know what? He thinks the apartment was at The Grand! I can’t wait to share this story with Gertie and the board.
My phone falls to the floor.
Chapter Sixteen
CAL
“I’m going to make sure that Harlow doesn’t get lost, Aunt Gia. I’ll be back shortly.”
“The food will be cold,” she scolds.
“Put our plates in a warming drawer,” I tell Nelson.
There is no one in the hallway. I jog down to the bathroom, but that too is empty. Nelson passes me on my way toward the dining room. I snag him. “Have you seen Harlow?”
“I’ve not. She said she was on her way to the restroom.”
“She’s not there.” At Nelson’s blank look, I shake my head. “Never mind.”
I ping her phone. She doesn’t answer. Damn it. I should have gotten her to allow me to track her location. I text Karen to let her know that I won’t be returning.
Harlow fell ill. I’m taking her home.
Aunt Gia is not going to like this.
Be a peach and smooth things over.
I pocket my phone and arrow toward the front door. She’s not the type to wander about the house, and if she was lost, someone would have notified Nelson. That means she left, and if she left, something bad must have happened.
