Page 129 of Over the Limit

And that is the absolute icing on the cake.

“It’s going well,” I state above the music.

“It is. Tori’s fantastic,” he says as she converses with the audience from the stage on the far side of the room. “Most performers who give their time for free, typically cut corners. It does not seem that she’s done that.”

“From what I can tell, she hasn’t.” The audience laughs at something she’s said.

He studies me for a beat. “You did a great job, Blair. Incredible. You made us, our department, our cause . . . all of them look great. I see bright things in your future.”

I nod and wish desperately for a drink about now to give me the liquid courage to say the things I want to say to him. To stand up for myself when I haven’t been able to.

But the last thing I want to do is jinx this night. Jinx its success.

So I say a strangled, “Thank you,” and then make my way toward the backstage area.

I’m stopped by a staff member and asked a question. Flagged down by another driver to tell me I did a good job. Stopped and met the stare of Rossi and gave the same soft smile back after he mouths “Good job,” to me.

It feels like a full-circle moment, and I let it sink in.

“Blair?”

“Yes?” I look over to Kylie, one of the event assistants.

“We’re having the staff round up the drivers right now for their introductions. We’re telling them fifteen minutes.”

“Great. Thank you.”

“Tori is set up to call them up there. Just like we planned, they will each be handed envelopes with the top twenty contributors to tonight’s event. One by one, the drivers will read their names off and thank them for being so charitable. We’ve made sure that the cameras are set up to show the driver’s announcement as well as the donor in the crowd.”

“God, the camera aspect just complicates everything.”

“It does, but we’ve raked in so much more money this year because of it. I mean, triple from previous years.” Kylie grins. “That has to at least net us all a raise and an extra week of vacation,” she teases.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath.” I laugh. “But you do have my undying gratitude for all that you’ve done.”

“That has to be enough. I mean . . . maybe a hot driver will fall for me as I hand them the envelope.”

I snort and think of the peppermints sitting in my clutch right now. “Stranger things have happened.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Lachlan

“Your mother keeps staring at us,” I mutter to Zola who’s standing beside me. I meet Blair’s eyes and devour her with my stare.

“Does it matter?” she whispers.

“Carlos Bustos,” the emcee says on the stage beyond the curtain. The audience applauds as Carlos moves from stage left into the spotlight to highlight the sponsor inside his envelope.

“You have what you want—the contract you’re signing tomorrow. I have what I want—another night of reprieve from Baron,” she says. “And you’re about to get your heart broken this week when I break up with you.” She grins.

“Hughes Laurent,” the emcee calls out and Laurent moves toward the stage to another round of applause.

“I didn’t do this to gain favor for the contract, Zola. You know that. I did it because I was trying to help you.”

“I know.” She presses a kiss to my cheek. “And I’m forever grateful.”

“Excuse me a moment,” I say when I see Blair veer off into a small room off the side of the stage.