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“Maybe this isn’t the right fit.” He retracts the sheet ofpaper.
I see the number slipping away.Shit. I want his business. It’s the next step I’ve seen for us formonths.
A figure emerging from the stairwell into the foyer beyond the glass wall has mefrowning.
“Would you excuse me,please.”
I head into the main office, pulling the conference room door behindme.
Ben’s determined expression softens when he sees me. “Delivery. Hold out yourarm.”
I do, and he clicks the bracelet around my wrist. I heave out a sigh. “How’d you findthis?”
“The waitress found it under the table after brunch. The restaurant called me because my name was on the reservation.” He looks past me. “How’s the pitchgoing?”
“He wants a spin doctor for his son’swedding.”
“You’re not takingit?”
“I want his resort business, not to play PR babysitter. But,” I relent. “It doesn't help that Lil told me she lost her scholarship today. I could use the extramoney.”
“I thought she crushed herexams.”
“Shedid.”
He brushes a piece of hair from myface.
I need to get back to the clients. “Thank you for this. You happened to have a spare hour to return itpersonally?”
“My assistant canceled two meetings so Icould.”
My chest tightens. I’m caught in his eyes when a throat clearing from behind us has meturning.
“Benjamin! I had no idea you knew each other.” Richard extends a hand, which Bentakes.
“Daisy and I went to school together. Met through a mutualfriend.”
“Congratulations on your award nomination,” Richardsays.
Of course Vane would know Ben and Xavier. They'd run in the samecircles.
Richard looks between us. “You make a striking couple. If I’d known you were a team, I wouldn’t have questioned my offer,Daisy.”
Ben starts to correct him, but I grab his wrist before he can speak, squeezinghard.
Because Vane's face lit up. In it, I see paying for my sister’s tuition now and landing his company on retainer later, which means the ability to take on more staff—plus maybe even interns, people a couple years older than Lil, graduating school with brains andambition.
I see the ability to grow my business and help morepeople.
“You caught us,” I say,smiling.
Ben recovers so fast, I’m left wondering if this was his plan all along. “I thought you didn’t want to tell anyone.” He brushes a hand down my barearm.
I’m going to eat so much shit for this later. “Well, since we both know Richard, I suppose it would be hard to keep it a secret forever. But just as the right publicity is important, so is the rightprivacy.”
Vane looks between us before offering a grin. “Camila said I should give you another chance, and it seems her intuition is right. I appreciate your discretion and I trust you understand what I require—what we require—of thisarrangement.”
“Of course. I’ll draw up an agreement immediately. If you could send the schedule of activities and contact information, plus any contracts with media or other partners, I’ll review those today and be prepared to moveforward.”
