They all laugh, and I join in even though something inside me shrivels. The thing is, I know I’m not stupid. I can build complex IT systems. I’m knowledgeable in my field. I just don’t know much about company takeovers and stuff.
Thank god a server floats by with champagne. I grab a glass and take what might be considered an aggressive gulp. I feel it immediately joining forces with my anxiety.
I am not equipped to talk to these CEO types. I don’t know the language or the rules.
Every time one of them speaks, every casual reference to their world, I feel the gap between Patrick’s life and mine getting wider.
“What area of IT are you in?” Edward asks politely, in an accent so posh it makes the Queen sound common.
“Hotel management systems. Databases. That sort of thing.” In my head, I sound like I’m explaining my homework. “Nothing as complex as surgery.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s very complex,” Edward says. “I can barely navigate some of our NHS systems.”
“Georgie built something incredible that’s being used in the Skye hotel right now,” Jake announces, his big-brother pride making me cringe. “She was explaining it to me earlier but honestly, it went right over my head.”
“It’s really not that complicated,” I mumble, face burning.
Please, Jake, I’m begging you, stop talking.
I can’t look Patrick in the eye. I feel him watching me, and oh God, he probably thinks I’ve been bragging to Jake about IRIS, making myself sound important when he thinks Craig’s the mastermind behind everything.
The truth is, I’ve deliberately avoided discussing work with him. The last thing I want is to remind him that I’m his employee, and that there’s this massive professional chasm between us.
“The technical teams are so essential,” Liam says more kindly than I imagined a financial shark capable of. Though I suppose sharks need to seem friendly; otherwise, how would they get close enough to bite?
I nod enthusiastically, probably too enthusiastically.
“The hotel looks incredible, Patrick,” Liam continues. “The renovations were worth every penny.”
And they’re off.
Patrick launches into expansion plans and the Forbes accreditation process. Million-pound renovations like he’s choosing between paint samples. Proper CEO chat. They all nod knowingly while I stand there like someone’s brought their teenage daughter to work.
I clutch my champagne, trying to look like I understand why everyone’s nodding about “market positioning.”
Even Jake can contribute because they all think he’s entrepreneurial with his extreme sports company.
What’s my unique selling point here? Liam’s a finance shark who eats smaller companies for breakfast but seems to genuinely adore Gemma. Gemma is clearly brilliant—you don’t get to be Head of HR somewhere like Ashbury Thornton without being able to go toe-to-toe with people like Liam.
Next to her, I feel like a potato someone put in a dress. A potato someone tried to make fancy by adding parsley, but it’s still obviously a potato.
And Edward is literally saving lives when he’s not at Highland parties making small talk.
Can I honestly imagine fitting into this world? What on earth would I contribute to their conversations? “Hey, I debuggedsomething yesterday and only stress-ate three packets of biscuits”?
I take another sip of champagne, then another, trying to look thoughtfully engaged rather than completely lost. Maybe if I nod at the right moments, no one will notice I have nothing to add.
Then I see who is approaching, and my stomach drops through the floor. Can this get any fucking worse?
Maren glides over to the group, and ‘glides’ is the only word for it. She’s in a tartan mini dress that makes her legs look endless.
I find myself shifting slightly behind Jake as Patrick introduces everyone.
“This night is incredible, Patrick.” She beams at him, luminous and poised, tall enough that she meets his eyes without cocking her chin. I’d need a ladder to stand in the same line of sight. “You and your team really outdid yourselves.”
Patrick’s mouth quirks. “The team did the heavy lifting. I just signed the checks.”
“Don’t be modest.” She gives his arm a playful squeeze. “You wear a kilt well. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you in full Highland dress.”
