“Did you like Vice? Pretty swanky, huh?”
“Yeah. I got bumped to a penthouse suite.”
“No kidding? Your sister must have been over the moon.”
“It was really nice. We definitely, um, took advantage of all the amenities.”
“Wow.” Phil stood at her desk, slurping his coffee and smiling. “So, is it true what they say? What happens in Vegas and all that jazz?”
“You’re the head of the convention and visitor’s association. I’d assume you know all about that.”
He chuckled. “I’ve had my moments. Not anymore. The wife keeps me on a tight leash nowadays.”
“Now, now, Phil. Remember what I taught you? We don’t saythe wifeanymore. Pam has a name. It’s good to use it.” There may have been a slight sharpness in her tone, but she didn’t rein it in. Phil loved it when she talked this way. In fact, he’d told her one of the reasons he’d hired her was because she didn’t pull punches. He might be old school and it sometimes slipped out in conversation, but he appreciated her frankness.
“One of these days, I’ll learn, kid. And by then, they will have hung me out to dry. You’ll be running this show then.” He nodded toward her laptop. “What does your day look like?”
“Busy. I’ll be touching base with Leon Corcoran from the Shriners this morning to finalize details, and I have calls set up with the teachers’ federation and the auto convention folks.”
“Do you think you can squeeze in another little project?”
The lastlittle projectPhil gave her was a convention of seven thousand accountants. She fully expected the same this time. Not that she was complaining. She wanted to stay busy.
Busy was good.
Busy wouldn’t allow her to dwell on a certain pair of eyes and the disappointment she’d seen in them.
“Sure. Who’ve you got for me?”
“Last week, I met with the head of the Mystery Writers Association. I convinced them Vegas is where they need to be for their annual conference in two years’ time. I talked you up. They want you to handle all the details.”
“Great. Sounds exciting.”
“It’s the first time they’ve brought the conference to the Strip, so I want you to pull out all the stops. We need the best shows, the best restaurants, the best hotel.”
Best hotel. One stood head and shoulders above the rest.
“They want Vice.”
Her heart sank. “Oh, yeah? Vice is awesome, but maybe I should reach out to my contacts at the Bellagio or the Venetian. I have a solid relationship with those hotels. I know I can get a good price for them.”
“Really?” Phil made a face. “I thought you said you liked Vice.”
“I do. I just don’t have the same connection with the executive team there.”
Liar. She had a connection, all right. Just not the sort Phil would have condoned.
“Hmm. Well, I’m going to need you to establish that connection right away. They asked for Vice and I promised them Vice. Oh, and see if you can get them into that new club there. What’s it called again? Covet! That’s it. Get them into Covet. If anyone can pull it off, you can. I’ve sent you an email with the contact details for the mystery writers. And before you ask, no, her name isn’t Miss Marple.” Laughing at his own joke, Phil walked back to his own office. “I’ll be in meetings all day. Text if you need me.”
Dana sat in her chair and stared ahead. She’d known she’d have to contact the people at Vice sooner or later. It was the most sought-after hotel in Vegas.
It wasn’t as if she had to deal directly with Alex. He was the owner. He wouldn’t get involved with her convention. He had people to do that sort of thing for him.
Still, if she wanted to, she knew she could text him and tell him about the convention. She could keep it professional. No doubt, he’d respond in kind. After all, no hotel owner worth his salt would turn away that sort of business.
Professional.
Sure. She could see it now. They’d be all handshakes and small talk.
