Clara looked starstruck already. “You’re Ganymede Raye. Broadway director. Oh, my God, I’m a huge fan of your work.”
The woman smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. I’m a fan of your work as well.”
Clara’s jaw dropped and she swayed like she might faint. “Okay, this can’t be happening. Was there something in that cake pop? Are you a hallucination?”
Ganymede laughed. “I sure hope not.”
Clara narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you pay her to say that?”
“Don’t look at me,” I said.
“How has she seen my work?” Clara turned toward Ganymede again. “How have you seen my work?”
Kerri’s laugh was like the tinkle of bells. “I showed her the office we decorated. And some of your sketches. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“No, it’s just a shock.” Clara shook her head like she was trying to clear it still.
“I hear you’re looking for work doing set design?” Ganymede asked.
“I am.” Clara nodded nervously. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ganymede smiled. “Relax, kid. Your work is bold and big. I love it. I have something in the works right now, early stages, but if you’re interested, I’ll let you know when we start preproduction. Maybe you can help us figure out some designs.”
Clara shook her head, mouth open but no words coming out.
“I think she means yes,” I said, putting my hand on her back and rubbing.
That seemed to unfreeze her. “Yes, of course, yes. That’s a dream come true.”
“Great,” Ganymede said. “Hey, are you familiar with the Winter Garden theater?”
Clara nodded. “I sawPhantomthere once.”
“Well, I’ll send you two tickets to a show I’m doing there next week.”
We thanked her and Kerri profusely. Clara even managed to settle her nerves enough to talk shop with the director. While they did, Kerri shot me a proud smile, and I quietly thanked her too for doing something so nice for Clara. I had never seen her so happy, and warmth filled me, knowing I had a part in it, no matter how small.
“She’s a good girl,” Kerri told me, low enough that only I could hear. “You should lock that down.”
“I’ve certainly been thinking about it,” I said, my eyes on Clara.
Marriage had never been something I thought about much. But with Clara, I was starting to understand the appeal of spending your life with one person
CHAPTER 18
CLARA
Luke and I walked out of the ballroom and into the cold night air. It felt good on my flushed cheeks. Tonight had ended up being way more exciting than I ever could have anticipated. I felt like I was floating.
Luke smiled at me in the moonlight and I smiled back, feeling an intense affection for him. It wasn’t love but it was something like it. He had been so good to me through every step of this insane plan of his.
I knew I was helping him out with his career, but he had bought me all kinds of clothes, he introduced me to people who had already provided me with connections to build my future, and he brought me to enchanting galas like this one.
The spectacle of it all had been overwhelming from the moment we got out of the limo. The cameras. The crowds. The other glamorous couples. Being on Luke’s arm had felt so natural, and I kept forgetting it was an act.
The ballroom had been gorgeous, and it had inspired a dozen ideas for tweaks I could make to the office decorations. A few simple little touches that would make things pop more.
Then I had been blindsided by Ganymede Raye. She didn’t just talk to me. She knew who I was. She had seen my work andmy designs. And she liked them enough she wanted to work with me. If it was possible to explode from joy, I was definitely at risk of going nuclear.
