“I’m good at pretending.”
“It doesn’t feel like pretending to me.”
She meets my eyes directly. “Doesn’t it?”
Before I can answer, a woman’s voice interrupts.
“Daniel, darling. Is this your new friend?”
I turn to identify the speaker. It’s Mrs. Patricia Whitmore. She comes from old money and manages a massive portfolio. She’s also the wife of one of my largest investors.
And a notorious snob.
“Patricia. Yes, this is Bailey Rodgers. Bailey, this is Patricia Whitmore.”
Patricia’s eyes rake over Bailey from head to toe.
“Rodgers. That’s not a name I recognize from anywhere.”
“It’s fairly common,” Bailey says evenly.
“I meant from the social register.”
“I’m not in the social register.”
“That much is clear.” Patricia’s smile is faker than her teeth. “What is it you do, dear? Before Daniel scooped you up, I mean.”
I feel Bailey tense beside me. I should step in, but maybe not yet. They need to see that she can hold her own.
“I’m a graphic designer,” Bailey says. Her voice is steady, but I can hear the edge underneath it.
“How quaint. You make logos and things like that?”
“Among other projects, yes.”
“Well. That’s very practical, isn’t it? Not everyone can afford to be useless.” Patricia laughs at her own joke. “Though I suppose you won’t need to work now that you’ve caught Daniel’s attention.”
I finally find my voice. “Bailey is the lead designer at my company. She’s incredibly talented.”
“Of course she is.” Patricia’s tone suggests she believes the complete opposite. “How fortunate for her that you’re so generous with opportunities.”
The implication is crystal clear. Bailey got her job because of me. I open my mouth to correct her. I’m ready to defend Bailey and make it clear that she earned her position on merit alone, but Patricia has already turned away and is calling to someone else across the room.
I turn back to Bailey immediately.
She’s smiling at me, but it’s brittle, bright, and fake.
Her eyes tell the real story. They’re wounded.
“Bailey—”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. She was completely out of line.”
“She’s an investor’s wife. You can’t afford to alienate her.”
“I don’t care about alienating anyone who speaks to you that way.”
