In the end, I set the phone down without replying. What is there to say? I’ll be there. I don’t have a choice—or rather, I mademy choice when I agreed to this favor instead of the ten separate ones.
Despite my exhaustion, I can’t freaking sleep. Rather than counting sheep or something equally mundane, I prepare for mine and Holston’s lunch meeting with Adam and Finn Kearney from North Coast Effects.
The event pyrotechnics company sounds intriguing. And even though it isn’t my usual kind of client, I’m excited to meet with them.
What I’m not excited about is being near Holston. I can’t help feeling like he sold me out to Matteo and I don’t appreciate that one fucking bit.
Chapter 12
Raven
By the time Holston and I stand outside Glasshouse the next day, the area is already brimming with people rushing to get to their lunch appointments. It’s so busy it almost makes me forget how much I dislike sharing oxygen with my boss these days.
He insisted we ride together, which meant twenty minutes of cheerful micromanagement about phrasing, tone, and body language. In turn, I spent the time mentally reminding myself why stabbing him wasn’t a good idea.
From the outside, the downtown place looks like a greenhouse had a baby with an art gallery.
“Perfect energy,” Holston murmurs as he straightens his tie and checks his reflection in the door. “Let’s be warm but decisive.”
I give him my crisp “Absolutely” and save the eye roll for my skull.
On any other day, I’d enjoy running point with him. Today it feels like standing beside someone I can’t quite trust and pretending nothing’s changed.
I used to relax when Holston was with me at client meetings. Now every smooth word rubs like sandpaper because I can’t stop replaying the way he set me up in his office and basically served me to Matteo on a silver platter.
Inside, the air is cool and lemon-clean. Cutlery clicks and conversation hums. The host recognizes Holston and smiles like we’re an exhibit. “Table for four. The Kearneys arrived a few minutes ago.”
One waves enthusiastically from their corner table, the lanky one with sandy hair that flops over his forehead. The other sits with perfect posture, barely glancing up from his tablet.
Sandy hair is Adam Kearney, the face of North Coast Effects according to their website. The other one is Finn, the technical mastermind. Game face on.
Adam stands as we approach, his smile wide and genuine. “I’m Adam. This is my brother, Finn. Thanks for meeting us for lunch.”
“Gentlemen,” Holston beams. “So good to finally meet in person.”
Finn rises a beat later, reaching out to shake our hands. His grip is brief and exact, like a man who thinks handshakes are a social tax he’s willing to pay.
“Please sit,” Adam says, gesturing at the table. Once we’re all seated, he flags a server. “Iced coffee for the table? And sparkling water?”
“Still for me,” Finn says.
“Sparkling’s fine,” I say, taking in the space.
The server nods and disappears. While we look over menus, the room hums with conversation and soft cutlery noise. A few minutes later, the drinks arrive. Iced coffee sweats down tall glasses, while water bottles are placed on crisp coasters.
“Are you ready to order?” the server asks, smiling so wide I’m sure his cheeks hurt.
“Yes,” Adam says. “We should order now. Otherwise, I’ll talk through the entire lunch and forget to eat. I’m a menace that way.”
Even though all three men try to make me order first, I manage to be the last. I don’t do it to be difficult, but rather because I’m having a hard time deciding. In the end, I settle on gnocchi.
The service is quick and quiet, like everything else about this place, and when the refills come, Adam’s mid-story about a client demo that went off early, his grin unapologetic. It’s easy to lose track of time with that kind of energy.
Holston leans in exactly the right amount, present without crowding. “Raven has told me great things about your company. You’ve built something special at North Coast Effects.”
Adam’s shoulders loosen. “Thank you. Of course, we like to think so,” he grins. “It’s been a family business since it launched many years ago. It used to be me and Pop, but within the last couple of years, Finn joined the ranks. Now it’s just the two of us.”
Am I imagining things, or did Adam flinch slightly when he mentioned his brother joining the team? I look at Holston, but he doesn’t seem to have noticed anything. It’s probably just me.
