“Joy,” I grumble. My phone clicks, letting me know that another call is coming in.
“Don’t be such a Debbie Downer. You’re about to get one heck of a story.”
I blow out a breath. “No need to play cheerleader. I’m here, and I’ll do what I can.” The phone clicks again.
“You might have to get creative on how to spend time with Axel, so he’ll open up to you.”
“Next, you’ll be telling me to sprout wings and fly.”
“What was that? You cut out for a second.”
“It’s because another call’s coming in. I should let you go.”
“Keep me updated.”
“Will do.”
I answer the other call with a curt, “Hello.”
“Why haven’t you answered your phone?”
The accusatory tone raises the hairs on the back of my neck. “Who is this?”
“Bianca,” she spouts like she’s insulted that I asked. “I don’t know how Harmony runs her workforce, but when I call, I expect you to answer.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Irony drips from my voice. The more interactions I have with the highfalutin designer, the less I like her.
“How’s it going?”
“Fabulous. I’m on tree three of fourteen. I should be done by the New Year.”
“The party’s on Saturday, so speed it up.”
“It’s a joke.”
“It’s not funny. I put my neck on the line to get you into that position. I forgot to mention this earlier, but don’t you dare go anywhere in that house unless you’re taking care of what I hired you to do. I can’t afford to have my reputation tarnished.”
“Hired is a loose word. It’s not like you’re paying me.”
“You’re well aware of my arrangement with Harmony,” she says crisply. “I agreed to it on the condition that Axel never finds out who you really are.”
“That’s the idea.”
“I need you to get those lights on the trees, pronto. Zoe will stop by later this afternoon to assess the progress before she heads out of town. She wants this party to be perfect.”
“Great,” I mutter. Just what I need … to be scrutinized by Axel’s diva girlfriend.
“I expect you to be polite and respectful.”
“Got it.”
“I mean it,” Bianca growls, “Do you have any idea how many talented trainees would trade their mama’s sweet tea for an opportunity like this?”
“I get it. You’re doing me a favor.”
“Don’t blow it,” Bianca snips. “Clients like Zoe Reynolds, with her mega following on social media and famous boyfriend, don’t come along every day.”
“I understand.” I exhale sharply. “You know, you could speed things up by hiring a crew to finish putting lights on the trees.”
