As the clock counts down to one p.m., my mood shifts from bad to worse. The thought of being in a room with Theo Rojas makes my stomach churn. Add all three of my bosses to it, and I’m filled with a cold, sweaty dread. I can’t even see Hadley for lunch because she’s at an ultrasound appointment today. Instead of getting some Zen time, I stay at my desk, picking away at my salad, even though I’m not hungry.
At twenty to one, I remind Kat about the name tags, gather my laptop, a pad of paper, and a few pencils, and rush out to find a golf cart. I arrive in the Conch Conference Room with ten minutes to spare, which I use to remove unneeded chairs from around the large table and greet the guest services cart when it arrives with the refreshments I ordered. Platters of pastries and fruit are set out on the table, along with small plates, cutlery, and napkins. Coffee, tea, water, and juices are left on the cart, which I push up against the wall. I quickly write the names of each item on small tent cards and prop them up on the table in front of the corresponding drink. Then I rethink the water label, deciding it’s pretty obvious, scrunch it up, and toss it in the bin.
At two minutes to one, all the other participants arrive together, chatting away like old friends while I stand near the table, trying not to sweat. Markos and Harrison are dressed in chinos and golf shirts, while Libby and Rosy are in light dresses. Carolina Armas, however, is in a power suit with a short skirt that shows off her long legs. Vincent St. Pierre has paired khaki shorts with a white linen shirt and a dramatic orange scarf hanging loosely down his chest. His jet-black hair is in full pompadour-mode today and the expression he’s wearing makes me wonder how much coke has gone up his nose since he woke up. Theo, on the other hand, looks calm, cool, and collected in—surprise, surprise—a light grey suit and blue tie, which I cannot imagine stuffing myself into on such a hot day.
“Hi, Nora. Thanks for setting this up,” Harrison says with a bright smile. “I haven’t had lunch yet so this will hit the spot.”
“I thought that might be the case for a few people here, so I went ahead and ordered.”See how detail-oriented I am when it comes to the comfort of others?My gaze sweeps across the room and I announce, “Welcome, everyone. Please help yourselves to some refreshments, and we’ll get started as soon as everyone is settled.”
I risk a glance at Theo Rojas, who seems slightly taken aback by me playing the host when he’s the one who called the meeting.Well, get used to it, buddy, because that’s my job.
I remain standing while the group mills around for a few minutes, filling their plates and getting drinks. Vincent moves as though tethered to Carolina, not getting more than three feet from her at any given moment.
While I’m busy observing people, I can’t help but notice my body heating up when Theo is nearby, but it’s not because he’s hot. It’s because his insults tap dance their way across my brain yet again.Ignore him, Nora. Just ignore him. He’ll be gone soon, and you’ll never have to see him again.
Oh great, here he comes.
“How is your week going, Ms. Cooper?” He comes to stand in front of me with a cup of coffee on a saucer that looks comically small in his large hand. “You must be run off your feet getting everything prepared.”
Huh, that was sort of nice. Or is it? Maybe that’s his way of suggesting I’m in over my head. Nice try, creep. “Yes, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I’m sure,” he says with a small nod.
Rosy appears next to me. “How are the plans for the mixer coming?”
“Great, really great,” I tell her with a confident smile. “I’ve got comprehensive to-do lists, I’ve been in constant contact with all the major players, and I have a schedule that will have everything set to go by the time it kicks off.”
“Excellent work,” she says, looking me up and down.
Please don’t say anything about my new clothes. Not in front of Theo. “Are you planning to attend, Rosy?”
Her head snaps back as if I’ve just asked her to come over to my place and scrub the toilet with her toothbrush. “No way. It’s going to beoutside.”
“I take it you’re not a fan of the great outdoors?” Theo, king of the obvious, asks.
“Why would I want to be outside when I could be somewhere bug-free and climate controlled?”
Libby decides to join our little group at that moment. She’s Harrison’s most lovely wife. Total professional. She manages the books and has been instrumental in safeguarding the resort’s future through some rough times. Tucking her curly red hair behind her shoulder, she looks me up and down like Rosy did a minute ago. “Nora, I’ve been meaning to compliment you on your wardrobe this week. You look so chic.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Rosy tells her, then turns to me. “Did you go on a shopping spree or something? The last few days, you’ve shown up in such nice outfits.”
Why does he have to be standing here for that? Why? Now he’s going to know his jackass-y comments got to me. Which they totally did, but I seriously do not need him to be aware of that.My cheeks flame at her words. “Shopping spree?” I cry as if it’s the craziest thing anyone has ever asked anyone in the history of polite conversation. “Nope, never… not really… just… clothes.”
Narrowing her eyes, Libby asks, “Are you all right?”
“Yup, great. I’m just so occupied with work that what I’m wearing is completely off my radar,” I say, feeling the heat of smug judgment from his gaze. Or maybe I only imagine I do. Without daring to look at him, I clear my throat and raise my voice. “Shall we get started?”
Murmurs of agreement fill the room, and everyone chooses a seat. I’m careful to sit on the same side of the table as Theo, only at the opposite end from him so it’ll be much easier to avoid eye contact.
The attention of the people in the room naturally falls to him, and I’m not entirely sure if it’s because he’s the one who asked for the meeting, which would be logical, or if it’s because they’re all falling victim to the idea that he’s the centre of the universe, which would be likely, given the man in question.
Theo glances around at everyone with an easy smile (i.e., lulls all the lambs into a false sense of security before the slaughter), then speaks. “First, I’d like to thank the resort staff for making us feel so welcome. I’ve had a few days to get settled, and I’m impressed with the high level of hospitality and amenities at the resort. Rojas is late to the party, as far as these competitions go, but we’re thrilled to be here and are optimistic that Carolina’s team picked the best location for the event.”
I sit, pen poised over my pad of paper, awaiting instructions while he blathers on, buttering everyone up.Well, it won’t work on me, Theo Rojas. I’m onto you.
He continues. “Having said all that, we’d be wise to put some safeguards in place to make sure we don’t find ourselves embroiled in a scandal.”
“You definitely don’t need that,” Rosy says under her breath.
