“Right. Like this campaign,Shut the Door. She pointed to the adjacent image of a storefront with an open door. “I love their work; I’ve seen it all over the city. Save energy by making those thoughtless stores running their heat and A/C shut their doors.”
They sang in unison, their voices lilting just like the ad’s jingle.
“You chose well.” Dex said, winking at Phoenix, one bushy brow taking a bow.
Phoenix read his friend’s intimation. Dex’s good humor reflected the two of them, their heads together, gazes locked, Phoenix laughing like he hadn’t since his dad had died. It hit him. He shouldn’t have agreed to be Orchid’s mentor. They should’ve stayed at arms’ length, especially after she’d been explicit about keeping their relationship professional. And he could never cross that line, not if he ever wanted to work with Lauder.
She gestured at the brochure. “Dex, shouldn’t everyShut the Dooraccount person in this room be petitioning to seal this place? Pointing out the wasted heat pouring out their open doors? Maybe their whole creative team should walk out in protest!”
“Damn, you’re onto something.” Dex regarded Orchid with what looked like renewed appreciation.
“Don’t get me started,” she said. “I’m like a lie detector for hypocrisy. Which doesn’t keep me out of trouble.”
“You’re perfect for Phoenix’s campaign,” Dex said. “You’ll be his human BS meter.”
Phoenix tried to catch Dex’s eye.Abort mission.
“Actually–” Phoenix began.
No one heard Phoenix over Dex’s booming voice. “Oh my god, I’ve got it. This is brilliance. Aren’t you meeting Tammy at the tri next weekend?” Dex flicked a gaze at Phoenix. He didn’t wait for an answer; he turned to Orchid. “You need to go, too!”
“Who’s Tammy?” Her forehead puckered. “And what’s a tri? Do you mean a triathlon? I’m impressed!”
Dex smiled. “Yeah, Phoenix here is our superhero! As for Tammy, she’s the new talent for your work. The one you’re going to be writing the strategy documents for. You can’t lose this opportunity. You’re free, right?”
“Yeah but–what the what?” She flipped her shiny locks over one shoulder.
“As long as you’re free, you have to say yes. Say yes.”
“Okay, sure. Yes. Okay, yes,” she said, laughing at Dex’s machine-gunned pleas.
And then she shifted to look at Phoenix and her eyes widened. “Unless you don’t want…I mean, I don’t have to.”
If his expression revealed even half the devastation he felt on the inside, his horror could send the most stalwart person fleeing. Based on his promise to his dad, he had committed to mentor Orchid, to say nothing to Joan, and that they would be all business.Just business. The auditorium’s blue light swept over Orchid’s luminescent skin, highlighting the lamé draped over one delicate collar bone, the other shoulder bare. Honey sweet. Whip-smart.
He was falling for her. He shouldn’t be spending time with her.
If nothing else, Phoenix was a man of his word.
“You should come. It’s an early start though. We leave the city at six.” His voice emerged husky.
Even if this was an error in judgment, he wasn’t about to let his dad down.
Their evening together had illuminated raw truths about his feelings.. Whatever joy Orchid sparked in him, he wouldn’t cross their professional line. Not only was this the most ethical position to take, it was also what she’d said she wanted.
Now, thanks to Dex, he would have her company driving down the shore to compete in the triathlon.
Phoenix tossed in bed that night, trying not to think about Orchid, the smudge of Frappuccino cream in the corner of her mouth while she’d negotiated the hell out of him; her willingness to point out hypocrisy; and the way she seemed to be able to free him to be his most authentic self.
He woke at dawn and Googled vegetarian restaurants at the shore.
Business, all business. He needed to steel himself. They would get through this one day, and then limit their time together to the office.
The Pixies were blaring from the sound system in his car when Orchid bounded out from her building. He climbed out of the car and ran around to the passenger side.
She paused at the car door he’d opened for her and then climbed inside. When he reached out to lower the volume, she commanded “Don’t turn it down!”
He looked at her. She was breathless from whatever fashion marathon had clothed her in form-fitting yoga pants and a zip-up hoodie. She tucked a knapsack at her feet. “Do you like—"
