Tina nodded. “Four at the moment.”
Fuck. She could guess for sure who at least one of those four were. “Can you tell me their names?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Rhiannon backed off. No need to badger Annabelle’s assistant. “Were they all sent glitter-grams, though?”
Amusement danced in the blonde’s eyes, and Rhiannon wondered if she hadn’t taken some enjoyment in this unconventional invitation, despite her profuse apologies. “No. They were sent couriers with invitations. The glitter-gram, as you call it, is a token of Annabelle’s affection for the recent partnership our companies have enjoyed.”
Rhiannon nodded. More glitter rained down. “Lucky me.”
Tina’s tone turned businesslike. “Can I relay your acceptance for the weekend?”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll be there Friday evening.”
“Wonderful.”
Tina turned to leave and Lakshmi launched into motion. “Let me see you out. We’ve talked on the phone, but I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”
Tina nodded, but didn’t look entirely ready to forgive Lakshmi for her jab at her employer. “I know who you are. The Lakshmi with no last name.”
“Correct.” Lakshmi smoothed her loose tie. She wore a slim fit pinstriped three piece suit today. “À la Beyoncé.”
Rhiannon left her assistant to handle Tina and escaped to her office. She closed the blinds, placed her hands over her mouth to muffle the noise, and squealed.
Yessssss.
She grabbed up her phone, no longer capable of thinkingabout things like periods and a lack of emojis. Samson’s low, husky voice came on the line, and Rhiannon’s brain went a little soft. “Rhi. Hi. I’m so glad you called.”
“I am covered in pink glitter,” Rhi blurted out.
There was a beat of silence. “I am not.”
She suppressed her laugh.
His voice deepened. “Is this slang for something? Does glitter mean something other than glitter?”
“No, actual glitter. Your aunt. Your aunt is the reason I’m covered in pink glitter.”
A longer pause. “Uh.”
Rhi quickly brought him up to speed.
“Ahhh,” Samson drawled. “Aunt Belle does love sending ridiculous invitations. It was singing telegrams for her sixtieth birthday, I believe. To my locker room.”
“I bet your teammates got a kick out of that.”
“You have no idea. I’m glad Tina was there to clarify, at least.”
“Did you have an idea she was planning this?”
“She asked if I was free next weekend, but other than that, no. If I’d known what she was planning, I might have given you a heads-up. Or at least talked her down from the glitter.”
Samson would be there. She suppressed the thrill of excitement. Business. This was business. “Do you know who the other guests will be?” Even if Tina couldn’t tell her, maybe Samson would.
Manipulative.
Yeah, this was veering into conflict-of-interest territory.Samson’s first loyalty was to his aunt and the company he had a stake in, and she didn’t want to force him to inadvertently betray the woman. She almost retracted her question, but he spoke first.
