But then Morgan calls me over and introduces me to the Dublin head of operations, who tells me it’s one of the best fireside chats he’s ever seen. I’m pretty sure it’s flattery, but I have no idea why he’d want to impressme. He still outranks me by like three levels.
Even though what Morgan and the man are talking about is kind of over my head, they still try to include me in the conversation, asking a few questions about my background. I stumble through answers, and I’m shocked that they seem to care—or are at least good at pretending.
A glass of wine later, I’m not overthinking things. Morgan continues to make her rounds, introducing me to each person. They don’t seem to mind answering my questions, so I keep asking them.
Morgan walks us over to another group, pointing out the European head of sales, Kenneth. He’s an alpha with yellow-blond hair and electric teal eyes. I tense when those eyes land on me, but his scent is dulled by suppressants, and he’s clearly deferential to Morgan. Thankfully, my body hardly reacts.
“Oh, here,” Kenneth says. “One of my rising stars.”
He waves over a mid-twenties beta man with a trendy haircut and a charismatic smile. “Hey, Morgan Hunter in the flesh!” he says as he comes over. “Girl boss!” He reaches out to fist bump Morgan.
Morgan looks down at his hand like he’s holding out a dead rat.
Kenneth makes an amused face likeUh oh.
“You’re new,” Morgan says, voice dripping with contempt. “So I’ll explain. Once. I don’t appreciate…cute.”
The young man gives a nervous laugh. “I just meant like…”
She taps her nails against her glass, showing off the points, and locks him in her stare. He seems to realize she’s as tall as he is, and for as much work as he must put into his six-pack, she’s twice as strong. He slowly deflates, tucks his metaphorical tail between his legs, and gives a deferential nod.
“Understood.”
“Good,” Morgan says, tone lightening. “If Kenneth believes in you, you’re a quick learner. Don’t let it happen again.”
“Of course.”
Kenneth cracks a joke, and then everything’s back to normal.
My heart races. I make a mental note toneverget on Morgan’s bad side. That was…frightening. But also a little… exciting, somehow?
We get back to chatting, and by the end of the second glass of wine, I actually believe it when people say, “Great talk today,” and, “You really got me thinking.”
Okay. Signing up for this was a good idea. It’s going to work. It’s really going to work.
Or, if nothing else, I’m going to drink alotof free wine.
#
The next morning, we check out of the hotel and hop back in the hired black car. The driver pulls up to the ritzy back area of the airport where all the private jets are. I assume that Morgan’s getting dropped off first, and I’ll be taken around to ride commercial.
But then Morgan stands waiting next to her open door. “Your seatbelt stuck or something?”
I blink.
“C’mon, we don’t have all day.”
“Oh!” I jump up. A uniformed staff member is already hauling my giant floral bag to the airplane, and I wince guiltily at the weight. Still, I’m getting used to Morgan’s style. This time, I keep my wits about me.
“Another cost-saving measure, deigning to share yourprivatejet?”
“Yep.”
We’re not the only two traveling for this PR tour, though. “What about Claire? And Eileen?”
“Two’s company, three’s a crowd,” she says, starting up the steps to the plane. I think that’s all, but she adds, “They’re on a different schedule. Arriving earlier for setup.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that they’re doing all the work and I’m getting all the secondhand luxury.” I’m glad I got the comment out before stepping onto the plane, because the rich leather interior with gold accents leaves me speechless.
