Page 4 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, recline my chair, and stare at the chart from beneath my blue-light glasses as if it’ll somehow change the outcome.

Sales are steady, but the momentum I built last quarter is tanking. A grunt escapes my lips. I know this is normal for businesses. There are ups and downs, but I didn’t invest four years of my life into my beauty line just to get overtaken by some hateful bitch.

And no, I’m not bitter, Camila Drey is my worst nightmare…and unfortunately, my competitor.

My fists find my hair, and I release a sigh when my phone buzzes. One look at the screen and I’m tempted to ignore it, but knowing Annora, she won’t back down.

“Do you think I’m going to die alone?” Annora chirps once I pick up the call. Of course, she greets me with something outrageous.

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone on speaker, drop it on the table, and gesture to Puddles, my chihuahua, to climb into my lap. She gingerly obliges.

“And why would that happen, Annora?” The frustration in my chest makes my voice sound flatter than I intend as I pat Puddles’ hairless scruff.

“I think I’m the only woman in New Jersey who hasn’t figured out this whole dating thing.”

“At this point, I’ll never have sex.” Her sigh is almost drowned out by some shuffling on her end.

It’s what she says every time we discuss this topic.

“Annora, there are one-night stands for a reason. But you don’t want to lose your virginity to a stranger, and you also haven’t found the right person yet.”

“And that’s fine,” I add in a softer tone. “You’ll eventually meet someone with whom you share that deep connection and have mind-blowing sex someday.”

“Hmm… And what about you? Have you had any mind-blowing sex since you’ve been back in Manhattan?”

Not in the mood for conversing about my non-existent sex life, I glance at my laptop’s screen.

“That bitch just launched a new influencer campaign. It’s already trending, and my engagement is tanking.” I segue the conversation, shutting my laptop when I feel a splitting headache coming on.

Annora’s huff mixes with the sound of water rushing in the background, then she sighs. “I’m sure your engagement is fine.”

The silence that stretches after is deliberate because I don’t know what else to say. Is it really fine? Before I can spiral into a million what-ifs, Annora continues.

“I, however, called to remind you about the masquerade gala. Are you still going?”

Oh, that. The masquerade ball. It’s been sitting in my calendar for weeks, but considering how my day is going, ghosting seems like a healthy choice.

“I’ll pass.”

“You were invited!” She shrieks, startling Puddles into a nervous shiver.

I shake my head and sit up. “Well, all entrepreneurs and brands were invited. Besides, it’s not like I’d be able to network there. Anonymity, you know?”

The masked gala is an annual event that hosts wealthy … and well, successful brands. And of course, I was invited because I’ve managed to grow my brand to a credible level.

“A-and the death thre–”

“Oh, please, Elena, spare me,” she scoffs. “It’s a masquerade, and like you just said, there’s anonymity. No one would target you with that many people around. Plus, it’s an event for the ultra-wealthy. Security is going to be tight, and if you haven’t gotten laid in ages, it might be your chance.”

She’s got a point, at least on the first half of her comment.

“I know what you’re trying to do. You always do this,” she sighs, her voice softening a notch. “Drown yourself in work, forget to applaud yourself when success comes and blame yourself when things beyond your control happen.”

Guilt almost floods my chest at the way she says it. Almost. But I’m already used to that statement from her…and others. Some say it’s an obsession I have, others say it’s a commendable drive, but I deem it a necessary principle… an inevitable path to success.

You’d be surprised how much larger your appetite for success can be once you get a little taste of it.

“Just go…unwind. Have some fun. I’m sure by now you have a headache from staring at that screen for too long.”