Page 17 of Divine Sense
After parking my car and walking inside, I kicked off my shoes and flopped down on the couch. Ms. Ruthie’s words swirled in my brain and I thought about my own family. Growing up, I’d always felt like an afterthought. Whenever there were parties or functions at home, I would be tucked away upstairs until I was old enough to know how to behave. My mother would dress me up in expensive party dresses and I would be paraded around like a doll. If I acted out, my mother would scold me and send me to my room for the rest of the evening.‘We are Sinclairs,’ she would hiss,‘and the Sinclairs have an image to uphold and you will not tarnish that image.’ If it were with my father, he would make snide comments about how “if only I were a boy” and the men around him would laugh in unison.
Nothing I did was ever enough to them and nothing I tried was ever right. I groaned and threw my arm over my eyes, the internal dread building as I thought about how this year’s Christmas party would be just like the ones I had to survivegrowing up. As I laid on the couch with my eyes closed, an idea sprang to my head and I shot up with a smile on my face. I reached for my phone and pulled up a number I had dialed two weeks earlier in the middle of the night.
Hey Jack.
I kept it simple and waited for him to reply. Before I could even put my phone down, I saw the three dots pop up on the screen.
Who is this?
Who do you think it is? You got someone else who calls you Jack?
I rolled my eyes at my phone and waited for him to respond.
Flower? Are you okay? Do you need something?
My heart skipped a beat whenever he called me that and I chewed on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling at my phone like an idiot. The protectiveness in his texts did something to my insides that I’d never felt when I was with Daniel.
I do need something Jack. I need to know if you’re coming to my family’s Christmas party in two weeks.
I wasn’t planning on it. My team will be there but unless my clients formally request me to attend their events, I trust my teams to do their jobs without me needing to oversee them.
How does one “formally request” your presence at an event?
Typically they call my office and ask for me to attend directly. I’ve done it before but like I said, only when clients ask for me to.
I read his message and got up from the couch to grab my computer and pull up the page I’d looked up two weeks ago that had the number of his secretary on it. Dialing the number, I waited patiently for someone to answer. A nice woman on the other end picked it up after a few rings.
“Good afternoon, Sweetgrass Security. How may I help you?”
“Hi, yes, this is Magnolia Sinclair. Your firm is overseeing the security for my father’s senate run,” I started, using my most polite Southern voice.
“Oh, yes, hello Miss Sinclair, how can I assist you today?”
“Well, as I’m sure you know, my family is hosting our annual Christmas party in two weeks. While I know you have your best team on it, I would personally like to request that Mr. Vesey be in attendance. It would be lovely to be able to introduce him to some of the other guests in attendance. This party would make for an excellent networking opportunity for him.” Ever my father’s daughter, I spun the need for his attendance as a business opportunity. Something my father always taught me growing up was that you could get someone to do almost anything if you made it seem like it benefited them more than it benefited you.
“Of course, Miss Sinclair, I’d be happy to place this event on Mr. Vesey’s calendar. Could you give me the information one more time so I can confirm I have the details right?” I gave the woman on the other end of the phone all the information she needed and explained that it was black tie and charitable donations were optional, should Mr. Vesey want to give back this holiday season. I hadn’t even said goodbye completely when I felt my phone vibrate on my cheek.
Flower.
Yes, Jack?
What are you doing?
I’m formally requesting you to come to my family’s Christmas party
Like I told your lovely secretary, it would be a wonderful networking opportunity for you and your business. Some of the city’s wealthiest families will be in attendance.
My secretary, who is now in my office, is asking me why the daughter of one of the most important men in the city is calling for me to personally attend her party, thanks to you. I only just got her to stop asking about the shopping trip I sent her on for you two weeks ago.
I could tell he was flustered and I felt a smirk grow on my face as I read his message.
I’m sorry Jack, is there a reason you shouldn’t come to the party?
The three dots danced on the screen before they disappeared. They came back quickly and I could tell he was trying to choose his words wisely.
Not at all. I’ll be there.
I’m happy to hear that.
