“Sounds like a plan,” he said, unconvincingly. “Come on, let’s rewind a little bit and see how this love story pans out.”
I would prefer to fast forward.
30
ELLE
T minus thirty-sevenminutes until the doors opened to the city’s biggest event of the year. In my black pant suit, I stood above the grand staircase of the second level in the atrium-styled venue, admiring the impeccable staging of the main hall. The theme wasWinter with a Splash of Gold. White columns stretching to the third level were draped with green wreaths spotted with white roses. Each rose gently sprayed gold. The railing of the staircase was fully lined with evergreen twigs with over a thousand gold beaded snowflake ornaments. Sponsor banners hung from the ceiling exactly where I had instructed them to be.
I turned behind me once again to admire the display of the place card table. I picked up Scott’s card, thumbing the gold lettering of his name on the black velvety card. A fresh pang of nerves hit me all over again. Last week had changed all my expectations for how tonight was going to go. Now, not only had I lied by omission about myself for the last six weeks, but I had also worked for and had a close relationship with his estranged father, which was sure to complicate things all in itself.
Restless, I walked down the stairs, double checking my list.
“All clear down here,” Mimi called from the main floor, waiting for me. “The vendors are all mic’d up.”
“And they know—”
“Keep on mute unless checking in,” Mimi finished with a nod.
“Good. I hate it when the chefs go off the rails and forget the mic.”
There was some commotion from the stage crew and I rushed over with Mimi. “Gentlemen, what is going on?”
“All good, we’re all good.” Ryan, the event’s main lighting designer turned to us, holding his hands up as if we’d walked in on a private crew freakout.
“Doesn’t sound like it’s all good, what is going on?”
He sighed. “We’re short one crew member. We’re trying to decide who will cue each set.”
“Um...that’s kind of important,” Mimi pointed out.
I glared at the guy. “Figure it out in less than twenty-two minutes. I need an update before the doors open.” I seethed.
Nothing can go wrong tonight.
I marched off to double check that no one else had been keeping any possible disasters from me.
To make matters worse, I kept getting texts and calls from Claudia and her assistant checking in on things. Even Dean and Starr weren’t this overbearing. I finally told Ms. Heart that if she wanted my clipboard and run the damn night herself, she could have it.
That was when they finally got off my back.
I took the last fifteen minutes to check in on everyone and everything either through my mic or a run through.
Everything appeared perfect.
Typically, that would bother me, because I thrived on a good last second problem solve, but tonight I was too distracted.
Was Scott mad at me for not coming with him tonight?
Was going over tonight a good idea? I’d certainly need a shower…
“Elle,” I heard my name called again, snapping me out of my daze.
“What?”
Mimi smiled. “It’s showtime.”
I grinned back. “Perfect. I’m ready.”
