Her attention slowly shifts back to me, and when our eyes meet, the message is clear:Could you be a bigger dipshit?But apparently she’s enabled her filter today, because the words don’t make it past her lips.
Must be my lucky day.
“Triada has three thousand employees,” she says evenly. “Arranging refreshments and entertainment for a group that large is no small feat.”
More people means more opinions. And more opinions means squabbling over every little detail to reach consensus. “It’ll be easier to make decisions with just the two of us.”
Not to mention faster.
“All right, then. Why don’t we start with the basics?” She doesn’t wait for a reply. “Do you have a budget in mind?”
“No.”
“Excuse me?” She frowns, the corners of her mouth pulling low as a tiny wrinkle forms between her brows. “It’s going to be awfully difficult to plan the event without a budget.”
“Five days ago I didn’t even know there was going to be a social.” I scrub a hand over my face, mentally cursing my stupidity. I never should have agreed to take on this project. Between this and the Epos launch, it’ll be a miracle if I get any sleep at all. “I’ll get you a budget, but I honestly have no idea what something like this costs.”
Scarlett pushes her glasses—a pair of ruby-red cat-eye frames—up her nose and opens her laptop. “I’ve done some preliminary research. We can estimate forty dollars per person for catering, and we’ll need live entertainment. So that’s another—”
Whatever she says next is lost on me. I’m too busy doing mental calculations. “One hundred and twenty thousand dollars just for food and drink? That’s outrageous.”
She blinks, and then her eyes go wide behind those ostentatious frames. “Oh, that number was just for food. Beverages will be an additional cost. And of course there’s the question of whether you want to serve cocktails or stick with tea and coffee.”
She’s fucking with me. She has to be.
“Is this a joke?” I search her face for signs of deception or humor, but for once it’s a blank slate. “Did Miles put you up to this?”
“Put me up to what?” Her gaze sweeps the room once again, as if she’s searching for a clue. “I’m sorr—” She cuts herself off, pressing her lips flat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Christ. You’re serious.” I shake my head in disbelief. A hundred and twenty thousand dollars for a pointless Valentine’s social? It’s ridiculous. “I never should have agreed to that damn suggestion box.”
Scarlett makes a dismissive sound. “If you hate the suggestion box so much, why did you create it in the first place?”
“I never said I hated it.” It’s more like loathing. “Miles thought it would open the lines of communication and create a roadmap for improving employee satisfaction.”
“And you disagree?” she asks, curiosity lighting her eyes.
How best to explain my position without sounding like a complete and total prick? That is, after all, the whole point of this exercise.
“We could implement every suggestion in that database, and we’d still face dissatisfaction in our ranks.”
“Well, that’s a depressing take.” Her attention reverts to her keyboard, and she adds, “Word of advice, maybe don’t include that little gem when you announce the Valentine’s Day social.”
Fucking hell.I’ve done it again. Why do I always say the wrong thing to this woman? It’s like she brings out the absolute worst in me.
Or maybe you’re just doomed to live down to her low opinion of you.
“That didn’t come out right. I just meant that people are predisposed to dissatisfaction.” I throw my palms up in self-defense. “It’s part of the human condition.”
Scarlett sighs and leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “I suppose that’s easy for you to say, since you have everything.” She lifts a brow and pins me with a stern look. “It’s a very entitled position.”
The accusation lands hard.
I’m a lot of things but entitled isn’t one of them.
“Oh, and because I have money, I must be entitled?” I lean forward and flatten my palms on the table, frustration roiling in my gut. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, Scarlett, but whatever scenario you’ve created in your mind, you’ve missed the mark. My life wasn’t always so charmed.” Not even close. “I worked my ass off to get where I am today, and I won’t apologize for my success any more than I’ll apologize for creating opportunities for bright young minds like yours.”
Surprise washes over her features and her mouth drops open. Then quickly snaps shut.
