But she’d told Matt everything, hadn’t she? And she felt lighter for it, as if someone had lifted a heavy weight from her chest.
“I’m not people.” Eva sounded affronted. “I’m your BFF. I’ve been there for you through thick and thin.”
“She’s going to burst if you don’t tell her at least something.” Paige didn’t look up from her laptop, her fingers flying over the keys as she typed an email. “Give her a few morsels to tide her over, then we can all get on with this mountain of work.”
“You make me sound like a puppy who needs a treat.” Eva settled herself on the edge of Frankie’s desk, sending papers flying. It was obvious she had no intention of moving until she’d had the conversation she wanted.
“You’re more destructive than a puppy.” Frankie leaned over to retrieve the papers.
“I need some romance in my life. I deserve romance. And if I can’t experience it firsthand then I’m going to enjoy yours. Please?”
Frankie put the papers on the far end of her desk, away from Eva. “What makes you think there was romance?”
“You sent me a text.”
“Careful!” Without looking up, Paige lifted a hand. “This is my brother we’re talking about. I don’t want details.”
“I definitely want details.” Eva rescued a magazine that was about to slide onto the floor. “Where did you stay?”
“Seagull’s Nest.”
“I know it! It’s on the water, up by Camp Puffin. Idyllic spot.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m addicted to looking at pictures of places I could never afford to stay. I saw a picture on Instagram. Someone went there on their honeymoon. Designer rustic. It looked romantic.” Eva wiggled her eyebrows and Frankie sighed.
“Is that why you asked me to be here on time today? It’s an inquisition?” But she was pleased to see Eva looking happier. She’d lost that pinched, tired look that came from too much crying and not enough sleep. “You told me you had something urgent to discuss.”
“We do.” Paige finished typing an email and looked up from her laptop. She looked tired and distracted. “New business. A rehearsal dinner.”
“Another wedding?”
“Not the wedding. Just the dinner, and I know you’ve probably had enough of weddings to last you the whole year, but this time we need you to do the flowers.”
“Who is the client? Buds and Blooms could—”
“No. We need the best, and you’re the best. The client is Mariella Thorpe.”
Eva slid off her desk with a gasp. “Seriously?”
“The editor of Empowered?” Frankie felt a flash of surprise, followed by a glow of satisfaction. They’d built their little business from nothing, and they’d turned into something good. People were coming to them. Important people with big budgets. “She’s one of Star Events’ biggest clients.”
“She was one of their biggest clients. Not anymore. She’s looking for events management and concierge services and she approached us.”
“This could be huge.” Eva did a pirouette and one of Jake’s designers who happened to be passing in the corridor outside almost crashed into the glass window that separated their office from the rest. “As long as we don’t mess it up.”
“It’s going to be huge,” Paige said firmly. “And no one is going to mess anything up. Given that Empowered is one of the fastest growing women’s magazines in the country, we need to impress her. She’s thinking of doing a feature on us when she’s back from her honeymoon. In the meantime, I need Frankie doing the flowers for that rehearsal dinner. The team at Buds and Blooms is great, but they don’t have your unique ‘Frankie’ signature touch.”
“Flowers by Frankie,” Eva said, and Paige stared at her.
“I love that.” She scribbled a note to herself. “I’m going to find a way to use that. In the meantime, we need to give Mariella something no one else could give her. Can you handle it? I know Matt is keeping you busy.”
“And we want to know exactly how busy.” Eva sat back down on Frankie’s desk and Frankie gave her a push.
“Sit on your own desk. You’re messing up my files.”
“I don’t understand how you work with so much paper everywhere.”