But I can’t deny that I’m shocked. Then I remember this is Milo. He’s probably memorized sonnets to help him hit on women.
“Wait, your brother is named Tennyson? Why don’t I remember that?”
I met his mom and brother at last year’s company Christmas party. His mom is beautiful, not shocking considering what Milo looks like. His younger brother is a quieter, more gruff version of Milo. He introduced himself and then didn’t speak again for the rest of the night.
Milo grins. “He hates his name as much as I hate mine. He goes by Ten. Most people hear it wrong and assume it’s Tom. He doesn’t correct them.”
Mr. Lavin arranged for a car service to pick us up which takes us directly to the hotel. I squirm in my seat with excitement. I’ve always wanted to see the Bellagio. It’s a beautiful hotel and makes me feel like a character in a Hollywood heist movie. James heads straight to the front desk to get the keys to the block of rooms he reserved for us, so I take the opportunity to look around. It’s too bad we’re only here for a night. I’d love to have a chance to explore more, maybe even catch a show.
“Okay, here’s your keys. Most of us are on the tenth floor, but Milo you’re on the twelfth floor. Everyone please be on your best behavior. The Lavin team is also staying at this hotel and you never know who might see you. Keep that in mind.”
Everyone breaks off and heads for the elevators. Most of us just brought carryon size bags but Kelly, the junior associate from Kevin’s team has a huge rolling suitcase more suited to a month’s vacation. James follows my eyes and then shakes his head.
“You two, I need to have a word.”
Milo and I exchange glances before following him as he walks off to the side of the concierge desk. I wish I could have gotten a chance to talk to James alone before we go upstairs to get ready for dinner. I have a few ideas for the Lavin account that I wanted to run by him. But I squash my competitive side as I remember that tonight is about securing the account more than anything. This isn’t the time to crush my competition. Milo and I have agreed to a truce and I intend to honor it. We’re going to be charming at dinner tonight and show the Lavin team all the reasons why Mirage is a perfect fit for a luxury brand. Milo’s words on the plane come back.
As long as we don’t encounter any other problems, we’ve got this in the bag.
James finally finds a space next to a rack of luggage that’s private enough. He glances around before speaking.
“We have a problem.”
To his credit Milo keeps a straight face. But inside he has to be thinking the same thing I am. What now? How could there be a problem when we’ve just arrived? Luckily James doesn’t keep us in suspense too long. His words come out in a nervous jumble, like he’s in too much of a panic to take breaths between sentences.
“Elizabeth is here. My Elizabeth,” he continues as if either of us didn’t know who he was talking about. “She found out about the Lavin deal somehow and her company is talking to Lavin, too. Tonight. One of the associates she took with her when she left still talks to Anya. Apparently they’re pitching the Lavin team over drinks right before they meet with us. We might lose the job before we even get the chance to meet.”
I put my hands up to catch his attention because he looks like he’s on the verge of hyperventilating. “Take a breath. Let’s take a step back and look at the whole situation. Andre Lavin sent his plane for us. He wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble and expense if he wasn’t going to listen to our pitch as well.”
James’s face is bright red but he’s listening to me intently. After a brief pause, he nods briskly. “That’s true. He wouldn’t have done that.”
“So that means that no matter what Elizabeth says to him at drinks, we still have a shot at making him forget about it at dinner. And we will. Milo and I are already working on something that’s going to blow him away.”
“You are? Of course you are. That’s why you were talking on the plane ride.” James closes his eyes and finally his color starts to return to normal. Or at least not one shade away from a tomato.
“I should have known you two were prepared. Anya’s message didn’t come through until we landed so I think I just panicked for a moment.”
Milo claps him on the shoulder and then steers him toward the elevators. “Everything is going to be fine. Why don’t we go to our rooms and take a load off before the meeting? We don’t want to be jet lagged and cranky later.”
“Good idea.” James nods and pulls his small suitcase behind him. “Are you guys coming?”
Milo hesitates. “No, you go ahead. I want to talk to the concierge. I think I forgot my toothbrush.” He gives me a look that I immediately interpret as we need to talk.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to check out the gift shop before I go up,” I add.
We stand together and watch as our boss gets on the first elevator going up. At least he doesn’t look nearly as crazed as he did at first. Before the elevator doors close, he waves. Then Milo turns to me. The affable smile he wore for James’s benefit is gone.
“What the fuck are we going to do?”
6
Mya and I stand in the lobby in shock for a few minutes. Finally she blinks and then blows out a long breath.
“No pressure, huh?”
The tension breaks and we both laugh. Jesus, as if the stakes aren’t high enough already we have to add in our boss’s feud with his ex-wife. Juggling this many balls, something is bound to break. The thought gives me renewed determination to impress the Lavin team tonight. James is a good guy if a little intense. I wasn’t here when the whole thing with his wife went down but I’ve seen enough of the aftermath to know how important this is.
We cannot let James down.