Valerie groans. “Fine. Fine. You three and your ... spot on logic.”
Hunter chuckles and kisses her chest as Lief nods against the pillow above her head before going back to sleep. Unfortunately, I have to go early and make sure everything’s set. I deal with my father, hearing what he says about Valerie, how perfectly this even has to go, everything riding on me, then kick it forcibly from my head.
If tonight is really about me, it’s time I step up and take control. No Hunter fighting for me. No Lief taking the reins. No Valerie going to war on my behalf. This has to be me. I earned the position of boss one way or another and even though I consider Hunter and Lief promoted to the same position, I have to project the kind of boss I want to be for everyone – mafia and business alike.
* * *
“Press will be here as well. It will be a wonderful event. So don’t drink too much and embarrass yourself,” My father says.
I snort. “Drinking too much isn’t a problem for me.”
Dad arches his eyebrow, but decides to pick his battles for once. He has me walk through the area with Lief at my side, since he’s suddenly appeared. I look at him and see that he’s already dressed up – as all the security will be – in all black.
“Lief, I’m sure you’ve coordinated the security team,” I say before my dad can.
He nods. “Everyone is ready and at their posts. Guests will start arriving in an hour and a half. Catering is already here. The design team is adding the finishing touches.”
My dad nods once. “A good question to ask. I need to go check on your mother, see if she’s ready, and ensure we don’t have any surprises. Lief ...”
“Lief, please stay close and keep an eye out for anyone suspicious,” I cut in.
My dad arches his eyebrow like he was planning to say something entirely different, but I don’t really care what he had in mind. This is my event.
Lief and I watch Dad walk away then I exhale. “He’s so full of it. Hours of monologuing.”
Lief glances at his watch then at me. “Valerie is coming with Hunter.”
“Of course.”
“He has her out shopping right now.”
“They’re both going to be drunk, aren’t they?”
“Not Valerie. She’s sworn to be the perfect lady your father would never expect.” Lief smirks. “I give it ten minutes.”
“You should start sparring with her again. It was a good release for her anger.”
Lief considers that as I go around and introduce myself to the caterers and the designer. My dad never saw the benefit in associating with the ‘staff’, but as a kid, I learned quickly that they really knew everything.
And a good relationship with people you’d like to utilize often is necessary. So I shake hands, work on remembering names, ask questions, take business cards, all of it. Hunter is better at shaking hands and charming people, but apparently, I can manage just fine.
The designer rushes over to me and shows me a red silk hankie. “I’m so sorry, sir. I thought about it after our conversation and realized I had this for a prior event just sitting in my car.” She hesitates, meeting my eyes as she realizes she’s touching me. “If that’s okay?”
“I trust your eye, Paula. Without my girlfriend, I’m sure the house would be a mismatched mess. And don’t tell her, but I think you have a better eye for fabrics.”
She giggles to herself and finishes adjusting the fabric square in my coat pocket. She nods and bites her lip, looking up at me through her lashes. “I hope you don’t mind if I stay?”
“You can, but minimal pictures of the guests. Some are camera shy. If you’d like to take pictures of the setup you’ve created now, feel free.”
She thanks me and runs off to do just that. It’s a mess of people asking questions and me having half answers before the first guests arrive. My father has me shaking hands with some of his old friends, but then he pauses as a guy I recognize comes in.
It’s the asshole that was eye-fucking my girlfriend. He gives us a condescending smile. “Andre Moss. My father will be stepping down as CEO when I graduate, he insisted I come on his behalf.”
“How wonderful. Your father has been a wonderful friend to the family in the past,” Dad says. But then he moves on to the next one.
Andre snorts. “My father doesn’t know his ass from his elbow anymore. You know how the old men get.”
“I wouldn’t say that too loudly. He might hold it against you.” I chuckle.