"That's reassuring."
"Don't get cocky. It's still going to be close. The CulinaryVision-FoodFirst partnership rumor is making the rounds, and Patricia Franklin is using it as ammunition."
"Of course she is."
"But if the board sees Harper as an asset rather than a liability, that helps your case significantly."
I watch Harper laugh at something an investor says, and my fingers start to cramp, already itching to reach out and touch her again.
"She is an asset," I say. "The Thanksgiving episode numbers prove it."
They sure as hell do. In just over a week's time, the Weeknight Wins Thanksgiving episode has over two million views on YouTube and StreamEats combined, not to mention the four more coming from every other social media platform.
Rachel nods beside me, red nails tapping against her glass. "I agree. But you know as well as I do that corporate boards don't always care about numbers when they're looking for reasons to oust a CEO."
"Comforting."
"I'm being realistic." Rachel finishes her wine. "Anyway, I need to make rounds. Try not to disappear again. People are starting to notice."
She walks away, and I'm left at the bar, watching Harper across the room.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
ROMAN: Saw you sneak off with Harper earlier. Very subtle. By which I mean not subtle at all.
ME: Don't know what you're talking about.
ROMAN: Sure you don't. Anyway, reminder that you're both coming to the wedding, right? Calli's finalizing the seating chart.
ME: We'll be there.
ROMAN: Good. Because I need at least one person there who's even more of an emotional shit-storm than I am. Makes me look well-adjusted by comparison.
ME: Shit-storm? Jesus. Tell me how you really feel
ROMAN: Mm, shit-storm may have been an exaggeration. Especially now. You literally just had sex at a corporate gala. That's either extreme emotional availability or extreme poor judgment. I'm betting on both.
ME: Wait…Who said I was having sex?
ROMAN: Oh, I DON'T KNOW. Maybe it's the fact that you practically SKIPPED back in here. That was the skip of a man who just got LAID
ROMAN: Also Christian saw you both coming out of the powder room hallway at different times and put two and two together.
ME: Tell Christian to mind his business.
ROMAN: Tell Christian yourself. He's right behind you.
I turn to find my other best friend smirking so hard you'd think he was doing an impression of the Joker villain.
"Really?" he remarks, swirling a glass of something amber-colored. "The powder room? At your own company's investor gala?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Might want to tell that to the hickey on your neck."
My hand goes to my collar automatically. "There's no?—"
"You do. Right there." He points. "Your tie's covering most of it, but it's definitely there."
