“Ah, yeah, you know her. She’s a part of the team too. She’s got the best contacts.”
I leaned forward, folding my arms on the table. “I’m going to kill her,” I said lightly. “But later. For now, tell me your plan.”
“We get Jewel expanded. From a basic scheduling and management app to a networking system. There’s an opening in the market, where people outside the industry need to be able to find their starting people. Teambuilding and forming connections between the managers and their talent. It’s all self-propagating and all potential upside. You know Krysten was looking to expand operations, but instead of breadth-first expansion, we have depth-first expansion.”
“And… for the event?”
“We’ve been casting a wide net. But you know people don’t respond to a wide net. We need to cast a narrowernet, more to talent agents and scouts, Jewel’s actual target audience. The event changes from a general industry event to a high-production mixer and talent acquisition event specifically for agents from the industry. We gather high-value potential acquisitions.”
My heart was pounding now, and just like that, the fog was clearing from my mind. Seeing a plan coming together, seeing the potential of it, was as electric as it had always been, and wasn’t it embarrassing that all I needed was to have Houdini’s magic back? “Isn’t it a short timeline to get potential performers?”
“Well, now that you mention it,” she said, grinning wider. “I wonder if Linyue might be willing to help us put together a plan to attract talent?”
I laughed. She had Linyue on a string. There was no way she’d be able to resist something like that. She’d probably step in just seeing Julie’s business plan to fuss over the details and fix it. “Do you really think Krysten and Linyue will both be won over just like that?”
“I mean, not just like that. But if I have you with me, I think anyone would sign up for anything.”
I sighed, shaking my head, trying not to smile. I think I was smiling anyway. “You are the most audacious person I’ve ever met.”
She puffed out her chest, beaming. “If that makes me your number one in something, I’ll take it.”
Dammit, I was a little tipsy and I wanted to kiss her. Kiss was a delicate word. I wanted to make out with her until she passed out. “Where’s Estelle?” I said. “If she’s on this team, she should probably be here.”
She grinned wider. “Well, two things. One… does that imply you’re on the team?”
“Ah. Well, I’ve got nothing better to do these days.”
She laughed, shifting closer. “Yeah? You think we can do this?”
“Sounds like you thought out the plan. It’s worth a try.”
Her eyes sparkled. “In that case… welcome to the team, Freckles.”
I felt myself getting heated. She knew full well where that nickname came from. Calling it up at a time like this felt loaded. I wasn’t feeling like being indirect. “Are you flirting with me again?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, look at you. Who wouldn’t?”
Always so quick on the response. “All right, Houdini,” I said. “What’s the second thing about Estelle?”
Her face fell. “She saw a cute guy who looked a little fruity, so she went to chat to him a little bit while I was talking to you.”
I sighed. “We’re not seeing her again tonight.”
“I kinda got that vibe, yeah.”
I stood up, my blood feeling electric. “Well,” I said, “then let’s get to it. Sounds like we’ve got a big night.”
“Uh.” She slid out of the seat, dropping to her feet. “Are you not, you know, a bit drunk?”
“It’s wearing off already. Guess I just get excited about a good project proposal.” Come to think of it, if I wasn’t feeling drunk, I didn’t have my convenient excuse for wanting to kiss Julie.
Well, I guess she wasn’t married after all. And now I actually did know how to keep her safe from what was hurting her.
Julie stood up taller, her expression glowing. “I’ll go grab Estelle, let her know we’re—”
“Don’t bother. She’s probably got her tongue in someone’s mouth right now.”
“Oh! Well. Good for her.” She adjusted her suit. “In that case, I guess let’s go.”
