Page 72 of Shark’s Rise

“That I think I had some behind-the-scenes help—though our fairy godfather refuses to admit it.”

“Now I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Grant.”

“What about him?”

“I mean that I’m talking about him. I think he pulled some strings. Not sure who he knows or from where…” She trailed off for a moment that lingered a few seconds too long. “But all I can say is that the contract was messengered over within hours after I mentioned that the client mysteriously dropped Sparkle City Catering for their party. Just seems a little too coincidental.”

“Interesting,” I said. “Well, I’m going to go on believing it was the amazing food samples you prepared for their whole staff that closed the deal. Not to mention your amazing salesmanship.”

“I agree with Abbigail.” Dori made the statement as she settled onto the bed next to me and took out her trusty smart pad. “Everyone at the tasting was posting pictures of your beautiful trays as fast as they could, Rio. You made them feel special and important.”

Rio whisked a semi-bashful grin at us both. “And that’s how we want everyone at the party to feel, too. Right?”

“Exactly.” Dori beamed and tapped in her passcode, preparing to take careful notes of our first—and only—event-planning meeting. She had quickly picked up the ins and outs of my catering business too—thank God. The woman was amazing. Bas kept joking he was going to steal her to be his own assistant at Shark Enterprises, but Craig was filling in that job more regularly since Dori was handling more responsibilities in Calabasas. So far, it was all working out great.

“Okay, so scoot your asses over. I want to sit here too.” Rio laughed while nudging her way onto the bed. “We should all be looking at the same set of notes here. Because of course, the most important event of our career is also going to be a last-minute whirl.” She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t we the lucky ones, hmmm? Can you believe the size of the venue?”

I groaned aloud thinking of the property we toured a few days prior. The Greystone Mansion was a massive Tudor Revival in Beverly Hills, built in 1928. The clients planned on transforming the venue into a “Storybook Fantasy” for their guests and we were developing the menu accordingly.

Dori tapped a finger on the air before reciting, “‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’”

“Ohhh.” Rio dashed a glance back at me. “We need that on the bulletin board at the kitchen.”

“So I think we’ve nailed down most of the menu, right? Except for the third dessert, because there’s an issue with the macadamia nut supplier. So what’s left?”

“Except everything?” I was glad to have my head resting against the headboard. The size and scope of this job was making my brain swim.

Thank God, yet again, for Dori and her capable game face. “Don’t worry, ladies. We’ve got this. But first and foremost, we really need to start with a complete supplies and shopping list. I have to start placing orders ASAP. Since it was so close to the holidays, the prime produce and meat vendors are already getting slammed. Every caterer in town already wants plenty of the more exotic ingredients.”

“Got it,” Rio said.

“Definitely,” I chimed at the same time.

“I kind of started, but I need a little help from you both. The recipes are vague in some parts.” Dori shuffled the stack of papers and recipe cards she had in her binder marked “Biggest Party Ever” in large, gold letters. “It looks like you ladies are like my mom and cook half by recipe and half by your hearts. You need to tell me what’s missing from these ingredients lists so I can be sure to place the proper orders for everything.”

“Okay, let’s start there,” I agreed, pointing to my checklist. “After we get that done, we can start marking off the other items on this to-do list.” I heaved in a long breath, despite Kaisan fighting me about the effort. “I need to feel some accomplishment today.”

We ran through the recipes, dictating item after item that was missing from the written instructions. But after the tenth recipe, as well as my third bathroom break, I was exhausted.

“All right,” Dori abruptly announced and closed both her binder and smart pad. “Naptime for Mommy Shark. No arguments.” She wagged a finger. “If Mr. Shark thinks you are overworking, he will put the kibosh on you being involved in this event.”

Rio arched a brow. “Okay, none of us wants Daddy throwing down that hammer. Besides, I need to get on the freeway before traffic gets too crazy. Sean and I both start so early in the morning. If I don’t see him when he gets home at night, I don’t see him at all.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Dori said. “Sleep well, Abbigail.”

They left the room quietly, and I was out before I even heard the door click closed behind them.

I woke up with the need to pee so badly, it was a wonder I made it to the bathroom. But the physical relief was swiftly replaced by inner frustration. The clock on the marble counter revealed that I’d been out for two hours. That was a hundred and twenty minutes I seriously couldn’t afford. There were still so many things on the action list for the upcoming event.

In the back of my mind—or maybe not so far to the back—I hoped we hadn’t taken on more than we could handle. If I were functioning with my normal full charge, the last-minute pace wouldn’t seem so daunting. I’d just suck it up, do whatever it took for knocking out the list, and get shit done. But with constant exhaustion pulling me under, I wasn’t sure there’d be enough hours in the days we had left. I couldn’t keep depending on Rio to take up the slack either. It wasn’t fair. Our business was a partnership. While she wouldn’t outwardly take the credit for it, we both knew she’d landed the deal while I was fighting morning sickness.

I made my way downstairs just as Sebastian arrived home. He’d worked a little later than usual but would’ve just been sitting in traffic anyway, so the difference was the same.

“Hey, my sweet Little Red.” With a delicious groan, he pulled me in and kissed me with sexy languor. “How was your day?” he asked tenderly. “What did you do today? I want to hear everything, but tell me in the kitchen. I’m starving.”

I let him lead me across the foyer’s grand expanse and then through the formal dining room, until we were in the kitchen and he was heating up a big bowl of Dori’s soup. “The day was good,” I said. “Rio came over, and we worked on finalizing the event menu. Dori got together a full shopping list, and we double-checked her order form. Just basic stuff like that. All boring to the business mogul man that you are.”