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Chapter 7
“Kelly! You’re not listening!”
Kelly jumped in her seat as her assistant, Veronica Torres, very nearly yelled at her.
“Sorry, what?”
“What is going on with you? You have been a space cadet for days!”
It was true, Kelly had been experiencing a rough time concentrating this week. There was just so much on her mind, both professionally and personally.
First, there was the Townsend wedding. She’d been going through everything for Hank’s sister before their meeting on Friday, but the binder was massive. And although it helped that Julia was specific, her ideas were time consuming. For a multi-millionaire model, she was obsessed with do-it-yourself decorations. Every other paper inside was a print out of some craft with the Pinterest logo on the top. With a guest list of over two hundred and fifty people, she was going to have to enlist enough manpower to get the little Mason jar favors done.
On top of that Chris was being unusually quiet. She’d texted him to ask if he was coming over tomorrow for their Wicked Wednesday movie night and he’d told her he was meeting his lawyer friends for drinks instead.
It wasn’t that she begrudged him time out with his colleagues. It just wasn’t like him. Chris had never missed a WWMN, except for that one time he’d gotten the stomach flu, and this week was the one he chose to blow off? After what had happened over the weekend?
She should be understanding. She had other friends too, and they did spend a lot of time together. But there was a dark, niggling thought in the back of her head. A foreboding sense that things were changing between them and she didn’t like it.
And it had all started right after she’d told him she was giving dating a go.
“Kelly!” Veronica cried.
Kelly shook her head. She’d gone and done it again! Veronica could be sharp with other people, but she’d never been anything but respectful to Kelly.
Which was how it should be considering Kelly was her boss.
“You’re right, I drifted off. I guess Tuesday feels like Monday.” Kelly quirked a brow. “Still, I suppose you have a good reason for yelling at the one who signs your paychecks?”
Veronica’s tan cheeks reddened, but her back straightened. Her dark eyes flashed with what Kelly could only imagine was determination. “I have been with you for the last six months as your assistant. You moved Wendy to consultant after three months of being your assistant and I would just like to ask for my chance.”
“You want to be a bridesmaid?” Kelly wasn’t surprised. Veronica was ambitious and hardworking. Bridesmaids pulled in a lot more money than assistants. But Kelly wasn’t sure Veronica had the temperament to handle emotional clients.
“Yes, so much.”
Kelly sat forward and put her folded hands on top of her desk. “I’m not going to lie to you. The reason I haven’t thrown you into the game is because you can sometimes be a little too honest.”
“Oh, believe me. I know that tact isn’t my strong suit, but I am creative and detail-oriented. You know this.”
“I do. But a big part of the business is pacifying difficult clients.”
“Come on, have you had any complaints that I am anything but professional?”
“Well, he didn’t complain, but the way you handled Hank Townsend wasn’t great.”
“The guy showed up in a stupid mask. I knew who it was, but he acted as though just the sight of his face was going to make all women in the vicinity swoon. Please.” Veronica laughed.
Kelly put her boss face on and levelled Veronica with a stare. “And if he had been easily offended, he would have taken his money elsewhere.”
All the sass went out of Veronica’s sails and her laughter rang a little bitter. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Man, this is not how I wanted this conversation to go.”
“Lucky for you, I’m all for giving second and third chances. What else do you bring to the table as a wedding consultant?”
Veronica’s face lit up with hope. “I think quickly on my feet. I’ll even bring a client on, as my test run.”
“And who is that?”
“My cousin, Teresa Valdez.”
