AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I can’t wait to tell, Alex," Ellis said. "We nailed it. You are stunning and hot fuck boy noticed. Mission accomplished."
Katie had been making a resolute point not to look around the room, but Ellis’ was giving her the confidence to venture a gaze in the direction her instincts told her Landon would be.
Ellis’ hand darted out to tug on her arm. "No, no, no, don’t look. I’m serious Kat, he’s literally looking at you right now and it’s written all over his face. This man has it bad for you. He’s standing with Lori and Layla and I’m actually a little worried they might notice if you make eye contact."
His concern was valid because at just that moment, the Dragon Lady’s head swiveled, her stare landing right on her two assistants.
"Katie, Ellis, come over here."
The color drained from Katie’s face, her eyes widening in horror, pleading with Ellis for help. He could only mutter the quickest of pep talks in her ear as he spun her in the right direction.
"Just play it cool. You are fire. You got this girl.”
Katie almost believed him, right up until she sawhim. Landon Ryan was born to wear a baseball uniform, and he looked spectacular in a pair of jeans—but the man was damn near devastating in a tuxedo. With his blue eyes and the dark stubble coating his jaw, he was aVoguecologne ad come to life.
Unfortunately, Layla looked like she’d be in the ad right next to him. Her white blonde hair gleamed in pinup girl waves, framing a cute upturned nose and ice blue eyes, lighter even than Landon’s. Her slinky silver dress hung open almost to her belly button, pert breasts defying gravity.
"Layla, this is Katie, one of my assistants. She is your go-to for anything you need tonight," Lori said.
Layla’s kohl-lined eyes gave her a quick once over, followed by a look Katie knew all too well. She’d seen it on her own mother’s face more times than she could count. Could it be? The beautiful Layla Lamar, with the perfect ass and enchanting eyes and porcelain skin, felt threatened? Byher?
Landon didn’t seem too impressed. Certainly not as enamored as Ellis had said. His eyes were trailing around the room, one hand in his pocket, the other around a highball glass. He sure as hell didn’t seem to care much about Katie’s presence. Or Layla’s for that matter.
Layla spoke to Lori. "I have my own assistant. Missy takes care of all my needs."
Right on cue, a chubby girl with stringy hair approached, three glasses of white wine balanced in her hands. She looked sweet, but tired from the demands of an overbearing boss. Katie could relate.
Missy handed Layla a glass, her mouth open to say something that she didn’t get out before Layla took a sip.
"Ugh! What is this?! This isnotFox Meadow Chardonnay!"
Missy’s crimson cheeks bobbed in her rush to explain. "I’m sorry Layla, I was just about to tell you, they didn’t have it but—"
"They didn’t have it or you were too stupid to find it?" Layla muttered.
Landon’s attention snapped back to the conversation. Eyebrows raised he looked ready to speak up on Missy’s behalf, but he held back, probably because it wasn’t entirely clear if Missy had even heard the snotty remark. She was too busy juggling glasses while trying to relieve Layla of the offensive wine.
"That one was Chardonnay...yes, Chardonnay, but not Fox Meadow Vineyards like you like. The bartender said it was even better. That one is a Pinot Grigio and this one here is another Pinot that the bartender said is even better tha-"
"I don’t care what the shitty bartender said. Not one of these are the wine I drink." Layla turned her sneer of disgust from Missy to Katie. "I would imagine that’s your fault. You certainly look like someone who collects a paycheck for reasons other than her job skills."
Layla looked over at Landon, as if she expected him to share a smug smile at her joke, but Landon wasn’t smiling. A dangerous cloud passed over him and when his mouth dropped open, Katie could only see a huge, gigantic, twenty-five-car-pileup disaster about to happen.
"Actu—"
Landon only got one syllable out before Katie swooped the glass out of Layla’s hand while simultaneously gesturing for Craig The Intern and talking right over whatever Landon was going to say.
"I’m sorry Layla, you’re right, that is my fault completely. I should have checked with your team beforehand and made sure our bars were stocked appropriately. Craig here is going to run out and grab several bottles of Fox Meadow Vineyards Chardonnay."
Katie nodded at Craig for confirmation he understood and he scurried off.
"And I’m giving Missy my cell number so anything else youneed, she can just text me and I’ll make it happen." Katie winked at Missy before tilting her head to look at each side of Layla’s head. "Your earrings are to die for, Ms. Lamar. Wow, I just can’t believe how great you really do make everything look in person. I almost hate to ask,but would you be willing to do a photo in front of our flower wall? It’s by the same floral artist who did Petal Newman’s wedding to Prince Ivanovich."
Layla’s ears perked at the mention of socialite-slash-actress Petal Newman, the it-girl of the moment due to her recent marriage to an actual royal.
Ellis swooped in from behind, picking up where Katie left off. "Yes darling, you are complete fire tonight, Ms. Lamar. I’m a huge fan, by the way. We just have to have a photo of you in this dress. It’s Valentino right?" He steered Layla away by her elbow, dropping his voice to add, "I’m just not sure anyone else here has the social media following for it, if you know what I mean."
One huge crisis averted, Katie turned back to deal with the next—and she really, really didn’t want to deal with this one.
