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“I remember,” I say.
The benefit is one of the few social things over the past months I haven’t been able to get out of. And now, I don’t want to, either. I want to show up and prove… well. What, I don’t even know.
That I’m still here. That I’m doing great. That Percy made the biggest mistake of his goddamn life.
“I just want to say,” Isaac continues, “that the offer still stands.”
“I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that.”
“It would be helpful for us,” he says, and his jaw works. “I guess, I have somewhat of an… unconventional proposal.”
“You do?”
“Being seen with you would benefit me as well.”
My mind goes perfectly blank. I can’t think of a single reason why that might be. My social capital in these circles is a pebble to his mountain, and lesser still after the divorce.
“It would? Why?”
“I mentioned my family,” he says. “The insistent ones.”
“I remember.”
“Well, they’re under the misapprehension that I don’t date. Ever.”
“But you do?” I ask. It’s not meant to sound incredulous, but the conversation is taking a turn I can’t quite follow.
His mouth thins. “Yes, I do. Just not very publicly.”
“Right,” I say. “Okay.”
“Let me bring you as my date,” he says, “and we’ll make a statement. To your ex-husband, and to my family and friends.”
The idea is outrageous. Inappropriate on as many levels as this hotel has floors. I can’t. I know I can’t. And yet the part of me I’m not proud of—the petty, revengeful part that still replays the image of Percy on top of his mistress in that hotel room—sees this for the opportunity it is.
I swallow. “Are you absolutely sure it would serve your purposes, as well?”
He chuckles. “Yes. Trust me, you’d be doing me a favor.”
“What about our work?”
“It won’t be affected,” he says. “I can keep the two separate.”
“Well, you said you prefer to keep business and pleasure separate.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Pleasure?”
“Oh, never mind. I guess this will technically also be business. Just of a different sort?”
“Yes,” he says, and his voice sounds gruffer. “Just business.”
“People at my company might find out.”
“I don’t think it would be a problem,” he says. “You’re not doing anything wrong by dating a project client. If anything, we can say that we used the events to talk more about the pitch. It’s networking. I know it’s big in the consulting industry.”
“It is,” I admit. “Meetings are often held… anywhere. I have a colleague who likes to have them on the golf course.”
He nods. “Right.”
