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I let out a contented sigh. “The place looks great, Freddie. Now, go calm Mrs. Mayor down and tell her our plan. I’ll be here until ten and then I have to run across town as I have a meeting with the Gods of Melody, so you’ll be in charge.”
“I’ve got you covered, Lea. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Addi, it’s good to see you again.” I smiled at the manager of the record label that Fox’s band, Alchemy Myth, was signed to.
“Lea,” she beamed. “Thanks for coming over. I appreciate you meeting with me face to face. Coffee?”
“Best not. I’ve had three already today. I’ll never sleep. A water would be great if you’ve got it.” She stood from behind her desk, smoothing out her Capri pants and walking to the mini fridge at the back of her office to pull out two bottles of water. Placing one on the table in front of me, she took a seat again. “This is totally off the record. You can’t tell anyone.”
“Already signed my NDA, remember?” I laughed, twisting the top of the bottle.
“The Cosmic Gods are being given a lifetime achievement award at the Mercury Music Awards, and it needs to stay hush hush.” I nodded my agreement not to mention it. “I got a call yesterday from the organizers because the company they were using to plan it has gone bust. Apparently, the owner has been creaming money off the top and no one wants to have to do anything else with the event until they switch organizer. They are desperate for someone to come in and take over every aspect of it.”
I laughed because whoever said yes to that was certifiable. It was too short a time to plan something so big and it would take a huge team dedicated to making it happen.
“It’s why I suggested you.”
“W-what,” I spluttered. “Me. I can’t—”
“You’re amazing. You should be doing way more than planning birthday parties for rich people’s kids who are way too young to even remember the day.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I like planning kid’s parties.”
“And your team can, but you Lea, are meant for the big time. Think of what this could do for your business.”
“I am. It could break it. If this went wrong… if I didn’t get it ready on time… I appreciate you suggesting me, but I just—”
I was interrupted by her office phone ringing.
She clicked a button to answer it, putting it on speaker. “Addi.” Her assistant spoke. “I have Elena Scott on line one. She said you’re expecting her call.”
“Hear her out,” Addi whispered as I glared at her. “Put her through, thanks.”
“Addison, Elena Scott here. Thank for you helping us out.”
“Hi, Elena, I’ve got the woman of the hour here. Lea Lewis is the party planner that we use for all our events. She’s amazing.”
“Hi, Lea. Yes, we have heard great things about your work. I hope Addison has explained the pickle we’re in. We would love it if you could take on this project.”
I coughed. “I’m flattered, but it’s such a short timeframe and I’m fully booked with other events. I can try to find you someone else if that helps.”
Addi raised her eyebrow and shook her head before mouthing ‘say yes’.
“Look, Lea, I’m not above begging. We will give you a budget that will make your eyes water, you can bring your own team, hire whoever you need and we will pay to temporarily replace any of your staff you want to bring onto the project with you so you don’t have to let your current clients down. If you can get it done, we will guarantee to use you again for the next two years and we will mention your business in any promo we do for the event. You’ll become a well known name in the industry and a very rich woman.”
I let out a long breath, twisting my ponytail through my fingers.
“And don’t forget that you will be arranging the after party for the Gods, too.” Addi dropped that bombshell, raising her eyebrow as if I should have just known she’d be adding that to my to do list.
I cupped my face briefly with my hands before I spoke again. “Okay, let me get this right, you want me to arrange a televised award ceremony that’s shown around the world and the after party for the winners of the lifetime achievement award… something that would usually take twelve to eighteen months, in six.”
“Yes,” they both said in unison.
“Oh, and the nomination event the month before, too,” Elena added, and I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.
“I’m not sure you could pay me enough to—”
“I’ve sent you an email with a figure we’re willing to pay.” I dug my phone out of my bag and opened my email, coughing as I read the extortionate figure with more zeros than I’d ever seen before. “And that’s just your payment—we would pay for everything else,” Elena confirmed.
