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Most of the guests are seated at their designated tables. I spot our company table in the middle of the room. Dad is next to Uncle Rob and Grandpa, looking around uncomfortably. I follow his line of sight and see Kevin standing to hold Greer’s chair as she is seated. He bends to say something in her ear, and she tilts her face to his, a smile spreading across her lips.
He kisses her cheek quickly and walks onstage to the podium in the middle. All conversations stop, and the room goes silent, every eye on Kevin Palmer.
Without saying a word, his presence is commanding. The air in the room changes, growing with anticipation. My own pulse starts to race.
“Good evening, everyone. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve decided to start the presentation a little ahead of schedule. I’ve found that, as the night wears on, people become weary and restless, and the last thing I want to do is bore you.”
Chuckles fill the room as he pauses for effect.
“Too late!” Enrique yells from his seat beside Jenny, and she slaps his arm.
“Ahhh, I can always count on you, Enrique, to be a pain in my ass,” Kevin jokes, shaking his finger playfully.
More laughter fills the room, but it’s Greer’s giggles that ring in my ears. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes bright with enjoyment.
“As I was saying, this is a very special night for a lot of people, and I’m delighted to be here to celebrate the theme Revolutionary Wonders in Building with this room full of acclaimed and esteemed trailblazers. When I was asked to speak tonight, I worked with my Communications Team to try to script something that would sound brilliant, professional, and sophisticated. We came up with a great speech. In front of my entire team, I read it over and over. Then I ripped it into pieces.”
Several gasps sound throughout the crowd.
Greer giggles again and turns her head to a table where several people are nodding in confirmation. I assume this is part of his team.
“The truth is, I always find myself more comfortable winging it. So, tonight, you will be subjected to my style of presentation. Don’t worry, I have back-up in case I get out of hand.” He glances at the table, his eyes passing by every one of the Nerd Herd and landing on Greer. He winks and then pulls his attention back to the audience.
“All of you are aware that, a few months ago, I released an RFP for a new laboratory I’m building on Long Island. The outline, specs, and demands were nearly impossible to meet. There is no doubt in my mind that I became one of the most hated men in the building industry. Everyone that chose to participate was given a monumental task. Quite frankly, I never expected such a vast amount of participation. Palmer Enterprises was prepared to put this project up for a national bid. But I am pleased to say that will not be necessary. I am blown away by every single response we received. The timeline was tough, and I know from experience there are some people in this room that probably haven’t slept in three months. And, for all of you, I personally want to say I’m beyond impressed. You should all be proud of your accomplishments.”
He pauses to allow for applause. Greer stands first, clapping loudly and twisting to glance at every table, mouthing ‘thank you’ over and over. The front three tables mimic her action, and the cheering starts as they congratulate all the businesses for their work.
“Is she always this genuine?” Clay asks quietly.
“Always,” I confirm, my heart swelling with love for her graciousness.
The noise dies down, and when everyone sits, Kevin continues.
“This laboratory has been a very important project to me for many years. I’ve spent countless hours toiling over what I envisioned to be the level of perfection. When I finally found the land, I knew it was time to bring this baby to life. But I couldn’t do it alone. To say I’m thankful to my team is a gross understatement. However, there is a small group of people that need to be recognized for their efforts.
“I am well aware of the chatter among the community regarding my decision to make these blind bids with no names or recognizable traits. It was a huge risk, and even my closest advisors questioned my decision. But I can assure you there was a method to my madness. It was a well thought out and calculated decision. Now, I will explain why I made that choice.”
The hair on the back of my neck prickles when Greer’s smile fades and her eyes grow wide.
“Greer, will you stand?”
She looks like a deer in headlights as she shakes her head. He ignores her.
“Jonas, Bessie, Enrique, Dr. Dennis, please stand.”
The four of them do as he says, and all of their faces beam with pride. Jonas moves next to Greer and takes her hands, lifting her out of the seat.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I knew the only way I could achieve the revolutionary wonder I envisioned was to have experts on my side. These couldn’t be just any experts; they had to be educated and trained in certain fields, and that knowledge would translate into building the greatest innovative laboratory this country has seen. These five individuals make up what I consider the most brilliant young minds in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Technology, Urban & Environmental Planning, and Architectural Design.” He motions to a man in the front, and the screen behind him comes to life. A montage of designs starts scrolling.
“This crew was my secret weapon. Because of their dedication, commitment, and applied knowledge, Palmer Enterprises will break ground with the most important project of my career. As I mentioned earlier, the theme of the evening is celebrating the Revolutionary Wonders in Building, and that is exactly what I intend to do. Tonight is not only about Palmer Enterprises; it’s also about the extreme talent within these walls. As of now, all secrecy is over. The designs you see are a fraction of what the real life versions look like. I can’t wait to unveil them to you after dinner. As we enjoy our meal tonight, the screen behind me will be scrolling through pieces of all submitted works from each of the firms and companies. For the last few months, you have been nameless, but tonight, bask in the excitement as we commend this extreme creativity and talent. Enjoy your meal and thank you.”
The room breaks into another applause as Kevin makes his way back to his table. He goes to Greer first, wrapping his arms around her. From the distance, I can see his lips moving at her ear. She nods then steps back as he makes his way around the table, shaking hands with Enrique and Jonas, and embracing Jenny and Bessie quickly.
An icy chill coats my skin, making every nerve-ending sting. My chest constricts as the realization of his announcement sinks in. Greer has been involved with every step of the process.
“Motherfucker. Just when I thought this couldn’t get worse,” Clay bites out. “This is what she was working on? She’s a part of a think tank?”
I don’t answer him because my worst nightmare starts to play out before me. Greer’s eyes are trained on the stage. People all around her are talking and laughing. Servers are delivering salads and pouring wine, but she’s staring intently at the screen. I follow her line of sight and catch a glimpse of one of my blueprints with my company logo stamped on it. But that’s not what she’s looking at. It’s the signature at the bottom. A signature that should have been erased but slipped through the cracks.
