Page 7 of Forty, Flirty & Fake-ly Yours

"You did what now?" I ask.

"Point is, you best matchmaker in Seattle. You show them. Put on dress. Go to party. Make contacts."

"Network," Olivia adds.

"Steal clients," Dani suggests.

"Get revenge," Sarah says, followed by silence. "What? I've been divorced three times. I know about revenge dresses."

I look at the dress again. It's the kind of dress that would fit right in at a Four Seasons event. The kind of dress that says "I'm too fabulous to give a shit about my ex's engagement to my cousin."

"This is crazy," I say, but I'm already reaching for the garment bag. "Even if we did go, how would we even get in? There's security, guest lists..."

"Please." Dani waves. "You used to plan events there all the time. You probably know that place better than their own staff."

"And Jason still works security," Olivia adds. "You know, the guy whose sister you matched with that pediatric surgeon?"

"The one with the twins?" Sarah asks. "They're adorable. I follow them on Instagram."

Nonna Flora claps her hands. "Then is settled! Sarah, get makeup. Olivia, get shoes. Dani?—"

"Already texting Jason about security rotation," Dani says, fingers flying over her phone.

"I was going to say get wine, but yes, that too."

"Fine." I grab the dress. "But we're just going to network. Professionally. No drama."

"Of course not," Olivia agrees.

"Totally professional," Dani echoes.

"No revenge.” I point at each of them. "No scenes. No?—"

"No waste time arguing when party already starting," Nonna Flora practically pushes me toward the back office. "Go. Change. Show them what real matchmaker look like."

Twenty minutes later, I barely recognize myself in the office's full-length mirror.

The dress is perfect – fitted enough to show off curves but elegant enough for a high-society event. Sarah's emergency makeup kit has transformed my day-old mascara into something smokier, more dramatic. My unruly auburn waves are somehow both sophisticated and sexy, thanks to Olivia's emergency hot tools (and why does everyone have emergency everything?).

"The shoes work," Dani declares, studying the black Louboutins Olivia produced from the trunk of her car. "But you need one more thing."

She pulls out a familiar bracelet. The diamonds catch the light, and suddenly I'm back in that moment five years ago, watching Joel's mother hand me the family heirloom. "Welcome to the family, dear. Though of course, you've always been like a daughter to me..."

Dani clasps the bracelet. “This will be way better than hanging fliers at the coffee shop.”

“For once I actually agree with you.” I nod. Now, walk me through the plan again?"

“Jason says the main security is focused on the front entrance," Dani reports, consulting her phone. "But the service elevator?—"

"Has a blind spot by the kitchen access hall," I finish. "I remember from the Women in Tech awards. The caterers kept using it to sneak in late staff."

"See? Destiny." Dani grabs her coat. "Now, Olivia will create a distraction at the main entrance while we?—"

"Why do I have to be the distraction?"

"Because you're the only one who can pull off 'confused board member who lost her invitation' without looking suspicious."

"What about the client list?" I ask, checking my clutch for emergency business cards. "Who's confirmed?"

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