Page 4 of Corporate Escapades

“Don’t get used to it,” he teased. He handed the remainder of the beer to Paris and then reached out his other hand and pulled her to her feet. “Shall we?”

Paris took a swig of the celebratory beer, and linking her arm with Vic’s, she allowed him to lead her out of the dance hall. It was time to change into their evening attire and move on to phase two.

Several hours later, the party was in full swing. Paris looked out over the crowded dance hall and watched as her little sister and her helper, Val, poured wine for twenty people. Alli was an amazing sommelier. Her food and wine pairings came together as if by magic. At only twenty-two, she was truly gifted, and people from all over came to her wine events at ADG.

Paris walked across the room toward the wine bar, her flowing lavender Chanel dress swishing in the cool evening breeze, the scent of roses from the nearby gardens tickling her nose. She was in her element.

“Paris, lovely to see you this evening,” said a middle-aged gentleman with dark-rimmed glasses. “Have you come to taste some wine with us?”

“No, Devon, not tonight.” She winked at the poker celebrity and his new wife. “I have to keep my head about myself, as there’s still a good portion of the evening to go. Is Alli taking excellent care of you?”

He nodded in return. “She always does.”

Paris turned toward Alli. Her sister joyfully interacted with her guests as she poured the tasting glasses for one of their newest dessert wines, which she was serving with a cinnamon truffle. As she finished the final pour, she turned away from the group. Paris moved toward her. “Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Not really,” said Alli. Her face took on a green hue as she grasped her stomach. “I think I might be sick.” Turning away, she made a mad dash for the condo.

Val’s eyes widened, and she motioned for Paris to follow. The group was so busy

discussing the wine and truffle pairing that they hadn’t noticed Alli’s spontaneous disappearance from the tent. Paris hurried after her sister. She marched through the door to the condo and headed for the common bathroom in the entryway. Pushing the door open, she could hear the agonizing sound of her sister’s retching.

“Alli, are you okay? What’s going on?”

Alli let out a groan. “Just give me a minute. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you drunk?” demanded Paris. “I told you not to drink at these events. It makes you look bad. You need to be professional at all times,” she scolded.

“I’m not drunk,” replied Alli. “Please stop.”

Paris frowned. “You’re not drunk? Really? You’re bent over the toilet doing what then? This is just like last year at the Food and Wine Festival, when you couldn’t hold your liquor, and I had totake over the tasting for you. How can you be so careless?” she demanded. As she waited for an answer, Brody strutted into the bathroom, as if he belonged there.

Alli and Brody had been dating for three years and were nearly inseparable. He was a kind sweetheart who was madly in love with Paris’s sister. He looked like a surfer, with his pierced ears and sun-bleached hair fastened behind his head. He was fit and well-tanned and stood nearly three inches taller than his cousin Vic. Everyone loved Brody for his great sense of humor and gentle demeanor. He was one of the good guys, sweeping in to rescue Alli as usual.

“What are you doing here?” asked Paris.

“Alli, I’m here. What do you need? Are you okay?” asked Brody. Squinting his deep brown eyes, he leaned his head against the stall door as if to hear better.

“She’s definitely not okay,” replied Paris. “I think she’s intoxicated.”

“Alli, you haven’t been drinking, have you?” he asked.

“No! I haven’t. Tell my sister to butt out!”

“What’s going on?” asked Paris.

“I radioed and asked him to meet me,” said Alli. “Just go away, Paris.”

Brody turned to look at Paris, his smile flatlined. “She’s pregnant,” he whispered.

“Don’t tell her that! Why’d you tell her, Brody?”

“What?” Paris’s face paled and her stomach gurgled. “How?”

“Well, I’m assuming it happened like it usually does. Boy meets girl, boy and girl sleep together, baby comes out nine months later,” Brody replied evenly.

Turning away from Brody, Paris addressed Alli. “Mom and Dad are going to flip. Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“I did tell someone. I told Brody last night.”

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