Page 23 of Secrets, Scandals and Baby Shoes

“Thank you.” Monica’s voice rang out, and Elliot and Lucy froze. Lucy felt like a wayward child having been called out for stealinga cookie. In unison, they turned to Monica, who looked at them kindly. “I appreciate how passionate you both are, and I know this is a trying time. However, it’s clear that you don’t agree on a strategy, and I don’t feel comfortable partnering with a company that can’t even agree internally.”

Lucy’s stomach dropped. Their inability to agree had just caused Borderless to lose an important potential client. Dominic would have been so disappointed.

“If you would—” Elliot began, but Monica held up a hand. She stood, buttoned her suit jacket, and held out a hand to Elliot. He took it.

“I want to give you both another chance,” Monica said. “Come visit one of our vineyards — next week, perhaps.” She let go of Elliot’s hand and took Lucy’s. “See what Pura Vida is all about. Then I’ll give you another chance to pitch your strategy to me.”

“Thank you,” Lucy and Elliot chorused.

“We really appreciate it,” Lucy added.

Monica smiled briefly. “Lukas, will you walk me out?”

“Of course.” The account manager exited with Monica, leaving Lucy and Elliot standing alone in the conference room.

“How could you do that?” Elliot seethed. “You almost cost us that client.”

“Ialmost cost us the client?” Lucy shook her head. “It was you who insisted on preparing the presentation, refused to show it to me, and then left out the creative work I asked you to include!”

“Yes, I did, because I knew my strategy would work. This isn’t my first time pitching to a company!” Elliot ran a hand throughhis hair. “I know you want to be part of this, but that can’t mean cutting me off when I’m about to land a client.”

“You weren’t about to land that client,” Lucy snapped. “You were definitely losing Monica. She may be a businesswoman, but she also cares about her image and what Pura Vida means to the people who visit.”

“At the end of the day, money wins over image nine times out of ten.”

“Well, maybe this was the tenth. Or maybe that’s just another useless statistic!”

They glared at each other for several long moments. Then Lucy sighed, slumping back into her chair.

“Look,” she said, her voice calmer. “I shouldn’t have interrupted you. At the end of the day, we’re doing this for Dominic, and we need to remember that.”

“I know.” Elliot sighed and leaned against the table. “I should have consulted you on the presentation. Clearly, we’re going to need to find a better way to work together.”

“How about this?” Lucy held out a hand, palm open. “We agree to a truce — just for the vineyard trip. Let’s try to get along. Let’s show Monica that we can work together and present a cohesive strategy.”

“That does make sense.” Elliot took her hand, and, for the briefest of seconds, Lucy felt that electric thrill she’d always experienced when Elliot touched her. Then they both pulled away. “That means no fighting in front of the client.”

“Agreed. And no trying to undermine each other.”

“I wasn’t—” Elliot cut himself off. “Agreed. None of that, either.”

“And no suggesting that I’m not qualified to be a CEO. And you need to focus on Borderless, not Keype, while we’re on the trip.”

“We’re getting close to having too many conditions, Winter,” Elliot said.

“And…” Lucy trailed off, smiled, and pretended to zip her lips. “And nothing. That’s it. Let’s see if we can get through a few days without fighting. I’ll make the arrangements with the vineyard.”

“Deal.” Elliot lifted his hand as if to shake again, then seemed to reconsider and dropped it to his side. “See you later.”

With that, he left. Lucy watched him go through the clear glass panels of the conference room. If only she could work with anyone else — absolutely anyone else. It wasn’t just that Elliot had turned into someone cold and distant, although that was certainly part of it. Another part was that if they were to spend much time together, she’d soon have to hear about all the women Elliot had probably dated since her. Dominic, when pressed, had occasionally mentioned Elliot going on a date or two, but he’d seemed hesitant to bring it up with her. Elliot would certainly have no such inhibitions.

A sudden realization dawned on Lucy. What if Elliot brought a date to the vineyard? After all, a weekend getaway at a vineyard at the end of summer in Napa Valley could be a very romantic affair indeed. Lucy was halfway onto her feet to tell Elliot not to bring anyone. They needed to focus on business, after all. But she forced herself not to impose any more rules. If Elliot wanted to bring someone, she couldn’t stop him.

“Sorry, Dominic,” Lucy muttered. She should be completely focused on Borderless and on preserving Dominic’s legacy, noton some silly rivalry between her and Elliot. When they went to the vineyard, Lucy would focus on what mattered, Borderless, not on Elliot.

Lucy stood, packed her things, and headed back to the office she shared with Elliot. She was both relieved and annoyed to find that he was in yet another meeting. Alone, she settled into her chair and began organizing their visit to one of the Pura Vida vineyards. This was going to be an interesting trip, to say the least.

And they had to get along, or they’d lose an important client. The stakes were high.

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