Page 25 of Sapphire Sunset

“No, I’m changing the subject since the last one isn’t provingvery fruitful.”

“Two days.” Connor had told everyone the trip was a minivacation before he started his official job at Sapphire Cove.

But it wasn’t.

It was a research trip. At UCI, his friendship with Jayceehad centered around their shared major, business administration, and theirmutual desire to get paid for throwing fantastic parties guests talked about forthe rest of their lives. So for a graduation present, rather than offer him atourist’s spin through the city that never sleeps, she’d offered him a few daysof shadowing her at work, knowing full well he’d squeal with delight at the prospect.

And he did. Twice.

She’d graduated the year before, quickly decamping for anentry-level position at one of the top event planning firms in New York, if notthe country. Tapestry handled everything from posh weddings in the Hamptons toelaborate bashes hosted by television studios. In a little over a year, herInstagram feed had gone from sunset pictures taken during her regular hikesthrough the Laguna Hills to selfies of Jaycee and her equally coiffed coworkersposing in front of floral recreations of the Empire State Building or the TajMahal, or striking a quick group shot on a beautifully lit dance floor in theRainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center right before the first guests arrived. Themagic moment Connor had described to Logan the night before, only her versionculminated in the arrivals of former presidents and Brad Pitt.

“What fun things do you all have planned?” his mother asked.

“She’s doing, like, three different huge events. I’m goingto shadow her.”

“So you’ll be working?”

“I will be watching experts in my field working,” Connorcorrected her.

“What was that about relaxing again?”

Connor made a face like Pennywise staring through a sewergrate.

“Charming,” his mother said. “I’m serious, Connor. We go,go, go in this family, and I think it’s important you take some time to clearyour head before you walk through the doors of Sapphire Cove as an employee andnot a visitor.”

“Rodney shut my party down early for no reason.” Connorthought it best to just cut to the heart of his mother’s concerns. She’d made nosecret of her misgivings about his job-to-be—they all started with anRand ended with aT. With a lot of scotch in the middle. “He said hehad to set up for a breakfast because there was a leaky pipe in the Seahorse Room,but I checked last night, and he was lying.”

“Jerk,” she whispered. “Do you want me to say something toyour father?”

“No, no. I don’t want to make waves right before I start.”

“Connor, youarea wave.”

“Is that a good thing?” he asked.

“It all depends on where you decide to break.” She sighed asif he’d just doused her dress. Or maybe it was Rodney she was sighing over.

“How far are we going to follow this metaphor? Should Ibring a surfboard?”

“I don’t like the idea of you working for him.” His motherstabbed a forkful of salad.

“I know, and I won’t be working for him. I’ll be working forGloria, who’s amazing.”

“She is, and she works for him.”

“Mom, we all know how the hotel runs. The staff works aroundRodney because he only does the parts of the job that make him look cool.”

“As if anything could make your uncle lookcool.”

“Agreed.”

“He does the parts of the job your grandfather and fatherdon’t want to do, and that’s how he got the position. And it’ll be his untilyou’re qualified to take it.”

“Sure,” Connor said.

“Sure?That’s your response to your destiny?” Shespeared a forkful of salad with so much force he was surprised the rest of thelettuce on her plate didn’t try to make a run for it.

Connor sat back in his chair and folded his hands across hislap. “I’m lost. What are we arguing about?”

---