Page 2 of Party Favors

Her face broke out in a huge smile. “Excellent. I think it’s long past time for you to be given the official title of event planner. I’ve scheduled this new client to come in two days from now, and I hope that you’ll be one of the people pitching an idea. I’ll forward you the email with all the relevant details.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I have to go. Adrian’s expecting me.”

At that, she pointedly glanced over at the large clock hanging on her wall. It was nearly nine o’clock at night and her own assistant had left hours ago.

But as long as Adrian was in the office, so was I. Just in case he needed something.

Like his favorite brand of water.

My roommate and best friend, Vella, kept trying to tell me that Adrian took advantage of me and that I should stand up to him and create professional boundaries, but she didn’t understand.

Neither did Claudia.

I wanted to be here with him.

There was a definite flash of pity in Claudia’s expression, and I ignored it as I headed back to my desk.

I rushed down the hallway, eager to escape to the comfort and familiarity of my own workspace. I was excited at the prospect of pitching while still feeling as if I’d betrayed Adrian somehow. I hadn’t corrected her about the work that I’d done, because she was right. It wasn’t Adrian who took care of all the major and minor details of the events—it was me. I was the woman behind the scenes who got everything done, and much as I hated being the center of attention, it felt good to be recognized for my hard work.

Would I be brave enough to ask Adrian to let me pitch? I’d hinted over the years about being promoted and becoming an event planner, but he always changed the subject.

And I hoped that it was because he couldn’t bear to lose me.

Not just because I was good at my job.

I sat down in my chair and wondered what Adrian would do if I marched into his office and asked for the opportunity to pitch the potential new client that Claudia had found. Would he be upset?

Supportive?

Change the subject without giving me an answer?

I didn’t know.

And that bothered me.

I took my cell phone out of my pocket, intending to open my email, and saw that I had a text from my mother.

DID YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF NICO AND KAT AND THEIR CHILDREN? SO, SO CUTE! MOM SEND

Nico and Kat were King Dominic and Queen Katerina of Monterra, but in my family we always referred to them as Nico and Kat. Like we knew them or something. I responded quickly.

Of course I did.

As if I didn’t have the same Google alerts set up as she did.

DO YOU THINK CHIARA IS GOING TO RELEASE AN EARLY SKETCH OF HER WEDDING DRESS? MOM SEND

I’d told her on numerous occasions that she didn’t have to sign her texts, that I knew they were from her, but she didn’t believe me. She also insisted on writing her texts in all caps, despite me explaining that it was the equivalent of yelling at someone, because she had decided it made it more likely that her texts would go through.

She also dismissed me when I told her that she didn’t have to write the wordsendand that just pushing the button made the text arrive on my phone.

She was a stubborn woman, and there was no point in arguing with her or trying to use reason.

My mother was texting me about Princess Chiara (Nico’s younger sister) because her wedding was set to take place in a couple of weeks, and because she loved fashion the most out of all of her royal siblings, we were expecting wedding-dress greatness.

I don’t know if Chiara will. She loves her privacy and I’m sure we’ll have to wait until the actual wedding to see.

I HOPE SHE WILL! MOM SEND

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