Page 3 of Count Your Lucky Stars
“But I feel like the Lowell wedding might be a tad ambitious for your first solo gig.”
Every event since Olivia had started working at ECE had beena tad ambitiousaccording to Lori.
Olivia deflated. “Oh.”
Lori turned, staring out the window, where outside, a fine mist fell from the gray sky. She drummed her fingers against her arm and sighed sharply through her nose. “I’ve worked with Brendon Lowell on several events in the past—company parties, corporate retreats, that sort of thing. He’s easy to work with, knows what he likes, and he’s local to the area. Best part of all, helovesweddings.”
“Sounds like a dream,” Olivia murmured, trying to tuck away her disappointment.
“If not for the poor timing, I’d have been over the moon,having a wedding like this land in my lap.” Lori’s scowl reflected in the glass. “It’s the sort of wedding that practically plans itself. With a budget like his, how could it not?”
Olivia frowned. If Lori was trying to make her feel better, it wasn’t working. “I’m sorry?”
Lori clicked her tongue against the back of her teeth. “And theSeattle Timescoverage? That has the propensity to behugefor business. Granted, the wedding would have to go off without a hitch...” Lori looked at her askance. “What I’m saying is, don’t fuck this up.”
Her jaw dropped. “Wait. What? Are you—Lori.”
Olivia’s eyes stung from all of this emotional whiplash.
The thin gold bangles on Lori’s wrist jangled when she batted at the air. “I beg you, please don’t get mushy on me. My nerves are shot. If you start to cry,I’llcry, and Iloathecrying.”
Olivia pressed her lips together, stifling a laugh.
Lori rolled her head to the side and smiled. “You’re right. Youaregood at this. Which is why I’m going to give you the Lowell wedding.”
Lips still pressed tight together, her squeal escaped as a high-pitchedmeep. “Thank you, thank you, thank you—”
Lori lifted a hand, cutting off Olivia’s effusive thanks. “You pull this off, and consider the wordassistantscratched from your position, okay?” Lori rounded her desk and reached for her glasses, sliding them up the bridge of her nose. “We can discuss a raise in your salary later.” Lori lifted her head and smiled. “Sound good?”
It sounded freakingfantastic. “Perfect.”
“Great.” Lori tore a sheet of paper from her notebook and held it out for Olivia to take. “Monday. Six p.m. sharp. Brendon and his fiancée, Annie, would like to tour The Ruins. Fabulous hidden gem in Queen Anne? You remember it, right? We had an event there a few months ago. It was for—”
“The Martins’ golden anniversary.” Olivia nodded. “I remember.”
Lori arched a single brow, one corner of her mouth rising simultaneously, looking pleased. Olivia warmed faintly at the unspoken praise. She had a sharp memory, necessary in a profession like this.
“Good.” Lori pointed at the paper in Olivia’s hand. “Brendon’s and Annie’s cells are listed at the top. Backup numbers for the Maid of Honor and Best Woman are below those. Just in case.”
Listed on the paper beneath B. Lowell and A. Kyriakos was D. Lowell and M. Cooper.
M. Cooper.
Olivia traced the inked name with the tip of her finger. In a city of nearly four million people, what were the chances ofthisM. Cooper being the same M. Cooper Olivia knew from high school? Her face warmed; the rest of her, too. Slim. The chances were slim.
“I’ll forward you his email with details on budget and guest list. Lucky for us, we already have a head count.”
Luckywas right.
“Well, go on.” Lori shooed Olivia out of the office. “You’ve got a lot work ahead of you.”
***
“I’m just saying, maybe it’s time to put some feelers out, start the hunt for a new roommate. It’s been six months since the last one moved out.”
As if Margot Cooper needed the reminder of how long it had been. It was the longest she’d lived alone, a fact of which she was painfully aware. “Iknow, Elle.”
“Doesn’t the quiet bother you?” Margot’s best friend frowned and leaned her shoulder against the crosswalk pole. “It would bother me.”
