Page 49 of Rosé with My Fake Fiancé
“Um.” Emma contemplates. “The attendance was fantastic?”
Fortunately for us, it’s at least an hour before the crowd thins and Jade can find us. She’s beaming, and I’m guessing that she enjoys the direct conversations with people way more than giving the presentation. Jade greets Luc with a hug and then sidles up to the rest of us.
“You look fantastic,” I say. “Very powerful up there.”
Everyone else offers their compliments too, and Jade’s cheeks pinken. “Thanks, y’all. The presentation was good, right?”
There’s a beat of silence, and Luc speaks up. “I was very impressed with the numbers.” All four of us glare at him, and Luc shifts to slightly behind me and shuts up.
I choose a different tactic. “Are you going to introduce us to Carlos?”
But Jade is not buying it. She puts her hands on her hips, her suit jacket flaring out and her gaze narrowing on us. “Come on y’all. Truth serum.”
We all exchange glances. “You did a great job presenting the information,” I say.
Jade huffs and glares at me.
“Okay, fine,” Sara says, and reaches out to take Jade’s hand off her hip. “You know we love you, but it’s very obvious that you’re nervous when you start, and you bury yourself in the numbers because that’s where you’re comfortable.”
“I’mpresenting the information.”
“Honey,” Emma says in a soothing tone. “Truth serum,” she says, flinging the words right back at Jade. “You hate this, don’t you?”
Poor Jade looks gutted. “I can’t hate it. It’s a great opportunity. I get to travel, and my boss says this would boost my career.” She swallows hard. “You all think my presentation sucks, too?”
“Hang on,” I say sharply. “We didn’t say it sucks.”
“Did someone else tell you it sucks?” Emma asks.
Jade rolls her eyes. “Carlos did.”
“He said it sucks?” I raise an eyebrow, having a hard time picturing a professional and grown-ass man telling a woman she sucks at her job.
“No, not exactly.” She bites her lip. “He said it was boring.”
Okay, well, it’s hard to argue with that, but I have half a mind to confront this man, who I’msuredidn’t put it kindly at all to Jade based on everything she says about him. That guy has a massive chip on his shoulder, at least when it comes to our Jade.
“It’s just that we know you so well, and you have such an interesting story,” Sara says. “Maybe you can make it more personal?”
“Yeah. People love hearing great, inspirational stories like yours,” Emma adds. “You would give them hope, you know?”
Jade looks off into the distance, thinking, tugging at the end of her ponytail.
“Just think about it,” I say. “If you need help, come to us. Now, should we go meet Carlos, or should we go out to lunch?”
Jade opts for lunch, and we look at Sara’s list of restaurants with vegan options and pick one. Over our meal, we discuss our plans for the day and cheer Jade up.
“I need a nap,” Luc says when Emma suggests seeing The Hofburg. “Sorry.”
“Nap,” Jade says, lifting an eyebrow. “Or,nap.” Her eyes slide over to me.
“Both?” Luc glances at me, hopefully.
I reach my hand under the table and squeeze his knee. “Both.”
“Ugh,” Emma says. “Go be happy and naked together.”
I laugh, and Luc winks at me.
