Gaudy? Second rate? Who did he think he was? Eliot had recognized the man who couldn't wait two minutes to exit the sanctuary with the rest of the guests. Clearly an entitled rich boy who wasn't used to not getting his way.

Though there was little about the man that fit the descriptor "boy," Eliot admitted to himself. He wasn't bursting his seams with muscles, but there was something about his firm jaw, his piercing eyes, his perfectly straight posture that screamed this was a man who was used to getting his way.

Which only made Eliot want to deny him something. Anything to upset that deeply ingrained confidence.

"Everything seems to be going well." Charlie's hand landed on Eliot's shoulder, making him jump.

"Except for entitled bastards insulting all our work," Eliot muttered.

Charlie looked around. "Who? Do I need to fight them?"

Eliot laughed. As if Charlie would do anything to upset the tenuous balance of energy and chaos that embodied every event. "Just some self-important snob." Eliot nodded to the corner where the dark man stood alone, his friend having gone after... Eliot glanced around the room. Ah. The pretty blonde the man had referred to was Jane. Well, best of luck to him. Jane was a pro at deflecting alphas’ advances while she was working.

"Oooh.” Charlie’s voice took on a calculating tone that always made Eliot wary. It generally meant more money, but also more work with difficult clients. “That's Darcy Pemberly. He's not worth millions, he's worth billions."

Of course he was.

"That doesn't give him the right to insult our work."

"What did he say?"

Eliot fiddled with a bit of lace on the branches. It looked fine, but it gave him something to do other than reach for a glass of champagne and chuck it at rich boy’s head. "He said the decorations were gaudy. And the champagne was second rate. It's Dom Perignon, for crying out loud! What more does he want? Krug Clos du Mesnil?"

Charlie grabbed Eliot around the shoulders and started pushing him out of the reception area. "The only reason you even know the difference is because I dragged you to that tasting my uncle paid for."

"Who cares how I know the difference? If that's what he's expecting, then he should just stay in whatever tower he lives in and have his servants bring it to him."

"He actually lives fairly modestly for a crazy rich guy." Charlie stopped once they were safely outside of the reception, finding themselves in an empty hallway.

Eliot crossed his arms. "You're not going to let me bitch about him in peace, are you? Your job as my best friend is to nod and agree with me."

"And my job as your business partner is to remind you to play nice with the people who could give us more business."

Eliot glared at Charlie for several moments before his shoulders collapsed, his anger receding, though not disappearing. "I hate you."

"I know. I don't suppose I can convince you to try and buddy up to him and make the event worth his while?"

"No pimping me out, Charlie. If you want his business so badly, you go talk to him."

Charlie's smile was shark-like, and Eliot grabbed his arm and pulled him further away from the door.

"I didn't mean it! I can't imagine working with that guy. If you care for our friendship at all, you absolutely will not try to put us in charge of his wedding or any of his relatives."

Charlie shrugged. "It's probably no use anyway. He's one of the elite's most determined bachelors."

"A real playboy type, huh?"

"Not as far as I know. More like he's married to his work. Though after his parents' scandal, who can blame him?"

Eliot’s scowl deepened. "I can see what you're doing. You're trying to get me interested in him and then make me feel sorry for him. It's not going to work."

"It was worth a try. Now, is it safe to go back? Or do you still feel like trying to murder him with the decorations?"

Eliot took a deep breath. “I’m good.” Charlie fell into step with him as they returned to the reception. They split, and Eliot went looking for Jane to make sure nothing had gone awry in their brief absence. She was talking with the DJ when he found her.

"The couple is getting ready for their entrance," she said. "Everything is going smoothly!"

"Proving once again that I am right. Something needs to go wrong early in the day and everything else will fall into place."

"You're such a superstitious granny," she teased before the music swelled and prevented them from talking. Eliot waved at her and went to check on the catering while she moved to the next item on her list. They didn't reconnect again until after all the guests had left.

"Too many drunk alphas this time?" Eliot asked.

She shrugged. "Not too bad, actually. I... may have actually accepted a date from one of them."

Eliot was certain of her answer before he opened his mouth. "Not the swooshy dirty blond in the navy blue suit?"

Jane blushed. "Were you spying on me, Eliot Bennett?"

"Were you doing anything worthy of being spied on?" He hip checked her. "But really, Jane. You know it's bad business to get involved with clients or their families."

"He wasn't either," she protested. "He was a guest."

Eliot pinned her with a glare. "You know what I mean."

She held up a hand, bundled tablecloths threatening to escape her one-armed grip. "I solemnly swear nothing bad will happen if I go out on a date with Bing."

"His name is Bing?" Eliot asked incredulously.

"Don't make fun of him," Jane said, punching his shoulder. He scooped up the fabric that tumbled from her arms. "It's just one date. Who knows, he could chew food with his mouth open."

"He could snort when he laughs."

"He could be allergic to chocolate."

"He could sleep with stuffed animals."

They dissolved into laughter.

"Are you working or playing?" Charlie complained. "I want to go home and drink leftover champagne."

Jane and Eliot shared a look before scrambling to finish up. Leftover champagne at home sounded devine.

Eliot would have to ask Charlie about this Bing person. If he was anything like his rude friend, he wasn’t the kind of guy Jane needed to be hanging out with.