“Are you ready for this?”

“Yeah, no sweat.” I glanced at the cardboard box of nametags in my lap.

“You sure? You look like you really care how this goes.” Payton looked over from the driver’s seat, amused.

The last few days I’d almost fooled myself into thinking I was an event planner. I knew about the different kinds of lights and speakers and the capacity constraints of different rooms. I knew how to proofread the signs and what margins and bleeds were for printing. I’d put out fires and called clients and worked until I fell asleep on my desk.

Let’s be clear—it wasn’t noble. It was because I needed something to care about while I clocked two weeks working for a man who pretended I didn’t exist.

“Just another event, right?” I flashed a smile I hoped looked real. “When’s Max coming?”

Her sleek dark hair glinted in what was left of the setting sun as she turned back to the road. “When the doors open in an hour.”

We pulled into the parking lot and shifted out of the car. Payton took a box from me, bracing it against her dress the color of a midnight sky.

There wasn’t much left to do, as I’d already spent almost the entire day on site. But there seemed to be a buzz surrounding the building.

Or maybe that was just my stomach turning over.

“Damn, Charlie. This is incredible,” Payton called out as we stepped inside the building. “Did you do all this?”

“I didn’t put the chandeliers in or anything. But I helped with the signs. The slogan.”

The venue was an old hotel as classic as it was beautiful. Gold everywhere, and forest green carpets. We’d made sure all of the touches we added fit with the original decor. Signs proclaimed “Alliance Financial: What matters, today and tomorrow.” The photos we’d ended up displaying weren’t of men in suits—Avery or anyone else—but of children playing. Families. The reasons people invested with us to begin with.

“You should be proud. Where’s Avery?”

I ignored the ripple of unease. “He had meetings in New York this morning. Said he’d meet us here.”

Her brows drew together. “And you didn’t want him here earlier?”

“Yes. You think he’d listen to me?”

The past couple of days we’d fallen into an uneasy truce. When we were in the same meetings for the gala, he was cordial.

But not once did he look at me too long. Or find ways to touch me. Even when our hands would brush as we exchanged a piece of paper or held a door, he’d ignored it.

It was bullshit. Because I knew I’d fucked up, and I wanted to shout it down the hall. Hell, I’d do anything to get back to what we’d had just a week ago.

I’d spent my nights planning the trip for my Grams, plus logging some serious hours on BBB. I’d gotten my following up another few thousand people.

None of whom were people I knew. People I had a relationship with.

It was lonely as fuck.

But getting out of here had always been my A-plan, and now it was close. Avery would stalk through the door, deliver a maddeningly charming speech, introduce Mia, and get all the credit for a well-spent evening that was the corporate equivalent of Alliance saying “Hollister who?” Coupled with the program he’d made, Redpath would have to see him as worthy.

It was simple. Done.

I just wished I felt good about it instead of hollow.

It was too hot for jackets, but Payton’d worn a cape and I had a sweater. I took both and tucked them in coat check.

“If Avery’s late, he’s missing out,” Payton commented when I returned.

I’d worn the dress I’d told Avery about. Black, fitted, stopping halfway to my knees. The conservative neckline made up for the rest, and I’d thrown on red heels and dangly earrings. At the last minute I’d decided to pin my hair up. It wasn’t me, not really, but it made my neck look a mile long.

Mallory ambushed me, pointing out some kind of trivial emergency about a cord that wasn’t taped down correctly. But other than that, the place did look great. I lost myself in the final details, working with the team to make sure everything was just right.

I checked my phone. Avery was supposed to arrive any minute. If that made me nervous, it was only because he had to nail his speech. It had nothing to do with seeing him in a tux.

“Hey, Charlie.”

“Mia.” She grabbed me in a surprise hug. I hadn’t pictured the girl as a hugger when I’d seen her perform, or during our few phone conversations to prepare, but I went with it. “Come on, let me show you how everything’s going to work.” I pulled her backstage to explain the setup. By the time I returned and glanced at my phone, twenty minutes had flown by.

I peered around the hall. Guests were starting to stream in in a mix of tuxes and dresses, but there was no sign of the shoulders I’d know blind. No missed calls. No new emails. No texts. I hit refresh with reckless abandon as I strode through the ballroom.

I crossed to Max and Payton. “Either of you seen Avery?”

“Nope.”

“Wait…” I trailed off as an email came through. My stomach sank as I read it.

“What?” Payton prompted.

“Avery’s not going to make it.”

A million curses streamed through my brain that couldn’t be uttered under the soft lighting of the chandeliers, the tinkling of glasses and low laughter of clients and Alliancers alike.

This wasn’t happening. I had two jobs. One was to get the comedian on. The other was to prepare my boss to give his speech. I’d done my damn job. All he had to do was show up.

What the hell was he doing taking meetings in New York the morning of the gala? Why had I let him? The thoughts blurred together as I fought a rising tide of ickiness.

But the reality was that Avery wasn’t here, and we had to put someone on.

I looked around. There was no one to point to. No one to blame.

No one to go on.

I sucked in a breath and turned to my friend.

“Payton, I need you do something. I’m going to forward you this speech, with a couple of changes.” I scanned through the short speaking notes, making edits as I talked. “Just read it from your phone.”

“Me?”

“Yes. We need someone and you’ll do a great job.”

After a few scrambled minutes, I tugged Payton after me and backstage. Mallory did a double take, but before she could comment, the CEO descended on both of us. “Where’s Mr. Banks?”

I steeled myself. “Mr. Redpath, Avery had a travel delay. He missed his flight back to Boston.”

His brows leapt together. “He’s not in Boston? Where the hell is he?”

“Manhattan.”

I’d figured he’d be mad. I didn’t expect the level of rage that had him shaking.

There are few things I dislike more than eating shit. Especially when it’s not deserved.

But I made a decision, squaring my shoulders.

“He’s on his way back, but it was my fault, Sir. I scheduled his travel too close to the gala.”

He honed in on my face, shooting me a glare that would’ve had most people melting. “Of all the irresponsible, incompetent…you knew exactly how important this was. To the entire company. Tonight was about rebuilding. Instead, you’ve threatened all of our work, this organization’s reputation.”

I flinched. “Yes, Mr. Redpath.” I glanced over his shoulder to see Mallory looking on in horror. “But we have a solution. Payton’s an associate, same as Avery. She’s prepared. I promise.”

“Payton? Who the hell is Payton.” I thought he was going to explode again and mentally willed my friend to be tough.

“Payton’s right there. And she’s brilliant. She actually has the highest client satisfaction ratings of all of your associates. You’ll be impressed, I promise.”

I crossed to Payton, who was getting a pep talk from Max. “You’ve got this, honey. You were born for this.”

I pushed her on stage at the right moment, and the crowd applauded. For a moment it looked like she might freeze. But she didn’t. She was charming, funny, and self-deprecating. Her warm voice put everyone at ease, even if they hadn’t each had a drink already.

“She’s incredible,” Max murmured.

She is.” I glanced toward him. The man was wearing a button down shirt and slacks, which was as dressed up as I’d ever seen him. His usual uniform of jeans wasn’t going to fly tonight, no matter how successful he was. He’d obviously stepped up for Payton, which I appreciated. But the tell-tale eyebrow piercing was a hit of pure Max Donovan. “I know it’s not my business, but whatever your issues are with being a father? I hope you figure them out. Because I would bet a million bucks that girl is the best thing to ever happen to you.”

I watched from stage as Payton finished, then gave her a hug as she stepped off. “You killed it,” I told her.

“You’re just being nice.”

“I’m never nice.”

I glanced back to see Mia, looking cool and dressy at once in black leggings and a shimmery silver top. Her hair was swept over one shoulder and pinned there. I watched her take the stage to polite, curious applause.

Her opening joke was one I’d heard before. My lips curved at the corner in anticipation.

As she delivered it to…silence.

My heart picked up. The next one too.

Like a pro, she kept going despite the crowd’s lack of reception.

I peeked through the curtains to see Redpath in the crowd. He didn’t look happy.

Shit. Do something.

I dashed out to the foyer, glancing around. A familiar face in conversation gave me hope.

“I’m sorry to interrupt.” I grabbed the man’s arm. “Mr. Siskinds, could I borrow you?”

“Hello, Charlie.”

“I need a favor.” I pulled him into the main hall, where people were still standing like statues.

He stopped at center of the room. “What are we doing here?” he asked, leaning in.

“I wanted to ask you about your wife’s dog.”

His cheeks went pink. “Oh. That little fluffer. You wouldn’t believe what she did…”

I glanced between Siskinds and the stage as Mia’s next joke was delivered. She hit the punch line…

Then so did he.

Siskinds burst out laughing, his hearty chuckle starting somewhere deep in his belly and projecting out to the room.

Others started in too. From there it built, until by the next joke everyone was laughing.

I retreated to the back of the room. As the panic from earlier receded, other emotions flooded in to fill its place. Pride in Payton. Relief that Mia was getting on with the crowd.

Then loneliness. Abandonment.

I grabbed a drink off the tray of a passing waiter. Took a sip, my hand shaking a little.

Another, longer.

“Rough day?” a voice murmured.

Recognition set in, and every muscle in my body tensed. I turned to face him.

Avery’s black tux was tailored to fit every inch of his hard body. He looked like he’d stepped off a billboard.

I wanted to stab him. Settled for taking another drink. “When did you get here?”

“Just now. I heard Payton went on for me. Smart move.”

The compliment bounced off me. “I did what I had to do when you didn’t show.”

Contrition flashed across his face. “I didn’t mean to put you that position. I was late getting out of my meeting and apparently it takes longer to get to La Guardia than I thought.” He glanced past me. “How pissed was Redpath?”

“I thought his head was going to blow off.”

Avery rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I better go deal with that. Maybe they’ll consider Payton for director when I’m out of contention.”

“Why would you be out of contention? Redpath’s not pissed at you.”

His gaze sharpened as he stepped closer. “What do you mean.”

“Because I told him it was my fault you weren’t back in time. I fucked up your travel arrangements.”

Avery’s breath caught. “Why?”

“I have your back. I know you don’t want to believe that, but…” I shrugged, uncomfortable with the helpless feeling. “It’s true.”

The room was full of elegantly dressed people, but all I saw was him. His handsome face in the warm, low light. The way his jaw worked as he studied me.

But what had hope blooming in my heart was the expression on his face. Like maybe he was glad to see me for the first time in a week.

“So eating shit’s off your to-do list for this evening.” I tried to lighten the tension between us. “What are you going to do with your newly found time?”

Avery glanced toward the main doors, then back at me. “Come with me.”