Page 74 of Bridesmaid for Hire
“All of his costars,” I say.
“Oh, I’m sorry, when did you become a part of the Marvel Universe?”
“Spare me the sarcasm,” I say. “I get enough of it from Maggie.”
“Is that her name? Maggie?”
“You mean the wench that chucked a ball at my nuts today? Yes, that’s her.”
Jaleesa busts out in laughter. “Did she really?”
“I’m really going to miss your sympathetic managerial skills,” I drawl.
She chuckles a little bit more. “I’m sorry, but that’s funny.”
“Glad you think so. My balls beg to differ. They’re currently soaking.”
“Getting a spa treatment after the beating they took?”
“Pretty much,” I answer. “And you know what’s really chapping my ass?”
“Please tell me.”
“Deanna sent me an email yesterday insinuating that the proposal is pretty much hers. She just needs to add a few more projections. She heard from Reginald’s assistant. I know Deanna has been getting close with her, so she’s probably getting all the inside information. And sure, I’m here at the wedding trying to convince Reginald I’m the one he should be working with, but I can’t find any sort of way to talk to him about work. I don’t want to be obvious about it, it’s his daughter’s wedding week, so I just stand there, looking like a goddamn moron while Maggie floats around like a magical fairy charming everyone.”
“Isn’t that good for you? I’d think if they like her, that would mean that they’d like you because you’re the one who brought her here.”
“You’d think,” I say. “But I don’t think it’s going to translate. They seem to keep their personal and business lives very separate.” I flick at a bubble in the water. “You would think that a billionaire family like this would talk shop at least a little bit, but nothing. It’s shocking.”
“Did you give Reginald the cigars? That’s a business moment you could have, smoking cigars.”
“I gave him two at the welcome party, after nearly dropping them on the floor. I was so caught off guard by seeing Maggie that I stumbled with them. Of course, she was charming when she introduced herself to Reginald. He immediately took a liking to her. Everyone has. Even Hardy and Hudson—I see the way they look at her.”
“Umm…are you jealous that they’re looking at her?”
“What?” I ask. “No.”
Jaleesa chuckles again. “It seems like you’re jealous. Do you like her, Brody?”
“No,” I say far too quickly. “She’s Gary’s little sister, and there’s nothing to like.”
Lies…so many lies but it feels good to be in denial. Makes me feel less exposed.
“Okay, because I’m thinking that all this irritation you’re feeling isn’t because of the Hoppers not talking business with you. You’re crushing on someone you can’t really have, so these little moments you get with her are collectively driving you nuts. Because you want it to be real. So real.”
“Where the hell did that come from?” I ask.
“It’s so obvious, Brody.”
“It’s really not. This has nothing to do with Maggie and everything to do with the fact that I can’t seem to insert myself and show them that I’m the one they want to work with. How can I even prove that if we don’t talk business?”
“You’re not supposed to convince them that your proposal is the best, you’re just supposed to make them like you. You’re supposed to show them how smart you are. What a good guy you are so when you do your presentation, they already have a general understanding of who you are, giving you that edge. I think you’ve lost track of that.”
I blow out a heavy sigh. “Christ, Jaleesa. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Would you say that you’re perhaps…distracted?”
“No,” I say, but I sound like a petulant child.
