Page 11 of Blind Date
Chapter Five
Weston
I was sitting in my office, talking to Finn, when Kylie popped in clutching her iPad.
“Good. You’re here too, Finn.” She sat down next to him.
“What’s wrong? You look frazzled,” I asked her.
“Because I am!” she snapped. “Principal Jordan is a nightmare.”
“Who is Principal Jordan?” I asked.
“The principal at Manhattan Heights. The gala is next week in the gymnasium. Your grandfather’s gym.” She pointed at me. “Problem one. Principal Jordan told me that the school’s decorating committee is handling the gym, and that my event designer is ‘welcome to consult.’ Can you believe that? Second, they want a theme, and they all voted for A Night Under the Stars.”
“Okay? And?” My brow arched.
“They’re going to hang two hundred paper stars that a tenth-grade art class is cutting out by hand. We have a six-figure budget for this thing, and the ceiling is going to looklike a kindergarten graduation. I suggested a chandelier shaped like the Castile logo, and Principal Jordan told me it was a bit much to my face. Can you believe that?”
“I’m starting to like Principal Jordan.” I grinned.
“Problem two. This one is your fault.” She stared at me. “Our auctioneer canceled.”
“I never agreed to an auctioneer. Why did he cancel?”
“I got the local anchor. You know the hot guy with the spikey hair and bright white teeth? He’s on every night at ten o’clock? Anyway, he pulled out because his network doesn’t want him associated with the Castile rebrand until they see how this whole thing works out. Which means the man we hired to make you look good is too worried about looking bad by standing next to you. We’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, Weston. Do you understand how far we have to climb out? Well, do you? I feel it in my bones every single day since I started planning this.”
“Just get another one. What’s the big deal?” I asked.
“In a week? Sure. I’ll just call the other famous person who does free charity auctions at public high schools. I’ll fix it. I always fix it. But I want you to feel bad.” She pointed at me. “And I can tell you don’t. So, whatever.”
“I’ll be your auctioneer,” Finn said.
“And what experience do you have?” Kylie’s brow raised.
“Let him do it,” I said. “Now, what else?”
She scrolled on her iPad. “The date auction lineup. Principal Jordan is in it. A History teacher. Chemistry Teacher. Art Teacher. And an English teacher.”
“Have you met any of them besides Principal Jordan?” I asked.
“No. Why?”
“Because I want to know what they look like.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s for the school, Weston, and yourfucking reputation that’s bringing this company down.” She leaned forward and pointed at me. “You will go on that date, and you will like it!” she shouted.
“Relax, Kylie. Jesus Christ.”
“I will relax once this is over and your reputation is restored. If that’s even possible.” She stood up from her chair. “A Night Under the Stars. Paper ones. Cut by children,” she sighed. “And you’re not going to say one word!” She left my office.
Finn looked at me and shook his head. “She’s a little psycho these days.”
“It’s grandmother’s fault. You know how she is.”
“All too well.” He shook his head.
Samantha
