Page 73 of The Snowflake Effect

His stammering is odd, but there’s nothing easy about hiding a hot-and-heavy relationship in public. “I don’t want to blow up my career, but secrets always have a way of getting out, especially with Maeve out to sabotage me. I need to be the one to tell Hilary we’re together.”

“Then I’m behind the decision. Also, while we have a moment, I wanted to ask you something.”

“The floor is yours.”

He glances down at the unfinished surface. “Quite literally, since I own it. Anyway, Sawyer hired an event company to organize the grand opening, but I think they need to coordinate with you to get a better vibe for the store. Any chance you have time to work with them?”

The electrician tries to catch my eye, so I hold up a finger to let him know I’ll be a minute.

Sighing, I focus on Kolton. “As much as I’d love to help, I’m not sure I can sacrifice the time. But Lily’s great with details and planning, and she knows the business as well as I do.”

He nods. “Great idea. You mind asking her?”

“Not at all. I’m meeting her and Raven for lunch and can ask then. For now, I need to deal with a problem.”

I leave him to greet the approaching electrician, readying to admit I don’t have everything he requested. After explaining my (Maeve’s) incompetence to the man, we make a plan for him to return on Monday. He leaves as Hilary comes in.

Like Maeve, she’s always polished and put together, her voluminous curls always just so, her makeup flawless. Today’s pencil skirt and blue blouse are likely off a rack at Prada.

She glances over the skinny jeans, sandals, and tight black T-shirt I threw on this morning. I’m all for Casual Fridays.

Frowning, she says, “Why is the electrician leaving?”

I contemplate throwing Maeve under the bus as Hilary places her purse on our worktable. With the Kolton bomb I’ll be dropping, I don’t want to give her any other reason to question my ability, but I won’t undermine Maeve unless forced. I need to own my position as team leader.

“I made a bad call,” I say. “I’ve sent Maeve to get what we need this morning, and the electrician will be back on Monday to run the wires.”

Again, she studies me, a contemplative look that has my shoulders wanting to cave forward. I fight the urge to slouch and stand taller.

“It shouldn’t set us back too much,” she says. “But you need to stay on top of things. This is your job. Your project. Things will always go wrong when pulling a space together. It’s your responsibility to manage it. People included. Associate designers don’t shrink from confrontation.”

This is the first time she’s hinted at my promotion, and there’s something in her tone—appraising, supportive. Challenging? Like she wants me to succeed, but only if I prove myself. Like she knows Maeve is a world-class bitch who will do her best to trip me up, and my advancement depends on my ability to govern her.

If I owned my own firm, Maeve’s the last person I’d trust as a partner, but it’s not my decision to make.

I follow Hilary to where Kolton’s waiting and remind myself that I need to own my relationship, too. Quit being such a scaredy cat and come clean. I dig my nails into my palms to calm my shaking hands.

“Shay,” Kolton says when we reach him. This is his work tone, used when he needs to address a concern. He keeps a healthy distance between us and juts his chin toward Ben, the largest guy in our construction crew. I’m not sure how he finds overalls and work boots in his size. “You need to review the exact angle of the hanging wall,” Kolton tells me. “Ben started drilling, but it doesn’t look like he has the revised drawings.”

Shit. Kolton shouldn’t catch this. I should catch this. “Yeah, okay. I was sure I’d given everyone the changes.”

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Of course Hilary is here to witness the mistake, right after she mentions my possible promotion.

I hurry toward the worktable at the back and sift through the mass of parchment on top. When I find the folder with the wall dimensions, I check the date on the bottom to confirm they’re the ones I adjusted earlier this week. Kolton’s chatting with Hilary, sipping his coffee, the two of them in a private tête-à-tête closer to the front door. Paranoia crawls up my neck.

Is she asking him about me? Does she know? I’m so frazzled by the time I return to Ben that I drop the papers on the floor.

We both stoop to pick them up, and he places his large hand on my back. “Don’t worry about the hole I drilled. It won’t be visible when we’re done.” We often pore over drawings together, Ben always quick to boost my confidence when complications arise.

I force a smile, still angry at myself for the mistake. “Thanks.”

When we’re standing, his hand lingers on me, his distance closer than Kolton’s was a moment ago. “Everything okay? You seem a little off.”

Kolton stares at us, his lips tight.

Attempting to ignore the brown lasers boring into me from across the room, I face Ben and step out of reach. “Let’s just say the ante’s been upped on this job, and I’m not playing with a full deck.”

“A poker reference.” He drops his head and leans into my ear, his deep baritone lowering. “Now I have to ask you out.”