Page 22 of Remembering Passion

“Niles,” I said, looking at my associate and friend. It was his comment that ratted me out. “Niles spoke with Mr. Sinclair. He can pursue this partnership.”

“I spoke to him,” Niles said, nodding, his hazel stare on me. “Sure. Yep. I can try to set up a meeting.”

“There,” I said. “It’s settled. Now let’s discuss the gala. What worked and what could be improved?”

For the next forty-five minutes, we stayed on task. Thankfully, the positives for our fundraising gala outweighed the negatives. The next hurdle was determining the site for next year’s event.

“Why not here?” Millie asked.

“I like the travel time,” I said with a smile.

“It makes perfect sense. Now with one of our biggest donors from Wisconsin, I like the Midwest vibe,” Niles added.

Kevan looked at me as he said, “And if we can get Sinclair Pharmaceuticals in and they agree to a sponsorship, we might be able to work out something such as a tour of their facility.”

As others spoke, I made notes. “Conference space is definitely less expensive here than in California.”

“Or New York,” Rosemary, a member of my team added. We’d had the gala in New York City two years ago.

As the meeting was breaking up, Millie Barns approached me. “Ella, may we speak?”

Considering that she was our boss, I couldn’t exactly say no. “Of course.”

She looked around. “Come to my office. It will be more private.”

The small hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention like tiny lightning rods. “Is there a problem? The gala was a success.”

“No problem. I’ll see you in five.”

I waited until she was gone to gather my laptop and things. As I entered my office, I met Niles’s pleading hazel stare.

“Shit, Ella. I didn’t expect Kevan to go off like that. I’m sorry I mentioned Sinclair.”

Swallowing, I laid my things on my desk. “You can talk to him—Mr. Sinclair.” I clarified.

“You two seemed…”

“We’ve known one another a long time. When it comes to business, he’s one of the best. You’ve got this.”

“Why do I feel like you’re not being completely truthful?”

“Nothing I said was untruthful.”

“Okay, not completely forthcoming.”

Niles and I became quick friends when I started with Beta Kappa Phi. We hit it off with our shared love of Reba McEntire. Yes, most people think she’d left the scene, but that wasn’t true. In the last two years, I attended multiple concerts with Niles and his husband. In most things and on most topics, we were forthcoming with one another.

Damien Sinclair wasn’t a topic that I’d been forthcoming about to many people.

“Millie wants to talk to me,” I said with my eyes open wide.

“Shit, about what?”

I shrugged. “I’m hoping she wants to give me a private ‘atta girl.’”

My stomach twisted with the memory of Damien’s good girl.

“You’ve got this,” Niles said. “I am sorry I brought Sinclair up, and I’ll reach out to that handsome CEO today.”

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