Page 5 of The Plus-One Deal

More microphones bristled, more cameras. More questions. I answered the smartest ones and ignored the rest, and then I marched us inside to a swell of applause. Claire’s delighted gasp was lost in the roar, but I still felt her chest hitch, pressed to my arm. I felt the flutter of her laughter and knew she was smiling. Knew her face had lit up all the way to her eyes.

A champagne cork popped and trays appeared at our elbows. Petals fell like confetti, and we sipped fruity Moët. Claire’s lips moved, mouthing something I didn’t hear. I nodded yes anyway, caught in the moment. The atrium sparkled with bright fairy lights, every tree, every column, every hanging planter. Outside, the lawn was lit up as well, a net of white lights draped overhead.

“That’s actual grass out there! Are those daffodils?” Claire’s green eyes were huge, taking in my success. “Thosearedaffodils. I love this for you.”

My heart swelled in my chest, brimming with pride. I’d built this,me, but Claire made it real. I could always count on her to be honest with me, and she was honestly beaming. Blown away. I didn’t have a lot of people I could trust to be honest — most who approached me wanted something from me — but all Claire ever wanted was what we’d always had. I’d been there for her and she’d been there for me, building ourempires since we’d met in college. We’d been plus-ones through symposiums and charity galas, weddings and openings, tech fairs and conventions. We’d celebrated each other when our fortunes were strong, buoyed each other’s spirits when we were struggling. And now it was my night, and Claire was here to share it.

She caught a tipsy guest deftly as he beelined for me, freeing me up to shake hands with my architect. To introduce her around, maybe get her more clients. She’d brought my dream to life. This was her moment too.

I’d invited a lot of local business owners, and I made the rounds with them, heading out to the lawn. Claire was out there already, charming my CFO.

“I remember you,” he was saying. “From that art opening, right? How long have you and Conrad been an item?”

Claire laughed like she always did when people jumped to that conclusion. “Oh, no, we’re just friends. We have been since college.”

“A Columbia girl! Cornell, for me.”

I cut in to hand Claire a fresh flute of champagne. “Claire’s CEO of Timeless.”

“Timeless, I know you! My wife loves your app.”

Claire smiled at that and sipped her Moët. “Tonight’s Con’s night,” she said. “But tell your wife to stay tuned. We’ve got some great new brands coming she’ll want to try out.”

“I’ve told him about you,” I said, when we were alone. “He must not have realized you werethatClaire.”

“It’s because you’re both so damn gorgeous,” came a voice from behind us. I spun around, and Joe Wells had snuck up on us, my COO and the closest I had to a partner. “Hey, Claire,” he said. “How are you doing?”

“Fantastic.” She smiled. “Your campus is stunning.”

Joe grinned at me. “Have you shown her the roof yet?”

“Not yet, but I’m going to.”

“What’s on the roof?”

Joe waggled his brows. “You need to see for yourself. Why don’t you two nip up there while I keep your guests entertained?”

I chuckled, picturing Joe as the life of the party — Joe, who’d grown up in the wilds of Wyoming, who still talked like a cowboy when he had a few drinks in him. Still, I’d made my rounds, and the timing was perfect.

“All right,” I said. “Come on and I’ll show you.”

We headed up to the roof in the glass elevator, watching Manhattan take shape below us, a glittering network of crisscrossing roads. It always reminded me of a spiderweb after a storm, a million droplets of water catching the sun. This wasmyview now, not justaview — my unique viewpoint from the top of the world.

“What’ll your workers do if they’re scared of heights?”

I burst out laughing, startled from my thoughts. Trust Claire to pop my grandiose musings. “There’s a regular elevator on the west side. And stairs, of course, if they want the workout.”

Claire stepped up to the glass and tipped her head back. “Remember that book, I’ve forgotten the name, the one aboutthe elevator that goes up to space? This almost feels like that, flying up to the stars.”

“The Fountains of Paradise,” I said, distracted. The starlight had silvered Claire’s copper hair, lit up her face like the plains of the moon. If not for her freckles, she’d have looked unearthly, some kind of fey creature flown in for a visit. I almost wanted to touch her to make sure she was real.

“I almost forgot you’re a nerd,” I said instead. We both laughed at that, and the elevator slowed to a stop. The steel doors slid open as smooth as silk. Claire clapped her hands as pink petals flew in.

“Almond blossoms, so gorgeous! Is this a roof garden?”

“Yeah, a retreat for when life gets too loud.” I guided her out to the quiet roof garden, its pink cloud of almond trees surrounding a marble reflecting pool. “Joe wanted to use this space for a helipad, but how often, really, do you travel by chopper?”

Claire shuddered against me. “Never, if I can avoid it. Those things don’t look like they ought to fly.”

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