Page 7 of The Plus-One Deal

What was my life like outside of work?

I could answer that:morework, always something. Always some loose thread, some fly in the ointment, some new conundrum demanding a look. And I loved it, I did — I loved my work. Loved my life. But I wouldn’t have minded a few more minutes with Claire. A couple more minutes, two old friends on the roof, and maybe I’d have asked her, read any good books lately? Been anywhere interesting? Met anyone fun?

The singing hit me, discordant and piercing. I straightened up, sighed, and adjusted my tie. One drunken investor, coming right up.

CHAPTER 3

CLAIRE

So jealous,texted Sunny. Or that’s what I read. What she’d sent was a GIF of a quivering jelly. She was thirty-two, ran an upscale ice cream chain, and still texted like she was a junior in high school.

Don’t be,I typed.It’s only a work trip.

a work trip to PARADISE!!!!Hearts and palm trees.

with the hottest guy ever!!!Blazing suns. Eggplants. Water droplets.

I could introduce you,I wrote, knowing I wouldn’t. Conrad and I were strictly plus-ones, but that didn’t mean I wanted to watch him fall for Sunny. I could see it happening, going all the way. Courtship. Engagement. A big floofy wedding. Sunny would make me her maid of honor. Conrad would hold her and tell her “I do.” I bit my lip to stifle a grimace. WherewasConrad, anyway? He’d never been late.

lol, right.Sunny sent me a clown face.where u r rite now is the start of every romcom. 2 BFFs on a work beach vacation, then the work thing gets canceled and OMG! THEY KISS!

I texted backPff, and thenDon’t jinx me.I wasn’t superstitious, but this “work thing” mattered. Getting Verity Halford on board for Timeless… a brand like hers would draw more big names. She could launch me into the stratosphere with a flick of her pen. And whatwaskeeping Conrad? Shouldn’t we be in the air?

I peered out at the tarmac, searching for his limo, but the private airstrip was quiet, deserted. My phone pinged again, twice, thrice, four times.

lobster and oysters on a private jet

chocolate dipped strawberries

hey, that would make a good ice cream…

ugh, like three places already did it.

When I looked up, Conrad’s limo was there, Conrad stepping out of it, striding over the tarmac. He jogged up the steps and then he was with me, flopping into his seat.

“Ugh, stupid traffic. Almost made me late.”

I glanced at my phone, and sure enough, he’d just made it, three minutes ahead of the time we’d agreed on. He pulled out his laptop and cracked it open.

“I hope you don’t mind if I get some work done en route. We’re acquiring this startup — two startups, in fact — but they both have the same pain-in-the-ass lawyer on their payroll.”

“Go for it,” I said. “I have some work to do too.”

I brought up my preview of Verity’s new collection, first the couture line, then off-the-rack. She’d been cagey on this one, about her inspiration, but if I could guess right, that could give me an edge. Something to bond over, so I would stand out.

At first glance, the clothes were justpretty, soft pastel colors, ethereal fabrics. Skirts that shifted colors as their layers recombined. They reminded me of something — butterfly wings? No. Butterflies were more iridescent. These colors were muted, like flowers in a field. Impressionist paintings. Lilies on ponds. I pulled up my company’s instant-messaging app and messaged my assistant.

What does this skirt remind you of?

The spoiler popped up —Amira is typing. Then it disappeared, then popped up again. I twisted around to look out as I waited, to watch New York City dwindle below us. I wondered if any kids were out in their playgrounds, on their backs in the grass, watching us go. Making up stories about where we were headed.That’ll be us someday. We’ll fly out to Disney.

I turned back to my screen. Amira hadn’t replied. Across the aisle from me, Conrad let out a curse.

“What’s the matter?”

“Wi-Fi’s out,” he said. He smacked the side of his laptop, as though that would revive it. Then he brightened up and set it aside. “Hey, are you hungry? I missed out on breakfast.”

“Breakfast, you serious? It’s past time for lunch. You must be starving.”

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