Page 51 of Negotiation Tactics

Should I? I’d planned to stay quiet until after the meeting, but ugh, that’s impossible! “I’m meeting with the Commission for Union Matters tomorrow.”

Her face lights up with a fond smile. She’s aged well for the most part, but the stress of the job has rewarded her with more than a few wrinkles. “That’s amazing news! I’m so proud of you!”

She has no idea how much her words mean to me. “It’s too early to celebrate, mom. I still have to convince them to actually give up on the pay cuts…”

I am a realist, and I hate to set myself up for disappointment, but it’s very hard to ignore the bubbly excitement inside my chest. Because I am so close. To make this happen, to prove that I am a worthy successor of my mom.

Before I can think better of it, I shoot Alistair another text, grinning like an idiot. My mom notices and so does Lily as she walks in, both of them sharing a knowing look.

I roll my eyes, placing my hands on my hips. “What?”

“Oh, nothing at all, Josh. You just have that maiden-in-love look on your face,” Lily chuckles, pulling a groan out of me. “Are you and a certain somebody still pretending that you aren’t serious about each other?”

My eyes go wide and my heart tries to jump out of my chest. Shit! Mom doesn’t know about this. “Lily!”

“What?” She flails her arms. “You think Amy Lee doesn’t know you’ve been seducing Devon Holidays’ future CEO?”

Dread floods me as I peek at my mom, who’s grinning like the devil.Does she? Oh fuck, I bet it’s my brothers! They can never keep a secret.

“I’m so killing Jaz and Steve.”

“Ah, leave your brothers alone. You know they mean well. Besides, I was being nosy because you seemed distracted,” mom defends, still smiling. “Jaz said Alistair was your type, but I really can’t see it—he’s nothing like your ex, Edmund.”

“Edward,” I correct, covering the buffet table with a disposable tablecloth.

The small tables around where people will eat are arranged at the back of the room, while this one sits in the middle. The front is a makeshift dance floor, and the left corner has been turned into a cozy lounging and relaxation area.

While Lily and mom handle the cutlery, I grab the ladder and put up the anniversary letters on the wall. The local catering firm we hired arrives just as I finish, bringing an assortment of party food. There is chicken, fries, sushi, light salad and cake bites. It’s nothing fancy like the pretentious food at Alistair’s party, but my stomach is rumbling in no time all the same.

“This is amazing, Josh.” My mom hugs me from the side, her eyes turning glassy as she surveys the transformed room. “You didn’t have to do all this, but… thank you.”

I hug her back, enjoying the few moments we have before the guests start arriving. The turnout is impressive, and even people from other branches where mom has worked come to celebrate with us. It’s inspiring.

The best part of the evening arrives a bit later as we set up for our bingo game. We realize we are a prize short,but that somehow plays in our favor when Lily volunteers her time instead. The chance for a ‘date’ with her has everyone buying extra tickets.

“Told you it was a great idea,” she gloats, waving and smiling at the audience.

“I never doubted that.”

“You know… I bet we’d sell ten times more tickets if it was Alistair instead of me. That would fund our budget for the entire year.”

She’s joking, but it did cross my mind to invite him. It just… I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate, because we aren’t really going out or anything. It’s just sex…

As we move onto a game of werewolves and Mariam spins a crazy tale about a village tucked into the mountains where werewolves plague the population in the midst of an alien invasion, I can’t help the intrusive thoughts. I think I want more. With Alistair. To give us a real try… if he’s interested. And I have a feeling he is, because our dates long stopped being just about sex.

“It’s time,” Lily whispers as the second round of the werewolf game nears its conclusion, pulling me out of my head.

I nod and shake off Alistair’s sexy smile so I can focus on my mom. It’s her day today, so she takes priority.

As people laugh and cheer, I retrieve the wrapped gift. “Mom, this is from everyone. I hope you like it.”

She makes one of those expressions which says we shouldn’t have, but she doesn’t complain. Taking the gift from me, she makes quick work of the wrapping, then holds it up with both hands as her eyes twinkle with emotion.

“Oh… Thank you so much, everyone. This is the best gift and exactly what I needed! Now it makes sense why my Josh kept forgetting to get me that wall clock.”

The entire room laughs with her. We turn the music up so people can dance, but I’m not feeling it. Exhaustion finally catches up with me when I swing by the buffet for some dessert, so I kiss mom good night and leave early. Once home, I park myself on my couch, grab my laptop and go through my notes for the meeting with the commission. By the time I finish, it’s just after eight in the morning, so after a quick shower, I put on a fresh set of clothes and head to Devon Holidays’ HQ.

Although I didn’t sleep, I’m buzzing. I’m ready. This is it. My chance to make sure our people are paid what they deserve and to prove that I am capable, just like my mom was.

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