Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
“Okay,” he murmured, gently putting me back on my feet. “You may have been right about us going overboard on the party.”
I would’ve agreed, but at that point it felt cruel to rub it in.
Christie had reconfirmed the appointment the night before—with me and Alex so I couldn’t get away with canceling—and she promised that it would just be a quick catch-up to go over the details, show the caterer the kitchen she’d be working in, and the flyers’ manager the ceiling they’d be swinging on. I expected to meet with three people for said quick catch-up before sitting down with Mrs. Prado.
What I didn’t expect was a fleet of white vans camped out on my brown lawn like the funny farm attendants had finally come to take me away, and they had the place surrounded.
I counted fifteen vans with Baudelaire Blasts on the side, and I didn’t even try to count the dozens of people loading things out and into them.
“Woo-hoo!” A tiny figure in pink waved from the front steps. “There you are, Mrs. Kim. So sorry, we had to start without you, but I know you’ll love what we’ve accomplished so far.” She climbed down the steps and came at me pretty fast for someone in six-inch heels.
I felt my naughty post-romp romp with Rhodes slip away as she hooked through my arm and dragged me away. “I’m sure you’re going to want to take a quick shower before the fitting. Absolutely no sweat stains on the masterpiece.” She laughed to lighten the sentence, but it didn’t work. I knew a command when I heard one. “While you’re washing up, I’d like to get started on the security scheduling and placement.”
Christie was a short, slim, young woman with a bright smile, severe nose, and shining chestnut curls teased into a fashionable updo. She was also deceptively strong.
I was putting an embarrassing amount of effort into freeing my arm from her, but the woman had a grip of steel.
“Did you decide on local law enforcement for the party, or will we be providing bodyguards?” she asked. “I should let you know, there is an extra fee if we provide the bodyguards.”
“Bodyguards?” I gave her an insane look. “Why would we need bodyguards? I know my husbands are hot as hell, but those rich bitches won’t literally try to steal them, will they?”
Christie’s laugh was surprisingly loud and honking for such a tiny person. “Mrs. Kim, you are a scream. Absolutely, my favorite client—but don’t let the others know,” she added with a wink.
“Uh, okay, but—”
“No to the bodyguards,” Rhodes sliced in, keeping pace with us easily. “We’ve already spoken to the chief. He can spare three officers on the night to cover all three exits in and out of the ballroom.”
“Hmm.” Christie worried her lip, weaving me through the parade of vans. “I’m not certain that three will be enough. Ideally, I’d like fourteen more officers stationed at the front doors, back doors, and in the hallways.”
“That’s a bit excessive,” Rhodes remarked.
“Unfortunately, it’s not. The jewels Mrs. Kim is renting for the night are priceless. Sanders and Sanderson will want to see we’ve made every effort to protect their property from theft, or they won’t let it out of their sight.”
I opened my mouth to say I didn’t need jewels that came with a side of seventeen cops when something near the front gate caught my eyes—distinct in the fact that it wasn’t a white van, but instead a small, modest blue car that hadn’t changed in ten years.
“Mrs. Prado.” I paused a few feet from the fountain, rising on tiptoe to see. “Is that her? Must be. But is she here early, or am I that late? Is it ten o’clock already?”
Rhodes checked his smartwatch, then shook his head. “It’s barely nine thirty. She’s early.”
“I don’t see her,” I murmured, straining harder to see through the tinted windows. “She must be inside.”
“I’ll meet with her while you and Ms. Baudelaire talk final details,” Rhodes offered. “I’ve still got an hour before I’ve got to get ready for work. Shouldn’t take much longer than that to reorientate a woman who’s lived here longer than me.”
“Are you sure?” Christie was dragging me again, leading me inside. “It’s not just reorientation. She also has a stack of employee profiles she’ll need you to go through.”
“It’ll be fine.” His smile made my stomach do flips. “Mrs. Prado helped me, Micah, and Alex survive Lily’s toddler years.”
I didn’t miss that Sue wasn’t mentioned.
“I learned to shut up and do what she says a long time ago. Just like I’ll shut up and hire whoever she tells me.”
I cracked a smile, remembering all the times growing up that Mrs. Prado chased me from her kitchen, but then always came back and found me later to sneak me a meringue and hot cocoa. Omma never did figure out how I kept getting cavities when she never let us have sugar.