Sleepless in Manhattan (12 page)

A million memories came flooding back.

She caught his eye and quickly tucked it away.

“I didn’t know you still had that.” His voice was as rough as sandpaper and she blushed awkwardly.

“You gave it to me the night before my operation. For courage. Remember?”

He remembered. He remembered plastic cups brimming with really bad coffee, tired-looking doctors in white coats, too busy saving lives to stop and talk. He remembered echoing corridors and anxious relatives. And Paige. White-faced and brave, keeping everything inside. Except for that one time when she’d lowered her guard and opened her heart.

That one time he’d crushed it.

“I assumed you’d lost it years ago.”

“No. I kept it safe. It reminds me to be strong when life is tough. And right now life is definitely tough. I’m scared for the future, not for me because I have my parents and Matt, even though I would hate to have to turn to them, but for Eva and Frankie. They put their faith in me. I can’t let them down.”

The necklace was no longer visible but it didn’t make a difference because now he knew it was there.

It felt strangely intimate, seeing something he’d given her in close contact with that creamy skin.

His throat closed. He dragged his gaze from the neck of her shirt and forced himself to concentrate on what she was saying. “You didn’t force this on them. It was their decision.”

“But they wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t driven it. This was down to me and—” She rubbed her fingers over her forehead. “You’ve run your own business for ages. How are you not stressed out every minute of the day?”

“I’m not employing people I’ve known since I was ten years old.”

“Six,” she said absently. “We were six. Eva fell over in the classroom and Frankie picked her up, which has pretty much been the pattern ever since. But it isn’t one-sided. Eva softens Frankie. She makes her laugh and relax. We’re a good team, but somehow that makes it harder, not easier.”

“I can see how working with your closest friends would add an emotional dimension, but you have to ignore that side of it. Don’t let emotion color your judgment.”

“How? How do you switch that off? How do you stop your feelings getting in the way?”

“You bury them.”

“Eva and Frankie were there for me right through the bad times. I don’t want to let them down. I’m scared of messing this up.”

And that, he knew, was the only reason she was here.

Because of her friends.

Nothing else would have brought her to his door.

“Stop thinking about it. Just do it. Take a deep breath and jump.”

“I’ll fall.”

“You’ll fly, Paige. Don’t think about your business, think about the job. Stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong, and focus on what needs to be done. Do the job. Do what you’re good at. Once you’ve done a few jobs, others will follow.”

“But how do we get those first jobs? If you have any advice I will gladly take it.” She swallowed hard. “I’m starting to think we need a miracle.”

“Word of mouth is the most powerful form of recommendation.”

She nodded. “We need a big event that will impress people, but no one is going to recommend us until they’ve hired us, and no one will hire us until someone has recommended us. And I’ve been thinking about that—” She bit her lip. “What if Chase Adams is telling people not to hire us?”

“He isn’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Chase Adams has been out of town and out of contact for a few weeks. His office said he’s on vacation.” He frowned. “Which is strange, now I think about it.”

“Why is that strange?”

“I’ve known Chase for ten years. He’s never taken a vacation. At least, not the sort where you don’t answer your phone.”

“Great. So Matilda was fired, we all lost our jobs and he’s on vacation! I hope he’s having a really great time.” Anger barely masked the misery and Jake made a decision.

“When he finally reappears, I’ll handle him. In the meantime, I’ve been thinking of running a corporate event.” He hadn’t, but it would do him no harm to hold one. “Showcase some of our work. Invite current clients and a few people I’d like to have as clients but who currently haven’t seen the light.”

“It sounds like a good idea. I hope it goes well.”

“It will, because Urban Genie will be running it. Actions speak louder than words. You’ll do a great job and by the end of the evening you’ll have more work than you’ll be able to handle at your kitchen table.”

“You want
us
to run it?” There was a shine in her eyes. “That’s...too big a favor.”

“It’s not a favor,” he said smoothly. “When I run an event I want the best, and I know that’s Urban Genie, even if other people don’t know it yet. Talk to your team and come back to me with a detailed proposal. Stun me. I want your best, most creative ideas.” Because that was what would guarantee her more business for the future.

She stirred. “How many guests?”

“I want it exclusive.” He narrowed his eyes, thinking of how it would work best for Paige. “Senior staff only.” She needed to meet people who could make decisions and sign off on the budget. “Small and select. One hundred maximum. Any venue suggestions?”

The uncertainty left her and she was all professional. “Rooftop. Glitzy. Manhattan at its starlit, magical best. Do you have any dates in mind?”

“I want it in the next month.” It was an almost impossible challenge at such short notice. He waited for her to tell him it couldn’t be done, that an event of that nature took months of planning, but she didn’t. In fact he could have sworn there was a glimmer of a smile on her face.

“Downtown?”

“I leave that decision to you.”

“There’s the Loft & Garden at the Rockefeller Center. They have a beautiful English garden with a reflecting pool.” She was thinking aloud, her eyes unfocused.

“Don’t they have a list of preferred vendors?”

“Yes. I’ll need to talk to them. At this short notice, our options will be limited.”

“You don’t think you can do it?”

“We can do it. But we might need to be creative. And persuasive.” Energized, she whipped a tablet out of her bag and he watched, curiosity getting the better of him, as he saw her access a list.

“Which app are you using?”

“I’m not. I couldn’t find one that did what I needed so I use a spreadsheet that I customized.”

“That’s not very time efficient.”

“It works for me.”

“I’ll design you something better. Something tailored to your needs.”

She looked up and smiled. “Let me organize your event first. When that’s a success maybe I’ll be able to afford to commission you to build me an app.” She typed quickly. “I’ll make some calls. See what’s available and get back to you. I’ll send you a shortlist and you can choose. You’ll want to make some sort of corporate presentation?”

“No. Too formal.”

“Maybe an informal version? Giant screens, with a show reel of highlights? And maybe stations with tablets and laptops where people can access some of the technology and ask questions.”

“I like that idea.”

“You’ll need a professional lighting company.”

It fascinated him to see her like this. Animated. Confident. Sexy. Unfortunately it did nothing to support his attempt to see her as Matt’s little sister. “The venue can’t switch the lights on?”

“It’s not about lighting the space. Lighting is more than making sure people don’t trip over—it’s about making your event memorable. I presume you want memorable?”

What he wanted was her, naked in a darkened room.

Screw lighting.

And he knew it would be memorable.

“You’re the expert.”

“Frankie will manage that side of things. She has often used lighting companies to enhance her floral designs.” She glanced down. “Catering? Any specific requests?”

“I’m going to leave it all to you, or rather Eva.”

“You don’t want input?”

“Unlike you, I don’t insist on doing everything myself,” he drawled. “I delegate, and this time I’m delegating to you. I don’t micromanage.” Especially not in this case. He wanted to have as little contact with Paige as possible.

For both their sakes.

“What’s your budget?”

“Tell me what I need to spend to make sure this is the party everyone is talking about for months.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” It would give her scope to run an event that would stand out and guarantee her other business. “Come back to me with a venue and a date and I’ll have my staff put together a guest list.”

“I know you don’t want to give me a brief, but is there anything you hate? Apart from ties. I know you hate ties.” Her gaze lingered at the open neck of his shirt, and then lifted to his. “What else do you hate?”

“New York when the snow melts, warm beer, people who lie, being crushed on the subway with a million other people—”

“I meant in the way of food or decor.” She smiled. “You haven’t been crushed on the subway for years.”

“I try and eliminate the things I hate from my life.” He stretched his legs out in front of him. “You know me, Paige, and I trust you to make all the right choices. I’m putting the whole thing in your hands.”

“Thank you. We’ll make sure you don’t regret this.”

“I know I won’t.” He watched as Paige tucked her tablet back into her bag. “Are you still working from Frankie’s kitchen table? How is that working out?”

“It’s been all right. Mostly because we don’t have any work.”

“And now you do. You’re going to be busy. We have vacant office space next to my mobile development team. It’s yours if you want it.”

“Seriously?”

He didn’t blame her for being surprised. He was, too. He wondered if he’d inhaled something and blown his brain. Inviting Paige to work out of his offices? Right under his nose?

“If you’re based here, it will be easier to update me on the progress of our event. It’s a temporary solution until you’re on your feet or until we need the space.” Which gave him an exit clause. He might have to expand his company just to give himself a reason to reverse his decision. “Come back to me when you have a plan.”

“We’ll put it together.” She stood up and he walked her to the glass door that separated his office from the rest of the team. “Thank you.” She touched his arm gently. “This is good of you and I’m grateful.”

“Don’t thank me.”

His actions might be good, but his thoughts were all bad.

CHAPTER SEVEN

When putting your best foot forward, don’t forget to wear gel inserts.

—Paige

P
AIGE
FOCUSED
ON
her laptop, putting the final touches to her presentation.

She wanted everything to be perfect. There wasn’t going to be a single question she couldn’t answer.

“This view is truly spectacular.” Eva gazed, mouth open, and Frankie grunted, her head buried deep in a box she was unpacking.

“We have three weeks to put together this event. You don’t have time to look at the view.”

“The view is energizing. It’s
exciting
, Frankie. All over the city deals are being made, people are falling in love.”

“People are not falling in love, Eva. This is New York. All over the city people are shoving each other out of the way while they sprint to the next bit of their life.”

“You’re wrong. Magic happens in this city. It’s full of hope and possibilities.” Eva leaned her head against the glass window, her expression dreamy. “I think I’m going to love working in a fancy office with the world at my feet. Now I know why Jake works such long hours. Why would you ever want to leave this office?”

Paige didn’t look up.

Jake had given them a chance. It was her job to make sure they didn’t blow it.

She’d worked nonstop for three days and most of last night before putting together a plan. At four o’clock in the morning she’d fallen asleep with her laptop open on the bed and had been woken at six thirty by a sleepy Eva with a mug of strong coffee and a blueberry muffin she’d risen early to bake.

Knowing how Eva struggled with early starts, Paige had been touched.

And now the meeting was only minutes away.

Frankie looked at her. “I can’t believe you’ve done it. When you told us that he wanted an event within a month I didn’t know who was crazier—him for suggesting it or you for agreeing.”

“I wanted to prove we could do it.”

“Well, you proved it. He’s going to be impressed.”

“I meant to myself. I needed to prove it to myself.” If they could handle this, they could handle anything. “And we have a long way to go. This is just the start.”

“But it’s a good start. I hope Jake recognizes your superpowers at negotiating.”

“Our job is to make it all look smooth and easy, not challenging. Your wish is our command, remember?”

“I have a feeling this event could be ‘your wish is our nervous breakdown,’’’ Eva said. “You’re sure this is just professional pride? You’re sure there’s nothing more personal going on?”

“No.” Paige took a deep breath. “What would be going on?”

“I don’t know, but the two of you shoot off so many sparks when you’re together it’s like Fourth of July fireworks. On a dark night I bet they can see you from New Jersey.”

“It’s true there are times when it feels as if we’re permanently in conflict.” And she hated it. She missed the easy, close relationship she’d had with him as a teenager.

“Conflict?” Eva looked at her steadily. “I would have described it as chemistry, but I was never much good at the sciences.” She stood up. “We’re going to impress him. After today, Urban Genie will officially have taken the first step to success.”

Chemistry?

Of course it wasn’t chemistry. He took pleasure in goading her, poking at her flesh until she snapped at him.

“Hi.” Dani stood in the doorway. “Jake’s finishing up a call, and he asked you to come to his office in fifteen minutes.”

Paige felt her stomach drop but her smile stayed steady. “Thanks.”

Dani paused. “Have you worked with Jake before? Because there are a few things that will make your meeting go smoother.”

Eva looked anxious. “Like what?”

“Keep it brief. Jake hates wasting time. He doesn’t do small talk and don’t ever lie to him. If he asks you something and you don’t know the answer, say you don’t know. Don’t bullshit. Don’t ask me how, but his bullshit detector is infallible, and if you tell him a lie once he will never believe you again.”

Frankie stood up. “Anything else?”

“Yes. Don’t try and impress him. He hates it. He’s impressed by good work, not by people trying to impress him. He sees through it.”

“I’ve known Jake for years,” Eva muttered, “and suddenly my knees are wobbly and my stomach is filled with wriggly snakes.”

“Yeah, he has that effect on people. And that brings me to my last piece of advice—” Dani gave a crooked smile. “Don’t fall for him.”

Paige had heard enough. “Thanks, Dani. We’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.” As Dani left the room Eva bit her nails.

“This is Jake, right?” She straightened her pink shirt and applied a quick slick of gloss to her lips. “I mean, we’ve drunk beer with him on the roof terrace and eaten Maria’s spaghetti with red sauce with him a thousand times.”

“Don’t think about it.” But that was easier said than done. To distract herself, Paige scrolled through her notes. “Treat him as we would any other client. It’s professional.”

Except that the personal was there, simmering beneath the surface.

She’d sensed so many swirling undercurrents during that first meeting that she’d been tempted to ask for a life belt.

And it would have been easier to keep it entirely professional if he hadn’t seen the necklace.

She should have stopped wearing it years ago instead of giving it a place next to her heart.

She hated the fact she wasn’t able to consign it to the back of a drawer along with other pieces of jewelry she rarely wore.

And now he knew. Her secret, a secret no more.

She couldn’t have felt more uncomfortable if someone had put a photo of her naked on an electronic billboard in Times Square.

Exactly fifteen minutes later, Paige looked at Eva and Frankie. “Ready?” She felt ridiculously nervous as Jake waved them into his glass-walled office.

Jake was on the phone, feet on the desk. “Yeah, well you don’t pay me to agree with you or say what you want to hear.” He glanced toward them and gestured at the meeting area in the corner of the room. “You pay me to tell you the truth and that’s what I’ve done. What happens next is up to you.” He ended the call and swung his feet off the desk.

Paige hovered, unsure whether to sit or stand. Her legs felt weak and rubbery. Being enclosed in a small space with Jake did that to her. Her world shifted, as if it had been hit by an outside force more powerful than both of them.

And this was a different Jake. He was all coiled strength and restless impatience, his hair ruffled and his jaw dark with five o’clock shadow. Dani had mentioned that the dress code was informal, but Jake looked as if he hadn’t been to bed.

She knew he often worked into the night.

Since starting Urban Genie, she did, too.

He prowled around his office like a panther stalking his territory, so self-assured and confident that she felt her own nerves step up a notch.

How had she ever found the courage to tell him she loved him?

Maybe he’d been more approachable back then.

Jake looked at Eva. “Have you settled in?”

“We’ve made ourselves at home,” Eva said cheerfully. “Thank you for letting us use your beautiful offices. I hope you’re not expecting us to ever leave.”

His gaze warmed. “I intend to bill you. Do you have everything you need?”

“A few clients would be nice.” Frankie dumped a file on the table. “But we’re hoping to address that. I guess we have you to thank for the chance.”

“Don’t.” Finally he glanced at Paige. “Dani will join us. That way, if I’m out of the office and you have questions, she can act as liaison.”

Sliding into the nearest chair, Paige opened her laptop. “I’ve put together a presentation that shows our plan for the event.”

Dani walked into the room and sat down next to Jake.

“Sorry, boss.” She was breathless and smiling. “I was waylaid. Brad again. The man doesn’t give up. You going to talk to him anytime soon?”

“Maybe.” Jake nodded to Paige. “Go on. Talk me through it.”

“We have a shortlist of three venues. This is our recommendation.” She hit a key and brought up the image. “It has fabulous views of the Chrysler Building. Comfortably accommodates the numbers you specified. Fifty percent of the space is covered so if the weather isn’t kind, the event isn’t ruined. Inside or outside, it’s magical. I’ve organized events here in the past and their team is imaginative, reliable and efficient.”

Dani leaned across to look and gave a slow whistle. “Wow. Glitzy. What do I have to do to get an invite?”

“You’re one of the team. You’ll have an invite.” Jake studied the photograph. “Didn’t Matt design that roof terrace?”

“It was one of his first projects. It’s one of the hottest venues in Manhattan right now. The only reason it’s available is because they had a cancellation.”

“And Paige is a killer negotiator,” Eva said. “But she won’t tell you that herself.”

Jake sat back in his chair. “What’s your vision for the event?”

Paige relaxed a little. That part was easy. “Your business is about communicating, about finding new, innovative ways to display data so that the end user experience is good. We’re going to reflect that in our design.” She showed him more images. “You want to make it easy for people to mingle and mix. The acoustics are good. And as I mentioned, fifty percent of the space is under cover, which will mean we can use whatever technology you want without risking weather problems.”

Dani nodded. “Cool. Because water and hard drives don’t mix.”

“We deal with all on-site management and logistics. Eva is in charge of food and beverage planning.” She looked at Eva, who proceeded to talk through her plans.

“For this project I’m working with a company called Delicious Eats. They’re based in SoHo and they pitched for a piece of business with Star Events, but Cynthia didn’t want to give business to a company she didn’t know. For her, sitting in on pitches was a formality. A tick box exercise before giving the business to her friends. I think they’re perfect for your event.”

Jake came back at her with questions and Paige felt a rush of pride as she watched Eva handle each one of his concerns without faltering.

Jake seemed impressed, too. “So food is covered. I’ll leave the detail to you, Eva. What else?”

Paige stepped in again. “Frankie will deal with decor and flowers. It’s a rooftop event so lighting is important. I mentioned that when we first met.”

Frankie pushed her glasses up her nose. “We work with a company who are experts at lighting outdoor events. I also have a team of florists and floral designers. They’re freelance, but I’ve worked with them all before and their work is the best there is. The roof terrace is already stylish and well lit. We’ll add to that and create touches that will make sure this is the party people are talking about for the next six months.”

Paige knew presenting was Frankie’s least favorite thing, but she did a good job, outlining all the key points she thought Jake needed to know.

And then it was her turn. “We’ll deal with any audio-visual needs and transportation. I’ll also need to know if any of your guests will need accommodation.”

“They won’t. I’m feeding them and giving them champagne in one of the most exclusive rooftop venues in Manhattan,” he drawled. “If they can’t find their own way, then that’s their problem. Anything else?”

“Client gifts?”

“Yes. But Dani can deal with that.”

She was used to dealing with clients who fussed over every tiny detail, and then changed their minds. “There’s nothing you want to change? No requests?”

“No. When I hire people to do a job I like to let them get on with it. I do need to see the venue though, because that will help me decide on how to best display the technology.” He glanced at his phone. “I have meetings today and a project I need to work on tonight. Does tomorrow at nine work for you?”

“Nine in the evening?”

“It’s a nighttime event. I need to see the roof terrace in the dark.”

Paige flushed, feeling foolish. “Of course. I’ll just need to check with the venue that they don’t have a private event.”

“They do. And the reason I know that is because I’m invited. I wasn’t planning on going because it’s black tie and posing, but maybe we’ll show our faces for a short time.”

“We? You’re taking Dani?”

“No.” He stood up. “I’m taking you.”

“Me?” The blood pulsed in her ears. “Why me?”

“Because you’re the one running the event,” he said gently. “If there are issues, I want to discuss it with the man at the top. That’s you.”

“But I’m not invited.”

“The invitation said ‘plus one.’ You’re my plus one.” He turned to Dani. “Call and accept, and arrange for a car to pick up Paige at home and take her straight to the venue. I have a meeting in Boston tomorrow, so I’ll meet you there, Paige.” His phone rang and he answered it as he walked out of his office with Dani following close behind.

Paige waited until the door closed, and then let out a long breath. “That felt scary.” She couldn’t remember ever being so nervous in a meeting before. But maybe that was because no meeting had ever seemed as important as this one, and not just because it was Urban Genie’s first real piece of business, but because it was Jake. She’d wanted him to be impressed and she was confident that he was. “Great job, team.”

Eva was smiling. “He
loved
your ideas. Now we have to hope he loves the venue. Lucky you, a date going to a romantic rooftop glitzy party with the sexiest bachelor in New York City. Jake wearing a tux and Manhattan wearing lights. Who knows what might happen.”

Frankie stuffed her papers into her bag. “You are such a romantic. What does it take to cure you?”

“Being a romantic isn’t an illness, and if it was I wouldn’t want to be cured.”

“It’s not a date.” Paige closed her laptop. “And I know what will happen. We’ll visit the venue, he’ll make some comments, probably sarcastic ones, I’ll take notes, then we’ll leave.”

That was it.

It wouldn’t even be awkward because there would be so many people there.

“Cinderella thought she was just going to a ball and look what happened to her.”