Kiss Cam (With A Kiss Book 1)

by Anie Michaels

  She terrified me. I didn’t know why, though. It was probably because she was a strong, powerful, successful woman and I admired her. It could have also been the fact that she was like stone. She never smiled. Never laughed. Never even was nice, per se. She was all business, all the time. Which was probably why her company did so well.

  But I was a sucker for recognition and it killed me not to know if Rose thought I was doing a good job or not. And the fact that she’d called me personally to meet her in her office, well, I couldn’t think of a single good reason for it.

  I looked at the clock.

  Shit.

  I was three minutes late.

  She was definitely going to fire me.

  My phone rang again, startling me. I picked it up and sputtered out, “Hello?”

  “Bring a notebook.” Rose abruptly hung up again.

  I grabbed a legal pad on top of my desk and hurried out of my office and through the open-concept floor. There were a few rows of long tables filled with other employees, and only a few offices along the perimeter. I had been at those tables up until a couple weeks prior, and I missed them—to some degree. I passed my old spot and my old neighbor, Rachel. She smiled up at me, but must have noticed the panicked look on my face because her eyes grew wide.

  “What’s up?” she asked as I zoomed past her.

  “Rose,” I silently mouthed and pointed to Rose’s office at the back of the room. I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Rachel’s eyes grew wider.

  “Good luck!” she called, winning the annoyed gazes of a few people around her.

  Rose’s office was made of four glass walls. It was intimidating that she could always see you.

  I peeked into Alison’s office, my immediate supervisor, and nearly cried when I saw she was on the phone and probably not attending this little meeting with Rose.

  My stomach turned and my entire body was going into fight or flight mode, reacting to the adrenaline I was obviously high on. My hands shook and my head was woozy. The closer I got to the door to Rose’s office, the harder it was to take a full and deep breath.

  As I approached the door I noticed her tall chair was turned away, facing the beautiful skyline behind her, and I felt a small wave of relief roll over me. I used the opportunity to calm myself, trying to take a few breaths and slow the rapid beating of my heart. After a few seconds, I felt calmer and told myself I was only delaying the inevitable. With a sense of determination and bravery I didn’t feel, I marched in.

  “Riley, please sit down,” Rose said in her cool voice, giving nothing away, before I was even fully in the room.

  “Rose, I’m so sorry I was late. I pride myself on being punctual and it won’t ever happen again.”

  Her chair had turned around all the way by the time I finished my speech and had taken a seat in one of the chairs opposite her desk. Her blonde hair was perfectly straight and lay picturesquely over one shoulder, contrasting with the black dress she was wearing. Her eyebrows drew together and her head tilted.

  “Riley, that’s ridiculous. Everyone is late every once in a while. It’s statistically impossible that you would never be late again. Don’t make promises you can’t keep or hold yourself to unrealistic expectations. You will only fail.”

  “Oh-kay…,” I said slowly. “That’s not why you wanted to see me?”

  “No. It’s not.”

  “Oh,” I said, confusion thick in my voice.

  “I would like to talk about why the mayor’s wife was calling me early this morning to book us for a premium event package, asking specifically to work with you. And more so, I would like to know why I had to hear about this from the mayor’s wife and why you didn’t tell me or Alison that you were working that particular connection. Furthermore, how in the world do you have a connection to the mayor’s wife?”

  I swallowed hard.

  “Well, I gave Meg your card yesterday afternoon. She asked for my help with an event, but I very clearly told her I couldn’t help, you know, because of the non-compete clause, so she said she’d book me through the company.”

  “Meg?” she asked, exasperation in her voice.

  “The mayor’s wife,” I supplied.

  “I know who she is, Riley. I want to know how you’re on first-name basis with her and how I’m only now hearing about it.”

  “Oh! I’m sorry. I just met her yesterday. She’s my boyfriend’s mother.”

  “You’re dating the mayor’s son?”

  “Stepson.”

  “Okay, well, she wants you on this event, and I want it to be perfect. Take whoever you need to build a team and make it happen. She’s given us a budget, but it’s a generous one, so don’t hold back. I’ll e-mail you all the details. Until further notice you are off all other projects. I want you focusing on this, and this alone. Understand?”

  “Yes,” I said, and punctuated it with a swift nod.

  “I want frequent and informative updates.”

  “Of course.”

  “If you impress her there’s a chance we’ll keep her business, and she is extremely high profile, Riley. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this. Why aren’t you writing any of this down?”

  I almost opened my mouth to remind her she’d said she would e-mail me all the details, but decided against it, and instead put pen to paper.

  “She’s secured a location for the third weekend in December, and that is only six weeks from now, so time is of the essence. She booked the Crystal Ballroom which is, in my opinion, a strange choice for this type of event, but it’s not up to me to make those kinds of decisions. You need to check out the venue immediately and make sure it can fit her vision, and if not, you need to find an alternative—which will be difficult on such short notice—and convince her it’s the best choice.”

  “Right,” I said, not looking up at her but furiously scribbling notes on my legal pad.

  “Normally I wouldn’t allow my employees to work so closely with someone they had such a close relationship with, but my hands are tied. She asked for you, and I’m not about to turn her away.”

  That stopped me cold. “Rose, I didn’t suggest to her that she request me. The opposite, in fact. I told her I couldn’t help her since I worked here. I was trying to uphold my end of the non-compete.”

  “And I appreciate that. I’m trying to make it clear that this is an unusual circumstance and that I’m making an exception for the first lady of Portland.”

  “I understand. I want you to know I would never try to weasel my way into an account.”

  “Noted.” She nodded and then looked at her computer. “I’m e-mailing you the file now. Put your team together and call your client to set up a meeting.”

  “Will do.” I stood up and made my way to the door. When one hand rested on the doorknob, I turned back toward Rose. “I worked hard for my promotion, and I’m going to work really hard on this account. But I want you to know it has nothing to do with the fact that it’s for my boyfriend’s mother. I’ll do a good job because I’m good at my job.”

  Rose didn’t speak for a beat, but then turned to face me again. “Words mean little to me, Riley. Actions. Actions are important. Show me that you mean everything you just said.”

  I nodded and then turned and left.

  When I was positive I was hidden from her view, I let out a huge sigh, letting my shoulders sag and my head loll back.

  I needed a drink.

  I walked directly to Rachel and sat in the empty seat next to her that I used to occupy.

  “Rachel,” I said, making her jump in surprise.

  “Shit, Riley,” she exclaimed, holding her hand to her chest. “You can’t sneak up on people like that.”

  “Sorry, but there’s no time to chitchat. I need you to come to my office, like, right now.”

  “Okay…,” she said, a worried tone to her voice. I stood up and walked toward my office, knowing she was behind me, all the while trying to take deeps breaths and calm myself down. Wh
en we made it there I collapsed into my chair and heard Rachel close the door behind us.

  “What’s going on?”

  I let out another breath, but then looked up and met her gaze.

  “I’m dating the mayor’s stepson and his mother just called Rose and hired us to plan her black-tie event in six weeks and asked that I be the point person on the account.”

  “You’re dating the mayor’s son?” she practically screamed, a smile stretched across her face.

  “Stepson,” I corrected.

  “I can’t believe this, I had no idea you were dating anyone.” She fell quiet for a moment but then her eyes lit up in understanding. “Wait, is this the guy you kissed at the Renegades game?”

  I nodded while holding my bottom lip captive between my teeth.

  “And his mom is the mayor’s wife?”

  I nodded again, this time a little more frantically.

  “All right, you’re going to rock this party.” Her support was clear and unwavering, which was good, considering my next statement.

  “I’m glad you think so because you’re going to help me.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. Rose told me to pick anyone I wanted to build my team, and I want you.”

  “Me?” she asked again, even more doubt in her tone.

  “Don’t make me say it again, Rachel. Of course you. You’re my right-hand woman. I need your help. Please say you’ll help me.”

  “I’ll definitely help you,” she said without hesitation, which I appreciated. She sat and gave me a wide-eyed look. “Did Rose really tell you to build your own team?”

  “Yeah. Got any suggestions? I think we need at least one more person, just to make sure all our bases are covered.” I watched as she mentally ticked through the staff, trying to pick the perfect person.

  “You know, JasperJasper has been impressing me lately.”

  “Hipster JasperJasper?” I asked, surprised. Rachel and I had kind of been mocking JasperJasper since he started. He was all skinny jeans and suspenders.

  “Yes, hipster JasperJasper.” She couldn’t say it without smiling. “Since you’ve moved into this office I’ve gotten a chance to get to know him, and there’s more to him than his mustache.”

  “Okay, but I’m not picking people based on how I get along with them or how much I like them, I want people who can work hard and not complain. This is going to be a hellish six weeks.”

  “I totally think he’d be up for it. He loves planning and has a lot of vision. Think of Anthony from Sex and the City.”

  “The gay wedding planner?”

  “Yes! He’s just like that guy, only, I don’t know… Portlandier.”

  “Okay, get him in here.”

  Five minutes later I had Rachel, JasperJasper, and Alison in my office and a hot mocha in my hands. Alison wasn’t going to be on my team, but I wanted her there to help me get started if I needed her.

  Okay.

  Fine.

  I wanted her to hold my hand.

  “JasperJasper, please close the door and everyone take a seat.” I took a sip of my coffee as they settled in. “Whatever you were working on five minutes ago, you’re no longer working on it. Per Rose, Rachel and JasperJasper, you are with me until we complete this new project.”

  “What new project?” JasperJasper asked, confusion so evident on his pretty face. The guy had on his signature skinny jeans and suspenders, but he’d upped the ante today with a red flannel bow tie. It was hard to look away for a number of reasons, the main one being it looked ridiculous. Which probably meant it looked awesome by hipster standards.

  “Meg Rogers has hired the company to plan an exclusive event in under seven weeks.”

  “Who is Meg Rogers?” he asked, looking around as though he couldn’t be the only person to not know the name.

  “The mayor’s wife,” Rachel supplied.

  “Portland’s mayor?” Jasper asked, shock in his voice. “Portland has a mayor?”

  “Are you for real?” Alison questioned, only half serious.

  “Portland is huge. It seems too big for the term mayor. Mayor is so small town. Shouldn’t we have, like, a governor or something?”

  “Ah, Jasper.” Rachel sighed. “You’re pretty.”

  “Anyway, she’s secured the Crystal Ballroom, but we’re in it for everything else, and it must be stellar, ladies and gentleman. We’re talking black-tie fundraiser.”

  “Who are we raising funds for?” Rachel inquired.

  “The Angel House.”

  “Great cause.”

  “Yeah, which is one more reason we have to hit it out of the park.”

  “How about a premium silent auction?” Jasper asked. “High-quality stuff. No vouchers for oil changes. Expensive shit.”

  “I like it,” I said, urging him on.

  “We could ask the Heathman to donate a weekend package, and maybe Dosha Salon and Spa could donate a beauty package.”

  “Jasper, work that angle. Think expensive and exclusive. We want donations that will bring a high dollar bid. Rachel, I need you on catering. We must think outside the box on this one. Until I get to the venue, I don’t know if it will house a sit-down dinner, so we have to play it fast and loose for now. We want classic but trendy, all right? Nothing crazy like sushi, but we need gluten-free-friendly options, but it can’t taste like it’s gluten free, okay?”

  “On it,” both Jasper and Rachel responded simultaneously.

  “All right, let’s get to work.” As soon as I’d said the words, the two of them stood and walked back to their desks in the main room, but Alison stayed behind. When we were alone, she spoke.

  “How in the world did this happen?”

  “You mean why is the boss giving me, arguably, the biggest account we’ve seen all year?”

  “Yeah, that.”

  “Her son is my boyfriend,” I said and couldn’t help the grimace that crossed my face.

  “Don’t look so excited by that notion,” Alison said with a laugh.

  “No, it’s not Camden—he’s great. I feel icky about how I got this account. I don’t feel like I earned it. It was only handed to me because of who I’m dating.”

  Alison shrugged. “Listen, everyone uses connections at some point in their career. There’s nothing wrong with how you got the account, you just have to make sure you do a great job and earn it.”

  “Okay,” I said, letting out a breath, trying to force self-confidence. “I can do this.”

  “You can totally do this. Plus, if you kill it you’ll be Rose’s favorite new toy.”

  “As weird and gross as that sounds, I really want it.”

  We both laughed and Alison stood and opened the door to my office. “Let me know if you need anything. You’re going to do great.”

  “Thanks.”

  She gave me a friendly smile and left, shutting the door behind her.

  As soon as I was alone, my head plopped down on my desk. Luckily I had one of those padded wrist-resters for my keyboard, so my forehead had a soft landing spot. I took a few moments to softly thump my forehead on it a few times. Then I took a deep breath, breathed it out, and then sat up with determination.

  “You can do this,” I said to myself with conviction. “You’re a badass party planner and Meg Rogers is going to weep when she sees what you deliver. Weep!” I said, pumping my fist in the air.

  With renewed and only partly genuine confidence, I picked up the phone and got to work.

  It was hours past lunchtime before I came up for air. The only reason I stopped at all was because my stomach was growling loudly and interfering with phone calls. When I stepped out into the main office, I saw the workstations had thinned out and only a few people remained. Usually in the afternoon people in event planning had meetings to see venues or meet with clients. It wasn’t unusual to have an empty office in the afternoon, especially not on a Monday, but I smiled when I saw Jasper and Rachel still at their desks, asses to chairs, working har
d.

  “Hey guys,” I said as I came up behind them. “What have we come up with?”

  “I’ve reached out to quite a few vendors about donations and I’m still waiting to hear back from most of them, but Dosha is a go, as is the Heathman. It’s funny how you mention the mayor’s name and people give you stuff.” Jasper laughed as he said the words.

  “I think it helps that it’s the end of the year. Companies are looking for tax write-offs,” I added with a laugh.

  “I’ve got a few catering options, nothing solid though. I’m still looking for the perfect blend of cool versus elegance.” Rachel didn’t even look at me while she spoke, her eyes were glued to her computer.

  “I’ve got a viewing of the Crystal Ballroom today at four. Mrs. Rogers will meet us there at four thirty to discuss options. We don’t have to have all the answers today, but I want to have something to work off, something to show her, something tangible she can take home, even if it’s just an idea. We need something she can chew on.”

  “We’re on it,” Rachel said brightly, still not looking at me, which I weirdly kind of appreciated. The more she stared at her computer, the more work she was getting done.

  “I’ll probably take off from the ballroom for the night, so let’s meet there at 3:45, okay?”

  “Sounds good,” Jasper said, a smile on his face.

  “I’m gonna go grab something to eat. You guys need anything?”

  “Get out of here, Riley. We’ve got it,” Rachel practically yelled.

  “Okay, okay.”

  I grabbed my coat and purse from my office, making sure my phone was in it, and then headed out. It felt good to walk after being in my office all day long. I took the stairs down and made a left out of the building, heading toward the food trucks a few blocks down. The craving for a hot dog had never been stronger.

  I paid for my hot dog and a hot chocolate and found a bench. I took a bite, painfully aware of how awkward it is to eat a hot dog in public but not caring, and then let my shoulders sag a little, finding a rare moment in my day to relax. After a few minutes of quiet people watching, I dug my phone from my purse. I had a couple missed texts and read the one from Camden first.