“Mercedes, would you like to do the honors?” Andréa asks.
“No, you go ahead,” she demurs.
I blink. Since when has Mercedes ever turned down an opportunity to be in the spotlight?
“Okay then.” Andréa claps. “Tomorrow, we’re celebrating community. The community we’ve built at the firm over the past three months with our group of talented up-and-coming summer associates, and the community in which we work—Ohio City.”
My unease morphs into full-blown panic as a creeping, unavoidable suspicion settles into place.
“To celebrate and support those communities, we’re attending a festival in our very own neighborhood hosted by a local, family owned flower shop that’s been in operation for three generations. There will be food, music, beer, and, of course, flowers, for anyone looking to beautify their living space or make a loved one smile. We’ll meet tomorrow at Twenty-Eighth and Providence at noon, where everyone will be provided with lunch and two free drink tickets, courtesy of the firm. So get ready: we’re going to the Ohio City Flower & Beer Festival!”
* * *
My mouth is still hanging open when the first group of people file into the elevators to return to their offices.
I’m going to the Flower & Beer Festival. Tomorrow. At noon. With everyone from work, including my boss and managing partner.
My heartbeat accelerates and sweat gathers on my neck.
Pacing to the window, I unbutton my jacket and brace my hands on my hips. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing. Sure, I still need to keep my role as a coordinator under wraps, but at least I’ll be able to help set up beforehand and stick around once my coworkers leave. And starting at noon? I’ll just have to provide moral support and plenty of thumbs-ups from a distance.
I hang back until only a handful of attorneys are left in the lobby before getting in line for the elevator. I catch sight of Mercedes several feet in front of me and glare at the back of her blush-colored blouse.
She did this on purpose. I know it. When she overheard me talking in the bathroom about the festival she must have connected the dots to Szymanski Enterprises. She probably thought she was pretty smart filtering the festival idea through Andréa so I wouldn’t find out she proposed it for our social. She didn’t count on Andréa handing the credit back to her at the moment of truth though.
The elevator dings, and the next group shuffles in. When the doors close, there are only four of us left in the lobby: me, Mercedes, and two junior partners I don’t know well. Narrowing my eyes at her, I pull my phone from my pocket and text Perry and Devin.
Just found out where my firm’s social is tomorrow, and you’re not going to believe it…
WE’RE GOING TO THE FESTIVAL
Perry
Are you serious??
Yep. The big boss just announced it.
Me and 20+ other attorneys from Smith & Boone will be there starting at noon.
Devin
Sweet, ’cause we could sure use your help
My gut twists.
I have to keep my participation on the DL, remember?
Perry
We can’t let anyone find out Cass helped plan this thing. Her job might depend on it. Got it, Dev?
Devin
Right, sorry. I forgot.
I’m in the middle of tapping out a response when the elevator doors open once again. Reluctantly, I return my phone to my pocket and step inside. The two junior partners are talking with their heads bent together, so Mercedes and I wind up standing next to each other in the back. She takes half a step away from me when the doors close. The elevator ascends.
“Congratulations on the winning idea, Mercedes,” I grate.
“Thank you,” she says primly, squeezing the small, narrow box in her clasped hands.
The elevator dings when we reach the second floor, and the junior partners step out. As soon as they’re out of sight and the doors close, I drop the fake smile and turn on her. “What are you playing at?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean suggesting the flower festival to Andréa for our summer social?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
I narrow my eyes at her. Is she trying to make me confess? Is her phone in her pocket set to secretly record me? At this point, I can’t count anything out. Shrugging, I turn away from her to face straight ahead. “Nothing, I guess.”
Staring resolutely at the elevator buttons, she licks her red lips. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t think Andréa would take the idea to Glenn. She asked me the other day if I had any fun plans for the weekend, and I mentioned I might swing by a flower festival in Ohio City, and she ran with it. I wasn’t trying to… make anyone’s life harder. I swear.”