Sam’s face has stilled into neutral but he touches my arm when I go to turn around.
“Forget it,” he says softly.
“Like hell.” I glance behind to see who the asshole is and have no trouble locating him. He’s older, in his fifties, wearing a baggy black suit. I take a long look so I can recognize him later, watching as he shoves his empty glass at a passing server and jabs his finger in her face until she gives him a fresh drink from her tray.
Sam and I mingle but the man’s comments have soured my mood. Sam must notice because he leads me onto the balcony that provides a view out over the black lake. Thanks to an unseasonably cold night, we’re the only people out here.
“You need to let it go,” he says. “You’re not going to accidentally spill a drink on him or beat him in rational debate, so quit thinking about it.”
“How did you know I was going to spill on him?”
He gives me a look out of the corner of his eyes. Against the night, his face is starkly outlined. “There are many like him here.”
“At least you can go back home and not have to deal with people like him. I’m stuck.”
“There are always people like him, everywhere.” Sam leans his forearms on the balcony rail. Tonight he’s in slacks and with the sleeves of the dress shirt rolled up, he exudes coolly confident style. I’ve already seen two men glance over and fix their own sleeves. “He’s scared and he feels inferior and he doesn’t like it.”
“Or maybe he’s not scared but just a class-A dick who needs to be snapped into place. I bet he lords his money over everyone around him.” I look back into the room. “Oh my God.”
“What?” He stands in front of me as if to block whatever it is. I pull him out of the way gently.
“That’s Robin Banerjee.”
Sam waves his hand. “Some context, please?”
“A venture capitalist based in the city who only funds local business and has a focus on lifehacking ventures.” I’ve done my research.
Understanding dawns. “Like Eppy.”
“Like Eppy.”
“Now’s the time to get him,” Sam urges. “Pitch him.”
“I can’t.” I want to stomp my feet in rage. “I’m Fangli, not Gracie.”
“Right.” He gives a brisk nod. “I’ll go talk to him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll go over, introduce myself, and tell him I have a friend with a great idea and will he meet with her.”
“Just like that?”
“Well, he might say no.”
“You’d do that for me?”
Sam looks down at me. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I feel weird.”
“It’s called networking.”
“I’ve always managed by myself.”
He doesn’t say anything but I can hear his voice as loudly as if he had. How’s that working for you?
How is it working for me? I look back at Robin Banerjee. Networking was always for people who had connections and I never did. Sam’s casual offer, that he could simply walk over and ask this stranger a favor—and have a good expectation of receiving it by dint of who he is—speaks to a level of confidence I envy.
I don’t want Sam to do this for me. I want to be able to do it for myself.
“I think I’d rather…” The words die in my mouth. Because Todd is strutting through the crowd.
Thirty
He’s here.
Todd the asshole boss. Todd who somehow continues to make my life hell. I don’t understand why he’s here until I see his blond friend from the art gallery smiling and air-kissing the hell out of the room.
“You’d rather what?” Sam sees me shiver. “You’re cold. The wind’s picking up. Shall we go in?”
“I like it out here.” I can’t stay on the balcony all night but I need a few minutes to collect myself. Dealing with Todd will require a plan. A solid plan that I currently do not have.
Sam runs his hand down the goose bumps on my arm but says, “Whatever you want.”
The balcony is separated from the main event space by a wall of windows, but it’s darker outside than in, so I know I’m not visible to the crowd. I keep my breath controlled and even, forcing my body to calm itself even though my palms are so damp that Sam makes a face when he touches my hand. “About Robin,” he says before he squints through the windows. “Oh, can you give me a moment? That’s my old friend Dmitri. I haven’t seen him in years.” He gestures to a man inside wearing a bow tie.