Three Girls And A Wedding Read Online Free Page A

clench slightly. I wasn’t quite as comfortable
with the high- rolling life as I might like people to believe.
    “Listen, Jennifer,” Jason began,
but the elevator had reached the lobby and the doors were opening with a ding.
“After you,” he said again, motioning me forward.
    We walked briskly through the
nearly empty lobby and out the front door. There was a black sedan, our hired
car, waiting for us just outside the main entrance. To my surprise, Jason held
my door open for me and waited for me to sit before shutting it and walking
around to the other side.
    Once we were settled and the car
was pulling away from the curb, he turned to face me.
    “As I was saying,” he started
again. “This meeting is very important. We’ve never worked together before, so
I just wanted to touch base about our respective…styles.”
    I looked at him evenly, unsure of
what he was getting at.
    “These are powerful people,
Jennifer. Very powerful. It is imperative that we make them feel like the
center of our world. No request from them is too big. If they need it, if they want it, they get it, no questions
asked.”
    “Are you under the impression that I
don’t know how to please clients?”
    Jason shrugged. “You seem to have a
tendency—a need—to insert your opinion, to state your case. I’ve
noticed that around the office. You put a lot of yourself into your work. That
may all be well and good in the little parties you’ve planned up until now, but
it doesn’t fly on my account. I demand professionalism at all times.”
    I felt my cheeks flush. The
bastard!
    “I can assure you, the client is my
only priority.” My voice was steely, cold, and I was proud of myself that it
betrayed no wobble, no sign of the emotion I was feeling. I was getting better
at this.
    There was a time when a criticism
like that would have sent me reeling. A time when any question on my ability or
professionalism would have resulted in my tears. A time when I was weak.
    But that was ages ago. Things had
changed. I had changed. And there was
no way I was going to let Jason fucking Richardson see through me.
    “Good,” he said simply, spreading
his hands wide. “Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page, Jennifer.”
He turned his attention back to his Blackberry.
    “Oh, and Jason?” I said, my voice
sickly sweet. He looked up at me. “It’s Jen. Please try to remember that.”

 
    ***

 
    We arrived at the restaurant ahead
of the client. I took that as a good sign; you never wanted to keep these
people waiting. We were shown to a private booth overlooking the glass outer
wall. You could see Canada from here—it was gorgeous.
    “I’ll take the lead on this,” Jason
said, pulling a leather-bound file from his case. “But I will be asking for
your input.”
    I nodded, starting to feel a little
nervous.
    “This is going to go great, Jen,”
Jason said softly. I looked up at him, surprised—his words were as close
to kind and supportive as I had ever heard this guy get. Jason was looking at
me, a relaxed, confident expression on his face.
    Before I could answer, the waiter
reappeared. Next to him stood a short blond girl. Her face was pretty, her
smile so large it seemed in danger of stretching right off her cheeks. Behind
her was a tall man, also blond, a very all-American football type.
    Jason and I immediately stood,
smiling to greet our guests, snapping into schmooze mode faster than you could
say “commission”.
    “Kiki! Eric! It’s so wonderful to
see you again!” To see Jason’s face you would assume the two people before him
were his closest friends.
    He stepped forward to kiss Kiki’s
cheek. “You look lovely tonight, dear, absolutely lovely.” He turned his
attention to the man behind her. “Eric, great to see you, man.” He reached out
to shake his hand.
    I couldn’t help but feel impressed,
watching Jason in action. His face was completely alight, his voice
enthusiastic without being over the top.