Sizzling Summer Nights in Paradise Anthology by Anthology

Author:Anthology [Anthology]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7. Adrian

“What do you think we’re talking about today?” Denise wonders aloud.

Emery called a meeting, but she’s not here yet. I check my watch. We’re all a few minutes early.

“I think that our bets might get called,” Maisie says, leaning forward.

Just behind his shoulder, I see movement. Emery’s coming, a bounce in her step and smiling in excitement.

“You know, I think this means Adrian will win. He had Emery lasting three months.”

It’s almost slow motion, the way Emery’s face falters. She’s heard the words, and there’s a flash of confusion, and hurt, and then false bravado. My gut sinks like a rock.

“Maisie,” Donna says next to me, a warning that Maisie doesn’t hear.

“No, seriously, I think he’s only off by a few days.”

“Well,” Emery interrupts, this awful fake smile on her face. “Sorry I’m late. The printer refused to do anything in color, but you’ll just have to imagine it’s prettier.” She tries to laugh, but it comes out weak. We all shift uncomfortably.

“I didn’t—” Maisie starts, but Emery plows right over her.

“Take a look at this plan.” She passes out stacks of paper to the eight of us. “It’s an end-of-season marketing push. I’ve thought, lately, that I was feeling pretty comfortable with how well things are going, and this isn’t exactly changing anything; it’s simply . . . adding to it. Taking some of my strengths and trying to apply them to the resort, as it were.”

I can see Emery trying to ignore what Maisie said, maybe convincing herself that she misheard. I have a hard time focusing on what she’s saying because I think about what I’m going to say to her and how I’m going to explain that, yes, she did actually say that, but no, we didn’t bet any money on it.

The thought feels like a technicality, though. A shitty excuse.

I tune back in when Emery says my name, and it makes me feel like even more of an ass because, obviously, this is important to her, to the resort.

“ . . . Adrian can work the food angle with her. She’s one of the top travel food bloggers, and she’s been doing a few segments on sustainability, but she hasn’t done much in the Caribbean. So I was thinking we could pair it up with day trips. I know there’s a few people we’ve worked with or want to work with, like that beekeeper?” It tilts up in a question, and it’s directed at me.

“Yes,” I say, bracing my elbows on the table and trying to focus. “Matterson. He’s got a colony over on the northern side, and we can push the lack of commercial agriculture aspect. He said something about testing the honey, and it’s very pure.”

“Whatever that means,” Emery says, looking back down at her notes. “You’ll notice there’s a few photographers on the list too, in addition to the bloggers and vloggers. They’ve all agreed to allow us the rights to photos and videos they take, and in a few instances, they’ll provide us with edited versions.

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