“You cal her Spanx?”
“You bet! And then last night—”
“Two nights in a row! Spanx got spanked again?”
“Oh no, last night I was treated to a freak of nature I’ve named Purina,” I continued.
“Purina? I don’t get it.” She frowned.
“The Russian he made meow last night.”
She laughed again, causing Steve from accounting to stick his head in the door.
“What are you two hens clucking about in here?” he asked, shaking his head.
“Nothing,” we answered at the same time, then cracked up again.
“Two women in two nights, that’s impressive.” She sighed.
“Come on, impressive? No. Manwhore? Yes.”
“Wow, do you know his name?”
“I do, in fact. His name is Simon. I know this because Spanx and Purina kept screaming it over and over again. I could make it out over the
banging…Stupid wal banger,” I muttered.
She was silent for a moment, and then she grinned. “Simon Wal banger—I love it!”
“Yeah, you love it. You didn’t have your cat trying to mate with Purina through the wal last night.” I chuckled rueful y and laid my head back on
the desk as we continued to giggle.
“Okay, let’s get to work,” Jil ian final y said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I need you to land these new clients today. What time are they
coming in?”
“Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson are here at one. I’ve got the presentation and the plans al ready for them. I think they’l real y like the way I
redesigned their bedroom. We’re going to be able to offer an en suite sitting room and an entirely new bathroom. It’s pretty great.”
“I believe you. Can you run through your ideas with me at lunch?”
“Yep, I’m al over it,” I answered as she headed for the door.
“You know, Caroline, if you can land this job, it would be huge for the firm,” she said, eying me over her tortoiseshel glasses.
“Just wait until you see what I came up with for their new home theater.”
“They don’t have a home theater.”
“Not yet they don’t,” I said, arching my eyebrows and grinning devilishly.
“Nice,” she appraised and left to start her day.
The Nicholsons were definitely a couple I wanted—everyone did. Mimi had done some work for Natalie Nicholson, blueblood and wel heeled,
when she reorganized her office last year. She referred me when interior design hit the table, and I immediately started plans for their bedroom
remodel.
Wal banger. Pffft.
“Fantastic, Caroline. Simply fantastic,” Natalie raved as I walked her and her husband to the front door. We’d spent almost two hours going
through the plans, and while we’d compromised on a few key points, it was going to be an exciting project.
“So, you think you’re the right designer for us?” Sam asked, his deep brown eyes twinkling as he wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist and
played with her ponytail.
“You tel me,” I teased back, smiling at the two of them.
“I think we would love to work with you on this project,” Natalie said as we shook hands.
I internal y high-fived myself, but kept my face composed. “Excel ent. I’l be in touch very soon, and we can get started on a schedule,” I said as I
held the door for them.
I stood in the doorway as I waved them off, then let the door close behind me. I glanced over at Ashley, our receptionist. She raised her
eyebrows at me, and I raised mine right back.
“So?” she asked.
“Oh yeah. Nailed it,” I sighed, and we both squealed. Jil ian came down the stairs as we danced about, and she stopped short. “What the hel
happened down here?” she asked, grinning.
“Caroline got hired by the Nicholsons!” Ashley squealed again.
“Nice.” Jil ian gave me a quick hug. “Proud of you, kid,” she whispered, and I beamed. I freaking beamed.
I danced back to my office, putting a little bump and grind in it as I made my way around the desk. I sat down, twirled in my chair, and looked
out onto the bay.
Well played, Caroline. Well played.
That night when I went out to celebrate my success with Mimi and Sophia, I may have imbibed more than a few margaritas. I continued with
tequila shots, and I was stil licking at the now-nonexistent salt on the inside of my wrist as they walked me up my stairs.
“Sophia, you’re so pretty. You know that, right?” I cooed, leaning on her as we crawled up the stairs.
“Yes, Caroline, I’m pretty. Good grasp on the obvious,” she said. At almost six feet tal with fiery red hair, Sophia was keenly aware her looks.