Paige stood for a moment, thinking how unpredictable life was.
Who would have thought that herself, Eva and Frankie losing their jobs would have turned out so well?
Urban Genie existed only because life had laid a twist in her path.
Change had been forced on her, but it had proved to be a good thing.
Instead of fighting it, she should embrace it.
What had Jake said?
‘Sometimes you have to let life happen.’
Maybe she should try and do that a bit more.
And maybe one day she'd look back and realise that not being with Jake was the best thing that could have happened—because if she'd been with Jake she wouldn't have met—
Who?
Would she ever meet someone who made her feel the way Jake did?
She stood leaning on the railing, gazing at the city she loved.
The lights of Manhattan sparkled like a thousand stars against a midnight sky and now, finally, as the last of the guests made their way to the elevators she allowed herself a moment to enjoy it.
‘Time to relax and celebrate, I think.’
Jake's voice came from behind her and she turned to find him holding two glasses of champagne. He handed her one. ‘To Urban Genie.’
‘I don't drink while I'm working.’ And while Jake was present this was definitely still work.
She knew better than to lower her guard a second time.
‘The guests have gone. You're no longer working. Your job is done.’
‘I'm not off duty until the clear-up has finished.’ And then tomorrow would be the follow-up, the post mortem. Discussions on what they might have done differently. They'd unpick every part of the event and put it back together again. By the time they'd finished they'd have found every weak spot and strengthened it.
‘I don't think one glass of champagne is going to impair your ability to supervise that. Congratulations.’ He tapped his glass against hers. ‘Spectacular. Any new business leads?’
‘Plenty. First up is a baby shower next week. Not much time to prepare, but it's a good event.’
He winced. ‘A baby shower is good?’
‘Yes. Partly because the woman throwing it for her pregnant colleague is CEO of a fashion importer. But all business is good.’
‘Chase Adams is impressed. By tomorrow word will have got around that Urban Genie is the best event concierge company in Manhattan. Prepare to be busy.’
‘I'm prepared.’
His praise warmed her. Her heart lifted.
He stood next to her and the brush of his sleeve against her bare arm made her shiver.
His gaze collided briefly with hers and she thought she saw a blaze of heat, but then he looked away and she did too, her face burning.
She was doing it again. Imagining things.
And it had to stop.