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Mushu jumps up. “Heck yeah we do! Come on, we’re going shopping. I know just the place.”
“This is never a good sign,” I say, recalling with painful clarity the outfits Mushu made me buy for the ranch.
“When have I ever led you wrong?”
“Not even going to answer that one.” Laughing, we leave the office in search of the perfect banquet outfits.
Surprisingly, the boutique that Mushu takes me to is pretty freaking amazing. It’s a small, understated shop a block away from Union Square called, simply, Posy’s.
“Posy Lee is a second-generation Chinese American whose designs blend Chinese-inspired clothes with modern American fashion, which results in beautifully unique outfits,” Mushu says by way of introduction.
Posy and I both stare at Mushu, before we burst out laughing.
“What?” Mushu says.
“Did you memorize that from the bio page on my website?” Posy says.
“I have a photographic memory,” Mushu says.
“You literally can’t remember a single thing about finance,” I say.
“Let me clarify,” Mushu says. “I have a photographic memory when it comes to things I care about.”
I’m about to tease Mushu again when I realize that, in fact, Mushu is right. When it comes to things like these, Mushu’s knowledge is practically encyclopedic. She’s proven that again and again this entire day. All I had to do was sayWho was the person in charge of…and Mushu would immediately tell me. She knows everybody in the city.
“Mushu,” I say in wonderment, “you are wasted at Facai Capital.”
“I know,” Mushu says with her usual flippant confidence.
“No, really.”
Mushu pauses, looking slightly taken aback. “Okay. I mean, sure, but it’s not like I’m drowning in job offers.”
“No. But we’re about to attend a banquet for female entrepreneurs,” I say. “And I think that’s what you should be. You don’t need a job offer. You’re going to create your own business.”
“Doing what?” Mushu says.
“Event planning,” I say.
“Oh, she would totally be perfect for event planning,” Posy chimes in. “You would, Mushu.”
Mushu wrinkles her nose like she’s about to tell us both that we’re being ridiculous, but then her expression turns vulnerable. “You really think so?”
“Yes!” Posy and I say in unison.
“Well.” Mushu looks down at her feet. “Well, shit. Okay. I will think about it.”
Posy and I grin at each other.
“All right,” Posy cheers, “now that we’ve done that, let’s look for the perfect outfits for you two.”
We spend the next hour trying on various outfits, each more beautiful than the last. Posy likes using meticulously embroidered Chinese silks, and many of the dresses have elaborate Chinese beasts like dragons and phoenixes on them. Others have delicate plum blossoms in an elegant spray.
Mushu picks a red backless dress with a tiger embroidered on the hip. “Business in the front and party in the back,” she says, turning around and showing off the back.
Peeping out of my changing room, I give her a thumbs-up.
“Show me yours,” Mushu says.