Page 22 of Boss of the Year

SHRIMP COCKTAIL

*don’t mess with a classic.

“Stop fidgeting.” Joni slapped my fingers away from my mouth.

I stared up at the entrance of Prideview, its double doors flung open. It wasn’t like I’d never been here before, but it occurred to me as I moved through the line that I had never actually entered the house this way—only through the humble back entrance with the rest of the staff.

The huge front stoop at the top of the circular driveway was bound by four Doric columns holding up a balcony from which a string quartet played Sinatra classics. It was probably one of two, maybe three bands hired for the evening. A line of guests waited to be checked in with the event planner.

I glared at Joni but obediently removed my fingers from my mouth. I didn’t actually bite my nails anymore—I’d broken that habit in childhood when I took up crochet work. Unfortunately, I couldn’t exactly carry needles and thread into this party. I wasn’t even carrying a clutch.

“It’s easy for you to say,” I said as we stepped forward. “You have Nathan to hold your hand. Otherwise, you’d be tapping everything in existence.”

“I would not. I never fidget during a performance.”

That was irritatingly apt. While my sister had always been a bit of a tornado in the way she moved about life, she had a dancer’s understanding of bodily control and a way of lighting up in front of an audience—two talents I had never possessed.

She was right about something else too. This event was one hundred percent a performance. Right now, neither of us were scrappy daughters of an Italian-Puerto Rican family from the Bronx, but invited guests of the esteemed Lyons family. Joni had Nathan to coach her through situations like this since he came from a similarly wealthy background.

She stood several inches taller than me in an elegant red dress, neck stretched like a swan’s as she peered around the property. Beside her and blatantly appreciating his girlfriend’s appearance, Nathan looked at home in a tuxedo.

“I just…Lord, Jo, maybe I should be more covered up. I could get a shawl or something from my room.” My dress felt translucent as we edged toward the door.

“And bring you back to the nunnery? No thanks. You have the goods, Mimi. Put them on display.”

I glanced down at said goods.. Between the wind coming off the Sound and nerves buzzing through my body, my nipples stood to attention like the soldiers guarding a palace.

“Stop. It,” Joni hissed again as the planner waved us in. “You’re drawing attention to yourself, and not in a good way. The nips are out, you look hot, so just own it, would you?”

The familiar reception area of Prideview wound into view, its grand staircase covered with late August hydrangeas and twinkle lights. Guided by hired ushers, we funneled with the rest of the guests through the primary receiving room, through thegreat room and back exit, and out to the lawn overlooking the water, where a tent had been set up along multiple open bars, a dance floor, and a full big band playing jazz standards.

It was like countless other parties I’d seen at Prideview. Only I’d attended those as a server.

“Marie?”

I turned to find one of the maids gawking with a tray in her hand.

I smiled. This was going to happen all night. “Hi, Nora.”

“Holy crap, you lookamazing! I didn’t know you were back. That haircut is fierce, FYI.”

“Thanks.” I accepted a one-handed hug since her other was occupied with canapés. “I’m officially back tomorrow. My sister and her boyfriend”—I gestured toward Joni and Nathan—“were invited to this thing, and they asked me to come with them. It was a good time to catch up.”

I didn’t mention the other reason I was here: the invite from my obsession, whom I hadn’t spotted yet.

My God. What if Daniel wasn’t even here? Or what if hewas? What would he do when he realized I had come after all?

“Good for you,” Nora replied. “It will do Mrs. Lyons some good to mingle with the servants for once.” She winked and offered me caviar spread on crackers. “Beluga. Primo—you don’t want to even know what this cost.”

I, in fact, knew the answer very well, which was why I had no problem taking one and popping it into my mouth.

The briny delicacy exploded across my taste buds. Maybe money didn’t buy happiness, but it certainly bought the best food.

I took another before Nora zipped away.

“Nate! My God, you actually came to one of these things?”

Nathan waved at an unfamiliar face shouting his name across the party, then turned to Joni with a hilariously impassiveexpression. “I need to socialize with some of the Huntwell board members. Will you come with me so I can introduce you?”