“Whatever.” Chloe smiles faintly as she opens the file, revealing a recent doodling of the club. “This . . .” Her voice trails off in consideration. Her smile broadens. “This is your Meryton?”

“Yeah.”

She props her elbow on the arm of her chair, chin in hand as she pores over the file. My butterflies, usually nocturnal, flutter anxiously as I watch her turn page after page.

“Lizard . . .” Chloe studies a rendering inspired by a black-and-gold wallpaper pattern featuring items from the Met’s grand entry hall. Feathery wings freeze in anticipation, dispersing as a huge smile spreads across her face. “This is gorgeous.”

She opens a page I’ve folded over on itself, studying it for a moment before turning the paper my way; it’s an older sketch of Pemberley. Must have gotten in with the Meryton stuff by mistake. “What’s this?”

“Pemberley. It’s a space Darcy owns.”

“Here?”

At my nod, she leans back, eyebrows high. “So Jane’s with the guy who is buying the club, and you’re having coat-check make-outs with a guy who already owns New York real estate?”

“Darcy inherited the venue. It’s a family thing.”

“Is that a water feature?”

“Yup. I have a whole other file on Pemberley. The space is beyond stunning. Actually, since Darcy gave me his letter, I’ve devoted more time to Pemberley than Meryton.

“Anyway.” I clap my hands together like a schoolmarm commanding attention. “I’ve dominated the conversation long enough. How are things with you? How’s work?”

Chloe lights up. She built her business entirely on her own, and it means everything to her. “Grueling. And great. I have two shoots lined up this week and will be completely at your mercy as to how to get to either of them. One’s in Midtown, the other’s a loft in Tribeca, I think? Or FiDi? That giant white mall thing totally disoriented me last time, so whatever you can do to get me situated will be appreciated.”

“Can do.”

We finish our drinks and return our glassware to the bar, then head out through the lobby. The hotel is a bit west of my normal stomping grounds, but we make a right outside the double doors with Gales’s knife shop as our destination. On the way, I find the building where Chloe’s first gig is taking place, and we stake out a few to-go restaurants nearby, which she says is critical.