All morning Hayley sat in her office overlooking the Hudson River, fielding congratulatory calls about the wonderful party she’d organized last night. Framed movie posters hung on the brick walls, movies whose premiere parties Hayley had also planned.

“It was too fabulous, darling. And you looked gorgeous. So stylish.”

“Hayley, you outdid yourself. Everything ran smooth as silk!”

“Those pigs in a blanket were divine! I love that you had the nerve to serve them!”

Reeling from the news about Scott’s engagement, Hayley did her best to pretend she was on cloud nine. She was too embarrassed to say a word about Regan’s shocking find to her twenty-three-year-old assistant. Angie had a terrific boyfriend she’d been dating since college. I hope they get married soon, Hayley thought. Dating is torture.

Hayley had just hung up the phone when Angie knocked on the door.

“Hayley?”

Hayley looked up. “Yes, come in.”

Angie appeared in the doorway. Small and blond, she had a pretty face and a sweet smile. But she could be tough when Hayley needed her to be. Like keeping gate-crashers out of parties who tried to pretend they were on the guest list.

“I wanted to remind you about your lunch date. It’s getting a little late.”

“Thanks, Angie. Of course. I’m a little tired and with everyone calling …”

Angie nodded. “You did a great job last night. I have so many e-mails from potential clients to go over with you when you get back. Everyone wants you to plan their events. You’re hot!”

Not that hot, Hayley thought. But she smiled. “The trick is to keep it going. In this business, there’s always someone new coming down the pike who wants to copy your style, grab your connections …”

“There’s no one like you, Hayley,” Angie said, perhaps a little too brightly.

Hayley got up, went into the little bathroom off her office, and looked in the mirror. I look so drained, she thought. I definitely need more makeup. She brushed her long, highlighted hair and applied blush and lipstick. One thing about being an event planner, she thought, is that you always have to be upbeat and look alive. People don’t want sad sacks to plan their parties. Hayley had a lunch date with a producer whose Broadway play would be opening in October. Word was the script wasn’t great, but this woman was determined to have a blowout when the curtain went down.

Hayley put her makeup back in her cosmetics bag, zipped her purse, and headed to the outer office.

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” she said to Angie. “Hold down the fort.”

“I will. Have fun!”