“That’s what they call the places around the tower,” Lin said when she saw the look on my face.

“Oh. Yeah, well my sister is marrying one of my bosses. He has always been extravagant and likes for everyone to know how wealthy he is. They are old money, though. All three brothers who run the company. I don’t know how much they have, exactly, but it’s quite possibly into the billions.”

Lin made a low whistling noise.

“Yeah,” I said. “So the cost of shuttling all of us halfway across the country wasn’t a factor. He made the invite optional, but you know how that kind of thing goes. We all pretty much understood that anybody who stayed back in Manhattan would be on the shit list. As far as I know, everybody he invited came. But, only the people who work on my floor are here for the wedding. The rest headed back after our conference in Asheville last week.”

“This is why I’m glad I don’t have a real boss,” Lin said.

“Hey!” Harper slapped her. “I’m real.”

Farrah was smiling. “A real pushover.”

“So,” I said. “I hope I’m not prying, but is this what you two want to do long term? Working for The Spot with Harper? Or do you have other things in mind.”

“Actually, I’m doing some graphic design stuff,” Lin said. “One of the guys in Stone Tower came by town a few weeks ago looking for recruits. They need more muscle for their marketing department or something. Who knows, who cares? But it pays well, and I start in a few days. I pretty much already know my way around all the photo editing software and they’re offering to train me on the job in the rest. Harper is heartbroken at the thought of losing me.”

“Very much so,” Harper agreed. “I’d say I have no idea how I’ll ever replace your sarcastic, lazy presence at The Spot, but I do. I’ll replace you with someone way more qualified and way less of a pain in the ass to work with.”

Lin nodded. “See? She’s going to miss the shit out of me.”

I smiled, but I was still hung up on what she’d said about the job. “That job you got recruited for. Do you know if they’re still hiring?”

“They are. Unless you didn’t notice, there’s not much of a workforce to pick from out here. A bunch of people moved out when Stone Tower finished construction, but other than them, it’s just us townies unless you drive more than forty minutes North or South. Why? You know somebody looking for work?”

“Yeah,” I said slowly. “I have somebody in mind.”

33

DEAN

Three days until the wedding. It felt too soon and not close enough at the same time. I was in a meeting with Maxwell Pollard out at Stone Tower. I’d been in this place all damn day, but Maxwell had a new, high-profile client he’d signed on. Ever since I started consulting for him, he’d become more and more dependent on my advice.