“I’m heading to Montague House a touch early,” Claudine told the semicircle of agents. “I need all of you to be there at the very least thirty minutes before. This is the biggest night of your life. Everything—every mini–crab cake, each piece of imported chocolate—is about closing the deal. Never, not even for a moment, forget that tonight is about that one thing. It’s not over until Zara Aspen’s newest resident. Whatever it takes.”

Do what it takes, or you’ll be left behind. One of the many tips she had taken from Steve. It was good advice. He had plenty of that. How to run a flawless open house, the best way to flatter a potential client without sounding like a kiss-ass, how to identify a serious buyer from a time-wasting lookie-loo. In the early days, she was like one of those remora fish that attach themselves to the back of a shark, eating the bloody scraps falling out of its mouth. But, unlike those fish, hers hadn’t been a free ride. A quick ride, sure. Mercifully, Steve was always quick. And always apologetic about it. Blaming her for being so hot, too much of a turn-on. She’d be lying to say that didn’t boost her ego. But that wasn’t what she was in it for. It was strictly transactional. Steve got to fuck her, and Claudine got to learn the business quicker than if she’d just bided her time as an agent.

Apparently going back to Montague House wasn’t just bringing back memories for Henry. But there was no time for reminiscing.

“If you need motivation,” she continued, “just think about how later, when Zara tells the entire world the story of how she fell in love with Aspen, you’ll take pride in knowing you played a role. Right, Louisa?”

Louisa jumped to attention from her wall slouch, coffee almost sloshing out of her mug. At least it wasn’t the old Bernie one that Claudine had thrown out. It was so tiring, wrangling the progressives.

“Yes. According to a Kelton study, two-thirds of people are influenced by their first impressions,” said Louisa. “We need to get it right the first time.”

“Louisa,” Claudine said, “your job tonight is to collect the coats and purses. I don’t want any of the catering staff to do it. I don’t trust their sticky fingers.”

“I’ll stop and buy some extra hangers just to make sure we have enough,” Louisa said.

“Obviously, get the sturdy wood kind. Not cheap plastic ones,” Claudine said. “Rashida, I want you to keep an eye on the Alpine brothers. They are strictly décor. Their attendance is merely to add local flavor. The only time they should open their mouths is when they are eating. So keep them over by the beef carving station and out of Zara’s way.”

“Sure thing,” said Rashida.