Luckily, she was the only one who had to lean on Allie today. Miracle of miracles, Vivian had taken the day off. Dr. Viswanathan had suggested heavily she do so. There were few galas or gatherings right after Fashion Week and the next print issue was put to bed, so Vivian reluctantly agreed to go to bed herself and rest. Jules was glad. She was wrestling with jet lag, and it was bound to be worse for Vivian.

It was also pretty bad for Simon, who asked Jules rather pitiably to bring him some lunch. “I beg where I once commanded,” he said, rubbing a hand over his tired face.

She smiled, although there was still a tug inside her that urged caution. She wasn’t quite over how Simon had pointed out the expense of the snake brooch, which was now in the back of her closet until she could rent a safety deposit box somewhere. “Your usual from the deli?”

“Please. I want food that isn’t served in a tiny portion with an artistic zigzag of sauce over it. Get something for yourself too.”

Mindful of her supposed food poisoning from a couple of days ago, she ordered Simon his usual pastrami on rye and only a cup of chicken soup for herself. It was comforting on a cold February day, even if she hadn’t really gotten sick. They ate together in his office, portfolios and sketches pushed carefully out of reach.

Conversation was normal enough, mostly limited to the coming work week, until Simon crumpled up his sandwich paper and asked, “When’s your birthday? Pretty soon, right?”

Jules blinked. “Yeah, in a couple of weeks. March 16.”

“Better than the ides. Going to hit the big two-six?”

She would be twenty-six to Vivian’s forty-two. She didn’t like to think about that. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “Why?”

“No reason,” he said airily.

“What are you up to?” she pressed.

“I can’t just be curious? I’m hurt. Maybe I’m planning to take you out for drinks and just want to make sure my schedule is open.”

“Well, is it?”

“I’ll have to ask my personal assistant. Wait. You’re the closest thing I have to one now. Check my calendar for me.”

Right after Vivian had whisked Jules away from Simon, the hiring freeze had struck, leaving him without a PA. Jules doubted he’d ever quite forgiven Vivian for that. “Sure thing.”

She mulled over Simon’s mysterious behavior for the next few hours. No matter what he said, he was plotting something. It would be nice to think it really was something as benign as taking her out for birthday drinks. Jules didn’t have a lot of people around these days who could fill that role.

Which was just depressing.

Her curiosity was a nice distraction from wondering why Vivian hadn’t called or texted. No way she was resting all day.