Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96454 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
His lips curl up in a slight smile. “And that is why she would have backed you even knowing she might lose.” He sighs as he looks at me. “Who is the new kid? I take it he’s yours and you didn’t bring him here to feed to CeCe.”
Benjamin is well aware of CeCe’s proclivities, though he claims he stays out of that part of her life. “His name is Heath Marino. I brought him here to meet CeCe, but not because I think she would find him amusing. He’s built an interesting AI.”
That brow is back up, but I read Benjamin pretty well. This is his “I’m listening” brow.
“I find the methodology behind it very intriguing.”
“Then I’m sure CeCe will, too.” Benjamin looks down at his watch. “She’s got another twenty minutes before she’s planning to make her grand entrance. I’ll be sure to put you on her schedule. And do not try to stuff a bunch of food in that bag.”
He knows my tricks. “But it looks so good.”
“I’ve already had Chef make a whole bag for you,” he offers. “Consider it a party favor. It’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready to leave. Should I make another? That new boy of yours seems to be hungry.”
Sure enough, Heath is standing to the side of the grand salon, and he’s double fisting canapés. “I think it’s a state a lot of us are in these days. Thank you, Benjamin. And I promise I won’t stay away again.”
Unless CeCe took one look at me and decided I was a bad bet.
“And Ivy? CeCe didn’t invite Nick,” Benjamin says. “I did.”
Okay, that hurts more than I thought it would. “It’s all right. I can handle being in the same room. Big girl here.”
“I thought I could connect him with Lance Norfolk,” Benjamin explains, his expression regaining that utter calm he normally sports. He looks out over the crowd, studying them with his practiced eye. “I know a man like Nick Stafford is always looking to move up in this world. Lance turns over staff quite regularly.”
And sues them regularly, too. No one with a lick of sense would work for the man.
Nick doesn’t have a lot of that. What he probably sees is a bro with a lot of cash and entrée into all the best gyms and a hundred thousand followers on social media.
Lance would be friendly right up until Nick did something to offend him, and then the man would pick his bones clean. Nick would think he was special, that it couldn’t happen to him. Like the leopard eating faces meme. He could help the evil guy because Lance would never eat his face.
“I love you, Benjamin,” I say.
“Karma sometimes needs a little push and a bit of patience.” He gives me a wink. “Now go out there and shine like you do, dear. Don’t let them see you sweat. Not even for a second.”
I nod and join the party again.
But that is going to be one tall order.
Chapter Seven
“Yes, I’m working on something kind of interesting,” Heath is saying to a woman who’s worth more than a billion. Teresa Fleishman. She’s from money that spans back to old Europe. Her family’s been in New York for generations.
I like how he handles her. He’s charming, but not in a skeevy way. He’s good at presenting an authentic front.
Or maybe he’s simply an authentic guy.
“It’s a matchmaking program,” he says.
And the light in Teresa’s eyes dies, but she nods politely. “Ah, yes. That’s interesting.”
She is so not interested.
“The AI behind it certainly is.” I need to find a way to save this. Teresa likes to talk, and if she hates an idea, it’s pretty much dead with this group, and that includes CeCe. “There are so many ways to use what Heath is building. I think it’s innovative far beyond its first-use intentions.”
“Well, it’s first-use intentions were to tell me what I wanted for dinner without me having to make the decision,” Heath allows.
Teresa’s hand reaches up to touch the Van Cleef necklace she’s wearing. “Well, see that I might be interested in.” She studies Heath for a moment, and I see the light of recognition in her eyes. “Marino? I know it’s a fairly common name, but the whole matchmaking thing makes me think of Lydia Marino. You don’t happen to be related, do you?”
I’m surprised Teresa knows the woman’s name. No matter what Heath says, I find it hard to believe that old-school matchmaking services are still a thing in modern New York.
Heath’s lips kick up and his shoulders square like he’s proud. “Yeah, she’s my grandmother.”
Teresa seems to think for a moment. “Is she behind this project? Is she working with you?”
“Of course. She always supports me,” Heath replies. “I like to say I’m her favorite grandchild, but the truth is I’m her only grandchild. I’ve got a very big family on my mother’s side, but on my father’s side it’s down to me and my grandmother. We have to stick together.”