Vivien’s face was a pool of confusion. Diana, after waiting as long as she thought she could get away with it, smacked her forehead apologetically.
—I just realized I never introduced myself, she said with a boisterous, almost lurid laugh. How strange that must have sounded to you! I work with Dale; that’s why I’m here tonight, actually. I’m sorry, I guess it must have felt like I knew you already, too—because I’ve—I’ve just heard so much about you. Anyway, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person: I’m Diana Whalen.
It was the blond that threw her off, but of course Vivien saw it now, saw it all too clearly. She breathed deeply and smiled, projecting the appropriate degree of name recognition for a colleague of your future husband whom he has casually, asexually mentioned on an appropriate number of occasions, and firmly accepted her outstretched hand.
—Diana, Vivien echoed, the vowels rolling off her tongue, goddess of the hunt. The pleasure, I assure you, is all mine—
It was with great deliberation that, still firmly pressing Diana’s hand, she continued:
—and was Wes able to join you this evening?
Vivien smiled beatifically as she said it, her face belying the sharpness with which she was scanning Diana’s for any change of expression. The latter cocked her head, making no attempt, it seemed, to hide her astonishment. There was almost a note of perceived flattery to the gesture.
—No—he’s still at work, unfortunately. . . . So, Dale’s mentioned my husband?
—Oh—no, said Vivien lightly. Wes has mentioned his wife.
CHAPTER XXV.
SELECT INSTAGRAM ACTIVITY (RESORTED, CHRONOLOGICAL), ACCOUNT OF “OVERHEARD UPTOWN” (@overhearduptown), THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015.
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“There is an art to throwing a party. You want people to be loose enough to make bad decisions, yet keep it together enough not to ruin the furniture.”
Liked by imetovidsheirs, vivienfloris, and 3,476 others
overhearduptown ***WE WILL BE POSTING LIVE TONIGHT FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART YOUNG MEMBERS PARTY*** DM us your submissions from #YMP2015 for insta-gratification Bartender, Great Hall.
Overheard by @overhearduptown @metmuseum #ChinaLookingGlass @imetovidsheirs #IMETOvidsHeirs #PierreHuyghe
View all 95 comments
imetovidsheirs @overhearduptown we’re excited you’re here! Enjoy the party [confetti ball emoji]
vivienfloris @dsmcbride @grace_cho07 @ audreywim @doctorgage @harrisonjsinclair @ jackiedarby
grace_cho07 @vivienfloris YAASSSSSSS
audreywim @vivienfloris @grace_cho07 XOXO
gossip girl
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“You’ve only been out twice and she bought your ticket for tonight? Ugh, people in New York love giving their money to the charitable organizations least in need of it.”
“Are you talking about the Met or about me?”
Liked by vivienfloris, jdorset and 1,673 others
overhearduptown You, bro.
Two men, check-in desk.
Overheard by Anonymous
#YMP2015 @metmuseum #charitycase
View all 24 comments
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“OMG do you see how old that guy is? I can’t believe they’re letting him in.”
“Lauren, that’s Bill Cunningham.”
Liked by kmanningham, vivienfloris, and 2,669 others
overhearduptown Kiss goodbye any chance of a feature in the style section, ladies.
Two women, check-in desk.
Overheard by @kmanningham
#YMP2015 @metmuseum @nytimes @nytfashion #guestlist
View all 166 comments
lauren_coddington @kmanningham I hate you
kmanningham [face with tears of joy emoji]
mdavenport omg @kmanningham savage
vivienfloris @kmanningham so glad you made it tonight
kmanningham @vivienfloris can’t wait to see your show [face blowing a kiss emoji]
vivienfloris @grace_cho07 @audreywim
grace_cho07 @vivienfloris I am going to be so jealous when you’re all over the NYT tomorrow
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“Wait, you drove yourself here?”
“You didn’t?”
“Um, no. This is New York.”
Liked by dianawhalen, vivienfloris, and 2,678 others
overhearduptown Okay, who let in the bridge & tunnel crowd?
Man and woman, Great Hall.
Overheard by Anonymous
#YMP2015
View all 59 comments
dianawhalen omg @wesrangeiv this has to be our main man
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
Man: “Do you think she’ll be here tonight?”
Woman: “Who?”
Man: “Chyna”
Woman: “Please tell me you didn’t think China Through the Looking Glass was about the female wrestler.”
Liked by vivienfloris, dsmcbride, and 4,953 others
overhearduptown Someone’s not getting ready to rumble tonight.
Couple, China Through the Looking Glass. Overheard by @doctorgage
#YMP2015 #ChinaLookingGlass #guestlist
View all 250 comments
doctorgage a little inspo for your next expo @ vivienfloris
vivienfloris @doctorgage you made this up . . .
doctorgage @vivienfloris I would never! Back me up here @grace_cho07
grace_cho07 @doctorgage it’s legit @vivienfloris but your follow-up expo is a better fit for the Philly Museum—they love sculptures of wrestlers IMO
doctorgage @grace_cho07 so, Rocky was a boxer . . .
grace_cho07 @doctorgage whatever
doctorgage @grace_cho07 @vivienfloris “Rocky vs. Chyna: Punching Through the Glass Ceiling” cc: @ dsmcbride @jpappasfidicia
jpappasfidicia @doctorgage dear god, you are such a mediocre wit. I submit “Rocky vs. Chyna: Eye of the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” for your consideration @vivienfloris @grace_cho07 @ dsmcbride
vivenfloris @jpappasfidicia [face with tears of joy emoji]
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“Babe, get a photo of me taking my selfie.”
Liked by imetovidsheirs, vivienfloris, and 6,762 others
overhearduptown Woman to boyfriend. Art & Myth: Ovid’s Heirs.
Overheard by Anonymous
#YMP2015 @imetovidsheirs #IMETOvidsHeirs
View all 92 comments
jpappasfidicia @vivienfloris did someone really say this? The authenticity of overheard uptown and its sources is of tantamount importance to me
vivienfloris @jpappasfidicia . . . yes
jpappasfidicia @vivienfloris please point this couple out to me
vivienfloris @jpappasfidicia sorry, but my exhibition is a selfie safe space
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
Man 1: “That Adnan guy seems guilty as hell.”
Man 2: “Oh, I thought you said
you hadn’t listened to Serial.”
Man 1: “You don’t have to listen to Serial to have an opinion about it.”
Liked by dianawhalen, vivienfloris, and 4,512 others
overhearduptown I prefer good podcast criticism.
Two men. Roof Garden.
Overheard by @overhearduptown
#YMP2015 #PierreHuyghe #serial
View all 85 comments
dianawhalen @jpappasfidicia
jpappasfidicia LOLOLOL @wesrangeiv @dsmcbride overheard uptown is in our midst!
jpappasfidicia @dianawhalen funny enough, I am at the met right now, and I witnessed this interchange firsthand, and “Man 2” is your husband
dianawhalen @jpappasfidicia what?
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
Man 2: “Wow, you’re like a character out of a Whit Stillman film.”
Man 1: “Is that a compliment?”
Snide Friend: “Does it matter? You’re going to take it as one either way.”
Liked by wesrangeiv, vivienfloris, and 4,381 others
overhearduptown Same two men discussing Serial, plus snide friend. Roof Garden.
Overheard by @overhearduptown
#YMP2015 #pierrehuyghe #serial #whitstillman
View all 80 comments
wesrangeiv @jpappasfidicia “snide friend” hahahahahaha
jpappasfidicia @wesrangeiv like you come out of this looking so attractive
wesrangeiv @jpappasfidicia relatively, I believe I do
wesrangeiv For the record @dsmcbride, it was a compliment
dsmcbride @wesrangeiv I took it as one, thank you
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“Will I see you again before I move to LA?”
“Probably. You’ve been imminently moving to LA for 6 years.”
Liked by mdavenport, hughwinslow, and 4,944 others
overhearduptown It’s good to have goals.
Two women, Great Hall.
Overheard by @kmanningham
#YMP2015 @metmuseum #losangeles @overheardLA
View all 224 comments
ainsleyc09 @kmanningham @mdavenport @lauren_coddington BUT I AM
kmanningham @ainsleyc09 sorry we’ll believe it when we see it
mdavenport @kmanningham on a rollllllll
kmanningham @mdavenport you all make it too easy
doctorgage @dsmcbride @jpappasfidicia we’ve met this girl
jpappasfidicia @doctorgage and as such, I think her position is eminently reasonable. If you had her friends, wouldn’t you want to move to LA too?
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
Woman: “Excuse me, I’d like to buy that Chinese bathrobe.”
Security Guard: “Miss, this is a museum, not a Dress Barn.”
Liked by dianawhalen, dsmcbride, and 7,239 others
overhearduptown China Through the Looking Glass.
Overheard by Anonymous
#YMP2015 #ChinaLookingGlass
View all 347 comments
dianawhalen @dsmcbride did you submit this?
dsmcbride @dianawhalen lol I wish. Dying. Where did you abscond to?
dianawhalen @jpappasfidicia did you submit this? Also, what did you mean about Man 2 being Wes?
dianawhalen @dsmcbride I’m by the million dollar bathrobes
jpappasfidicia @dianawhalen no, I did not submit this. Dress barn is not an attractive name. It’s like shoegasm. Who wants to buy anything at shoegasm? It just sounds wet and gross. Dress barn implies that it’s designed for cows and pigs, which, as I understand it, is not an effective way to sell clothes to women. Damnit, now I am going to think about dress barn all the time.
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
Man: “Tiramisu is a bullshit dessert.”
Cater Waiter: “Why?”
Man: “I don’t know—because it’s served at the Olive Garden?”
Liked by jpappasfidicia, doctorgage, and 2,974 others
overhearduptown When Instagram served me an ad for unlimited breadsticks I reported it as offensive content.
Great Hall Balcony.
Overheard by @overhearduptown
#YMP2015 #tiramisu @olivegarden
View all 113 comments
dianawhalen but is it served at the one on Mount Olympus @hashimotoe ? @dsmcbride
dsmcbride @dianawhalen @hashimotoe oh, definitely—goes straight to the neck cleavage
hashimotoe @dianawhalen @dsmcbride [man facepalming emoji]
hashimotoe @dianawhalen @dsmcbride so I take it you guys are having fun then
dianawhalen @hashimotoe mainly at your expense [winking face emoji] @dsmcbride
hashimotoe @dianawhalen @dsmcbride wish I was there
dsmcbride @hashimotoe sorry @dianawhalen and I will have a piece of Tiramisu for you
JULY 9
overhearduptown
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
______________________________________________________________________________
“Are you going to Harry’s after this?”
“I’m going to assume that’s a rhetorical question.”
Liked by vivienfloris, harrisonjsinclair and 4,099 others
overhearduptown If you don’t end up at Lord Henry’s, did you even go to the Young Members’ Party? (Hint: we’ll see you there.)
Two women, Great Hall.
Overheard by Anonymous
#YMP2015 @lordhenrysnyc
View all 735 comments
kmanningham @hughwinslow
hughwinslow @ainsleyc09
ainsleyc09 @doctorgage
doctorgage @grace_cho07
grace_cho07 @harrisonjsinclair
harrisonjsinclair @jpappasfidicia
jpappasfidicia @dianawhalen
dianawhalen @dsmcbride
dsmcbride @vivienfloris
vivienfloris @wesrangeiv
JULY 9
CHAPTER XXVI.
There was a very specific, observable mode of operation exhibited by Parker Remington when he was close to making a sale. You could feel him trying to temper his excitement; all of his gestures became small and precise. His forehead would freeze, eyebrows up, as if his eyes were stuck on their widest setting. He started leaning hard on the word absolutely. Even before Parker pulled him aside, Dale knew the private conversation with Jack Howard had been more than idle chitchat; that if Parker hadn’t closed a big deal, he was about to. The question was what kind of deal it was, how much he had overpromised, and to what extent he had committed Dale to delivering on his overpromises without consulting him.
—I have your next project, Remington said on cue, pausing briefly to order a pair of G and Ts from the rooftop bar. Six weeks. Reporting to Jack directly. Starts ASAP—it’s time you got some experience managing multiple projects. Haven’t talked hard numbers yet, but it’ll be high margin for sure.
Parker’s expression indicated that it was time for Dale to express blind gratitude.
—Great news, said Dale, hoping to satisfy Parker’s ego without technically committing himself to anything.
—Great news—absolutely, Parker echoed, testing his drink. Especially with your passion for M&A. Those guys back there, Wes and Julian? Jack wants to buy them out. I’m still unclear on what exactly they do, but it’s a techy B2B startup of some sort . . .
Dale had hoped Ecco’s invitation to the Young Members’ Party was in consequence of some matter of
smaller import, but he had already been forced to consider this possibility. His annoyance was tempered by the comfort of knowing definitively. The project was even tempting to a certain extent, though for none of the reasons Parker thought it would be. The prestige of running due diligence was hardly worth the extra hours it required, and the potentially stratospheric boon to Wes’s fortunes obviously mired Dale in envy. But since this train was moving anyway, it was far better to be aboard than under it. The prospect of dissecting Ecco’s financials appealed to Dale’s curiosity, and possessed the metonymic flavor of dissecting Wes himself. There was something deeply comforting in the thought of personally reducing Wes to a number—even if that number turned out to be depressingly high. A clear valuation offered either schadenfreude or luxuriant levels of self-pity. And is it not human nature to gravitate toward yardsticks of our own making?
—Techy stuff, absolutely, Parker repeated, but nothing Diana won’t be able to figure out.
—Diana?
Parker looked confused by Dale’s confusion.
—Look, it’s not a knock against you, but we absolutely need an architect to lead the technical diligence. Don’t worry, you’ll have full autonomy on the financial side.
Dale was about to correct Parker’s error, to explain that he wasn’t threatened by the prospect of an enterprise architect encroaching on his managerial authority, simply surprised that Parker—Mr. Scrupulous himself—had named Diana, given her obvious conflict of interest. Then he remembered that he (Dale) wasn’t supposed to be able to make the marital connection either. It was getting exhausting, trying to remember what everyone around him knew, and didn’t know, and didn’t know that he knew. Parker didn’t wait for a reply.
—Speaking of Diana—where is she, anyway?
—I have no idea, said Dale.
—Go find her, will you?
Dale took a swig of his gin and tonic.
—Absolutely.
It had been Diana’s idea to get a drink in the Great Hall. Vivien reminded herself of this over and over. The quid pro quo move to reveal her independent connection to Wes had seemed so clever, so failsafe in the moment, like she’d flipped Diana’s script, doling out maximal shock with minimal personal exposure. Having gone to the same high school was, after all, such a powerfully innocuous bond, being not just incidental, but ancient. What bothered Vivien wasn’t that she’d failed to throw Diana for a loop, but how readily Diana had admitted it. Those were her exact words, Vivien remembered: “You’ve thrown me for a loop.” Diana had “so many questions about Wes at Sill,” and wouldn’t Vivien join her for a drink in the Great Hall?
The Portrait of a Mirror Page 22