by Scott, Lisa
“I just want one fish. A big goldfish.” That’s what Jillian had.
“Why would you want just one fish in this big tank?” he asked.
“Good point.” Jillian wasn’t the one running the show here anymore with her tantrums and deceit. If Ryan was successful in making changes, everyone would be playing a bigger role here. “You know, I think I will get a bunch of fish.”
She caught Ryan’s eye in his office and smiled. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
He blew her a kiss and she swore it hit her heart.
The next day, a long slim box arrived. The kind that usually had a dozen long-stemmed roses inside. But this box had a dozen tiny stuffed toy cats. “To keep you company,” the card said, signed by Ryan.
Shaking her head she picked up the phone and called him. “Stop being wonderful. It doesn’t change anything. Your being wonderful was never in question.”
***
Over the next few days, Lizzy realized Ryan was right. There weren’t many places available for a last minute event. She knocked on Ryan’s door and stepped inside. “Are we good with an outdoor venue?”
“With back up tents in case it rains, sure. It’s a beautiful time of year.”
“Mind if I leave the office for a while to check out a few places?”
“I’ll get Gerard to cover for you tomorrow,” he said. “Take the whole day to look.”
***
After touring the parks and country clubs with outdoor venues available, she left city limits and stopped at an old apple orchard that had been converted into a place that hosted parties on its grounds. The farmhouse had been turned into a bed and breakfast. The barn was big enough for a huge party. Excited, she parked in the lot. The farm was on a hill, and the parking lot was a level below the venue. She climbed a stone staircase and headed for the red barn. Instantly, she knew this was the place for the party.
She raced back to the office, composing a supply list in her head. Invitations first, then the rentals, the food, and the extras—extras that would have people talking about the Dunner party for a long time.
Maybe Ryan didn’t need to know about the extras just yet.
***
“Fifty-thousand dollars for the party?” he asked.
“We’re inviting five hundred people. What did you think it would cost?”
“Less.”
“Well if you want elegant, classy, and memorable, fifty-thousand is a bargain. We probably spent fifty-thousand in Silly String last year, so I think we can swing it. It’s your chance to make a splash. That’s what you wanted to do.”
“Okay. I trust you,” he said.
“Really?
“Really.”
She was so excited with her plans, she wanted to rush into his arms and share the feeling. But she stood in place. As much as she wanted to be with Ryan, it was guaranteed heartbreak. “I’m going to send out the invitations today.”
“I’ll get the guest list to you by day’s end.”
***
An hour later, he called her desk. “Where is everyone? The office is empty and it isn’t lunchtime. What’s going on?”
She bit her lip. “They’re in the hall brainstorming ideas for the cookie campaign.”
“In the hall?”
“They’re pretending the floor is lava and jumping from phone book to phone book, calling out ideas as they land. Kind of like your rubber band ball trick.”
He groaned. “They’re using nacho cheese for the lava, aren’t they?”
“No. Just the phone books. Although someone did mention trying hot sauce, but then someone else pointed out it would come out of the expense account funding their bonuses.”
“Huh.”
“I think you’ve made a difference, boss.”
“I could have sworn I heard whoopee cushions this morning.”
“I didn’t,” she lied. There were a few of them making the rounds after Chuck accused Jenny of having a brain fart during a meeting the day before.
***
Around five, Ryan stopped at her desk on his way out. “Can I walk you to the subway?”
“I’m staying late with Jenny and Nolan to work on the invitations.” She gestured to the conference room where they were filling balloons with helium. “They begged me to help. But they’re popping a lot of them for some reason.”
“Balloons for the invitations?”
She nodded, excited. “When each guest opens the box, the balloon floats out with an invitation that says, “Dunner Advertising: come to the next level.”
“To the next level.” He nodded, apparently buying into the idea. “You’re really good at this stuff.”
She shrugged. “Thanks.”
“Want to meet for drinks later?” he asked.
She just looked at him. “I’ll probably be here late.”
“I’ll be at The Bar None watching the game. In case you finish early.”
“Okay.” She went to the conference room where Jenny and Nolan were inhaling helium.
“Seems like the boss has taken a real shine to you,” Jenny said in a high-pitched voice.
“And not the scary shine in that Stephen King book,” Nolan said, also in a munchkin tone. Then the two of them started laughing like evil pixies.
“We knew each other in high school.” Lizzy stared at the floor.
“Oooh,” they both said, still in squeaky voices, but coming down a bit in pitch.
“Define ‘knew,’” Jenny said, still sounding funny.
Lizzy looked up and said nothing.
“Oooh,” Jenny and Nolan said again, this time in their normal voices.
“Did he break up with you?” Jenny asked. She inhaled more helium.
Lizzy let out a long sigh.
Jenny pointed toward his office. “You broke up with that?” She sounded like an outraged mouse.
“Long story.”
“I think it’s a ‘to-be-continued’ story,” Jenny said. “A ‘pick-up-where-you-left-off’ story.”
“Our backgrounds are quite different,” Lizzy said.
“Um, this isn’t Downton Abbey my friend,” Jenny said.
“Let’s just get these invitations together. The delivery guy is picking them up tonight.”
Nolan reached over and poked Jenny.
“Ow! You shocked me.”
“Same spark as always,” Nolan said with a wink.
Lizzy sighed. She wanted a relationship like that, where she could just relax and be herself. But she couldn’t ever do that with Ryan. And what man would ever be able to live up to all of his great qualities? It was like she’d worked herself into a corner. She filled up a balloon then sucked in the helium. “Don’t tell anyone, but I still think he’s amazing.” Her words came out squeaky, like maybe the admission didn’t count since it wasn’t her real voice.
Jenny arched an eyebrow. “I don’t have to say a word. Anyone could see it on your face.”
Lizzy swore in her high-pitched voice and the three of them laughed. They settled down and got to work, and she was excited to see her ideas come to life. It took them two hours to finish the invitations, but the end result was amazing.
“I can’t wait to go to this party! The staff gets to come, right?” Jenny asked.
“Of course. Some of the bigwigs at the other Dunner branches are coming, too.”
“What else are you planning?” Nolan asked. “There’s this great bakery down the street that could do the desserts. That would be awesome.”
“There will be plenty of awesome,” Lizzy said. And there was a big possibility she could get fired. Because she wasn’t going to tell Ryan everything she had planned.
“I can’t wait,” Jenny said. “Come on, let’s walk out together.”
The sun was starting to set as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Are you taking the subway?” Jenny asked her.
Lizzy nibbled on her bottom lip. “Actually, I’m going to grab a drink.” Her throat was tight, and her insides
hummed as she walked toward the bar. It was late, she was tired, and there was no guarantee she could say no to Ryan. Maybe all that helium was making her lightheaded, but it was nice to finally be able to admit it.
***
After Ryan had dinner and two drinks while watching the Red Sox—and the door, hoping Lizzy would come—he was ready to head home. But then he spotted her lovely blond hair. She was looking around, and he waved to her. She smiled when she saw him, sending a jolt through his system.
She sat next to him. “The invitations are done.”
He couldn’t help reaching for her hand. He twined her fingers between his. “Thank you for taking on such a big job. I don’t know who else I could trust with this.” He was happy she didn’t pull away.
“It’s a lot of fun, actually. I’m glad I made it to the bar before you left.”
His heart felt like he’d been running a race. He had to do something to get her to drop this nonsense about not being good enough for him. “I was actually just leaving.”
“Oh.” Disappointment flashed across her face.
He couldn’t hold back his smile. “But you’re coming with me.”
She opened her mouth and he pressed a finger over her lips. “We both want this. Come.”
Her mouth twitched. “I’m sure I will.”
***
Ryan hailed a cab, and he was kissing her before they were even in the backseat. He blurted out his address to the driver, then took Lizzy in his arms. “There’s no good reason eight years had to pass before doing this again.”
“It’s been so long. Too long,” she said.
They ran up to his apartment, straight to his bedroom. She was breathless and said nothing as he stripped off her clothes and tumbled into bed with her.
***
Afterward, tears wet her eyes as she lay with her back to him, wishing she hadn’t done that because it was more incredible than she’d imagined. There was a big difference between an eager eighteen-year-old boy and a polished twenty-six-year old man. He gathered her in his arms, embracing her from behind. He squeezed, smooshing her against him. “There are no words to describe how amazing that was.”
He was right. And his sweetness stung her heart. “I have to go,” she whispered, wiggling out of his embrace.
He reached for her, grazing a finger along the back of her thigh. “Stay. I’ll drive you home tomorrow morning so you can change.”
She searched the floor and found her dress. “That’s not a good idea.” She tugged the fabric over her head.
He sat up in bed. “What’s going on?”
“I need to go.” She picked up one shoe but couldn’t find the other.
Ryan said nothing as she dropped to the floor and looked under his bed for the missing pump.
“You’re doing it again. Leaving me.”
She snagged her shoe and stood. “This wasn’t about starting over, Ryan. It was about moving on. For both of us.”
He nodded slowly and rolled over, facing the wall.
“Maybe once the party’s over, I should think about finding a new job.”
He didn’t answer, and she slipped out into the night that felt as cold and dark as her heart.
***
The next few weeks she was busy planning the party, so it was easier to push him out of her mind. She only talked to Ryan when he needed her, which wasn’t often. He inquired about who planned to come to the party and what would be on the menu.
“I thought something was going on with you and the boss,” Shelby told her one day in the break room, “but I guess I was wrong. You two hardly talk at all now. I’ve been watching. And when I go through the Caller ID list on the phone at your desk, his extension hardly comes up at all.”
Lizzy blinked at Shelby. “I’ve been quite busy with the party.”
“He stares at you a lot.”
“Oh? He’s probably making sure that I’m working and not goofing off.”
“I like him more than I thought I would,” Shelby said, tilting her head in thought. “I thought for sure the fun times were over. And now bonuses? An aquarium with multiple fish? Wow.”
“He’s pretty great.” Lizzy slammed a drawer shut. Her phone rang. “Dunner Advertising?” she answered.
“Can you come in my office please?” It was Ryan.
“Of course.” Lizzy looked up at Shelby. “Speak of the devil.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m usually right about everything. Just so you know.”
“Cover the phones for a minute?”
“No thank you.” Shelby walked away.
Lizzy went to Ryan’s office. “I don’t have long. No one’s at my desk.”
“No problem. I just wanted to tell you we landed the Power Tea account.” He smiled wide. She hadn’t seen that smile in a while.
“That’s great!” she said.
“They went with your slogan. ‘A more mature buzz.’”
Lizzy cupped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, my God.” She spun around and squealed. “Well, that was such a smart brainstorming technique you used.”
“Lizzy—you have great ideas. That was all yours.”
“It was a lucky flash of inspiration. Thanks for telling me. That’s so exciting.”
“I want you to be part of the next idea session,” he said.
“If I’m here,” she whispered.
“Right. Well, you let me know.” He shuffled some papers around. “Everything all set with the party? It’s a week away.”
“We’re good.”
“My tux is ready.”
Oh, right. She’d need a fancy dress.
***
Wandering through the formal section of Macy’s looking for a gown, she remembered the feeling of dread she’d had eight years earlier trying to find a prom dress that would transform her into someone different. No such luck. It was during that shopping trip she’d gone into the dressing room, cried for fifteen minutes, and decided to end things with Ryan.
Now, running her fingers along a silky pink gown while standing under the soft lighting with the sickly sweet music playing overhead, she fought back a similar wave of nausea. She definitely had to leave Dunner after the party.
***
In the days leading up to the party, everyone bugged her for details.
“Are you working a musical number into it somehow?” Jenny asked.
“Not going to say,” Lizzy teased.
“Peacocks? I was at this bizarre wedding once in Springfield that had peacocks,” Shelby said. “I’d like to warn you against that.”
“Who knows? Peacocks would be interesting,” Lizzy said.
“Are there going to be strippers?” Chuck asked.
She gave him a look. “No.”
Tristan pulled her aside. “I have an idea for the party I wanted to discuss.”
She joined him in his office and slapped a hand over her mouth to hold back a scream when he told her his plan. This party was going to be epic.
***
The morning of the event, Lizzy brought her dress to change into after everything was set up. The hot air balloons were ready to offer tethered rides. The crew bringing the giraffes had just pulled up, and the fog machines had been installed around the property to create lowlying clouds. Twinkle-lights and tulle were strung from tree to tree, and thousands of white balloons bobbed around the perimeter of the clearing, giving guests the impression of being in a cloud.
The weather was warm and sunny, so the dinner would be held outside. Crews had erected temporary pergolas over rows of long tables. White fabric stretched across the top of the structures and down the poles, and chandeliers hung from the beams. Dozens of couches were scattered about the lawn. Goodie bags were filled with their clients products, including a customized Dandy Bear that talked when you pressed it’s paw. “Go to the next level with Dunner,” it said in the creepy voice that had helped the toy become a viral hit. She looked around the place, satisfied. Everything was perfect.
“By the sign that says ‘Dunner has a different perspective.’”
“Will do.”
She double-checked the covered archway that had been built over the stairs to give guests the feeling they’d entered a different world. A sign hung overhead that read, “Come to the next level with Dunner.”
Her stomach was twisting into knots as the start time grew closer. She gathered her dress and heels from the car and went into the guesthouse to change.
Guests were arriving as she came out. People walked through the entryway into the wonderland she’d created and gasped. She got goose bumps looking at the scene. She spotted Jenny and Nolan and waved to them.
They walked over, and Jenny’s jaw dropped. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Neither can I,” Lizzy whispered.
“You look gorgeous,” Jenny said.
“Breathtaking,” Nolan said.
Jenny jabbed him with her elbow. “Hey!”
“We’re heading over to take a balloon ride while there aren’t any lines,” Nolan said quickly, pulling Jenny away.
“Have fun!” Lizzy was aware of someone standing behind her. Turning around, she saw Ryan watching her. He said nothing.
Her stomach flipped and she held up both her hands. “I know it’s over the top. But I still think it’s elegant, and it also takes our creativity to a new level. We don’t just have dinner and open bar. That’s forgettable. People will talk about our giraffes and balloons for weeks. Months. And I think—”
He walked over and kissed her. She sucked in a breath.
He held her in his arms. “So this is what you would’ve looked like at prom.” He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed the end of her nose.
She looked down, probably turning the same color pink as her dress. “I wish I would’ve gone.” She looked into his mesmerizing blue eyes. “But seriously, I’ve got giraffes and hot balloons, and you’re noticing my dress?”
“You were the first thing I noticed. But this party? This is perfect. Amazing. How could you ever think you wouldn’t be the right woman by my side?”
The old arguments started lining up in her brain, but she closed her eyes, trying to quiet the negative noise. Look what she’d pulled off. And as long as Ryan thought she was wonderful, did it matter what anyone else thought? “You’re right.”