Perdie balanced on one foot in front of the entrance to the Atlantic Theater to fix the strap of her heel. The chilly winter air licked her bare legs, and the enormous old-school marquee blared bright with the festive message: Happy Holidays from Joy and Schulz.
Perdie wasn’t experiencing much joy though. For one, her silver stilettos were already threatening bodily harm, her toes scrunched and smarting in the ungiving leather. And the butterflies in her stomach were attempting to escape by way of her mouth. Oh good god, don’t puke. She tightened the belt of her white faux fur coat. The coat was extra as hell according to Lucille but also necessary in these trying times. If nothing else, Perdie was certainly following the Old Hollywood Glam theme of the night.
She hated walking into places alone, especially formal events like these. She was accustomed to the carefree comfort of Lucille for most gatherings, or at the very least a date she’d scrounged up elsewhere. She hadn’t been doing much swiping on the dating apps the past few weeks, that went without saying. But she had to reject her own cowardice. She’d have to face Carter one way or another, and if she did it alone, well, she was woman enough to stand in front of a Joy and Schulz partner with whom she’d almost had an illicit affair and eat shit like a pro.
Enough stalling, walk your ass inside that door, big girl.
Perdie headed in through the heavy glass entrance.
Rita from event planning greeted her at a check-in table. “Oh, Perdita, don’t you look lovely tonight,” Rita chirped, tapping at the laptop. “You’re all set. Coat check is to your left.”
Perdie experienced mild panic at the thought of removing her coat, stripping away a layer of protective armor, and serving herself up on a white shimmery platter to the rest of the lawyers. But she shook away the fear—no more dramatics. It was just a party, and she was just a person. She’d have a few drinks, shake a few hands, and get out of there, spending the rest of the night on the couch with Bananas, eating panettone out of a box.
She headed to the coat check, undoing her belt. As the coat slipped from her shoulders, a familiar voice surprised her.
“Wow, I’ve been out of the Charleston office for far too long. When did they start hiring models as lawyers?”
A small smile flitted over Perdie’s face. The voice belonged to Max Goodridge, a friend who worked in the Joy and Schulz satellite New York office. From anyone else, she would’ve found the line cheesy at best and sexist at worst. But they were pals, so to speak, and had possibly engaged in some innocent flirting before. Nothing serious, as Max had been married then, and Perdie wasn’t in the habit of hooking up with married men or coworkers. Or at least, she hadn’t been at the time. But she wasn’t going to let her mind wander to Carter...
“Flatterer.” She moved aside as Max leaned over to hand his coat to the coat check, the velvet of his navy tuxedo jacket brushing against the bare skin of her arm.
He flashed a bright white smile. “You can flatter and speak the truth all in one.”
“And what’s your truth, exactly? Still mixing your Glenlivet with ginger ale?”
He lifted a finger to his lips. “Shhh, don’t let my secret out. You’ll compromise my manhood.”
“Forget about your manhood, in some countries you could be arrested for such an offense.”
“Good thing I know an excellent attorney.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And a bunch of shit ones.”
Max chuckled as they made their way through the lobby and into a swarm of decked-out, mingling people, sequins and jewelry glittering under glass chandeliers.
“That’s why you’re my favorite one here.” He swooped two coupe glasses from a flowing champagne pyramid centerpiece and handed one to Perdie.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you don’t fake anything.” He winked when she playfully whacked him on the arm with her clutch.
“Not that you’d have any idea what I do or don’t fake.”
“You don’t seem like a faker to me,” he said with a naughty smile on his face as they neared the main room.
The jazzy, smoky tones of a popular Charleston cover band floated through the air. They only played K-pop covers, which Perdie knew well thanks to Lucille. Even so, if she wasn’t at a work event, the whole thing might feel a little magical, romantic even.
But Max was handsome, wasn’t he? His dense swath of hair was a deep auburn and a little on the messy side, and his thick matching beard contrasted nicely with his pale skin. He wore a tartan bow tie with his tuxedo, harmonious with his overall style. Lumberjack meets Luxembourgian prince meets big-city attorney? Perhaps not Perdie’s usual type, but his confidence and charm sold the whole package well. Maybe he wasn’t Carter Leplan handsome, but then again, who was? Either way, Perdie was sure Max wasn’t wanting for attention.
Perdie sipped from her glass, the effervescence tickling her nose. She was going to be okay. She smiled and let out a satisfied sigh, letting her eyes wander the room, the silver and gold tables stacked with mountains of fancy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. There was an espresso station in the corner and several bars scattered throughout with people already lining up behind them. Joy and Schulz didn’t play when it came to alcohol distribution.
She and Max said cordial hellos to fellow partygoers as the large stage came into view, the band dressed in black suits and sequined dresses.
But as soon as a modicum of ease settled over her, she spotted Carter across the other side of the large ballroom. Dammit, Carter. It only took a glimpse of the back of his tall body smoothed in a crisp midnight tuxedo to ping her radar. Quickly, she averted her gaze before she could register any details. Regular, everyday men could turn out damned good in a tux. Lord only knew the kind of psychic damage Carter could inflict all dressed up like James Bond.
Perdie mentally swept the room, targeting who she would have to rub elbows with for a few minutes before she could jet. But in the meantime...
“So, Max, where you staying? You in town for long?” Perdie absently swirled her champagne.
He scratched the back of his neck. “Staying at the Wentforth. Can’t beat the location.”
Perdie nodded. “Ah, very old money, very old lady chic of you. I’m convinced that place is haunted.”
His eyes glimmered. “Don’t try to scare me, or I’ll show up at your doorstep towing ghosts.”
At that, Perdie’s stomach blipped. Did she really want to be flirting with Max right now? Maybe it would have been fun last year. Although familiar and pleasant, it felt far less fun than it should have.
Max cleared his throat. “You probably already heard about Kathryn and me.”
She nodded. She’d gathered through the grapevine that Max had divorced. “Sorry to hear.”
He shrugged. “I’m not. We grew apart like adults tend to do when they get married too young and barely know themselves yet. Hadn’t been happy for a long time. At any rate, I’m a free man now...” His gaze flickered over her.
It was an opening, and if she wanted to, she could spend the whole evening with Max by her side. He was handsome, funny, smart. He could distract her from her feelings, from work, from the fact that she would spend the holidays alone. Hooking up with someone at a satellite office was way more inconspicuous than with someone on the fifth floor. But...
Stop. Thinking. About. Carter. Ugh, but she couldn’t. Suddenly, she needed to escape.
“Sorry, I, uh...” Perdie pointed to a corner. “Frank. I have to... I have to talk to Frank about a deadline. I’ll see you in a bit, okay?”
“Sure, of course.” Max’s eyebrows went up, but he downed his drink and straightened his bow tie. “I should do some hobnobbing with the rest of the Charleston folks anyway. Don’t want them to forget my face.”
She gave a smile, squeezing his shoulder. “Nobody could. I’ll see you later.” She rushed off to a crowded corner beyond the stage, offering polite hello how are you Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah Joyous Kwanzaas to the other attorneys and staff along the way.
Phew. She sidled up to a corner bar with only a few people lingering in a makeshift line. She knocked back her champagne and plunked it onto an empty tray next to the bar.
“Dirty vodka martini, please.” She leaned against the counter, scoping the room as the bartender mixed her drink. Frank at her nine o’clock, Charles Joy to her right, managing partner Minnie Martinson beyond the third bar, and Jennifer and Sophia hanging on the arms of their boring husbands on the perimeter. Drink in hand, she fished out the toothpick, scraped the olive off with her teeth, and took a big pull from the wide-rimmed glass.
Right, time to rub elbows.
On her way, the dessert bar caught her eye. You weak-willed woman, she chastised herself as she shoved a pink macaron in her mouth, coupling it with another big swig of her martini. Not the greatest combination of flavors of all time. As she chewed, she spun around and—
Smack. “Whoa...” Her mouth was full. Her martini wobbled as she teetered on the points of her heels from the impact. A hand shot out and caught her elbow so she could recover her balance. She barely avoided a spill down her cleavage.
But then she swore to herself as her gaze slowly ascended up the body in front of hers to the familiar laser-cut jaw and kissable lips. Her brain zeroed in on that hazel eye with the little blue patch in the iris. She gulped down the macaron as his hand trailed from her elbow to her forearm and then dropped to his side.
“Hey, you,” she eked out. Carter’s shawl-collar tuxedo was crisp, black, and perfectly tailored to his muscular and tall form. He might as well have been accepting an Oscar.
And he wasn’t alone. The pert blonde in a red off-the-shoulder bandage dress was the same one who had called him Carter darling outside of a large house on a sunny winter day not so long ago.
Aubrey.
“And...and hello, you,” Perdie stammered out, nodding towards Aubrey.
Aubrey smiled brightly, her voice laden with a Charleston lilt. “Oh, I’m sorry, have we met before? This is my first time at one of these, meeting so many new people. I swear I forget everyone’s names as fast as I learn ’em.”
Aubrey tucked her hand into the crook of Carter’s elbow, and a wave of nausea swept over Perdie.
She closed her eyes for one brief moment. Doesn’t matter. He’s not yours.
Carter straightened out his arm, dropping Aubrey’s clasp, and cleared his throat. “Perdie, I should properly introduce you—”
Oh hell no. She couldn’t stand there in front of them for one more second. “Ah...sorry...gotta Frank, I mean catch Frank...” She gestured with her martini glass towards a spot in the distance, as if Frank were an elusive gazelle. “Have a deadline...so...yeah...” Her voice trailed off and as she brushed past them, Carter craned his neck to watch her go, brows furrowed. Nope, not tonight, Pretty Boy. She couldn’t pretend to be friends right now.
Perdie trotted away, cheeks hot and chest tight. If she could physically distance herself, she could neutralize her memory. Tame the feelings.
She elbowed her way through the crowd when she spotted Frank in a navy and black suit with Ferris Joy. Frank spotted her too, winging an arm to invite her into the circle of conversation.
“Perdie, good to see you looking so...well...” His hand landed on her lower back and she forced her face to remain fixed in a smile. He turned to Ferris Joy. “Perdie here has been a busy little bee with your good friend Carter. Got herself a little patent case to work on.”
Perdie grimaced at the condescending tone—how did he always manage it, like some kind of special skill. But no matter, she could small talk with these two men for a few minutes at least.
“Yeah, Carter’s been busy lately. House shopping and all,” said Ferris, shifting his eyes back and forth, sniffing and rubbing at the bottom of his nose. Oh great, he’s coked out. His eyes darted around the room for more important people to talk to. He sipped from a tumbler of scotch. “You in the market for a house? Lots of houses for sale right now. Lots and lots of houses.”
Perdie scrunched her nose in question. “I’ve got a condo off the Sullivan’s connector.”
Frank clapped Ferris on the shoulder with a nervous laugh. “He’s asking because his sister recently got her real estate license. Always a good networker, this one.”
Perdie inwardly rolled her eyes. Frank was such a kiss ass, never forgetting for one moment that Ferris Joy was the son to Charles Joy.
“Let me introduce the two of you, she’s at the party. Nice to make friends, isn’t it?” Frank said. “And you never know when you might need to upgrade that living situation of yours. Kids and marriage and all that. Can’t put it off forever. May as well help a fellow attorney out too. Kill two birds with one stone. Ferris, we’ll catch up at the after-party.” He grabbed Perdie’s elbow and led her towards the bar.
“Let me give you a little advice.” Frank spoke close to her ear. “If you want to stay in good with this firm, you gotta do business with its family. You’ll thank me later.”
With that, Frank pulled Perdie through the large ballroom. The band played a jazz cover of BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That.” A chill prickled her skin. Frank was returning her to Carter and Aubrey.
Oh no.
Just as he’d done with Ferris, Frank clapped a hand on Carter’s shoulder, turning Carter around to their attention. “Carter, my boy. Came by to introduce our Perdie here to your lovely date. We were discussing the importance of networking at our firm.”
Perdie attempted a smile. “Oh, we’ve met—”
Frank placed a hand on Perdie’s shoulder. “Perdita Stone, Aubrey Joy, Ferris Joy’s sister and hopefully our associates’ new go-to house shopper.”
Carter nodded, keeping an eye on Perdie. “Yes, that’s right. Aubrey is my real estate agent.”
Aubrey swatted Carter’s biceps. “Well, I’m your date too, sweetheart.”
Carter smiled tightly, running his hand through his hair, one lock falling errantly in his eye.
Perdie clenched her fist to her side. When Aubrey laughed, Perdie’s proverbial vampire fangs sharpened to deadly points but she endeavored to keep her cool. “A real estate agent. Fun. How’s business?”
Aubrey adjusted the cleavage of her dress. Perdie watched both men to see who was creeping. Frank, of course. But Carter’s eyes were straight ahead, drilling into Perdie’s soul. She forced herself to pay attention to Aubrey.
“Well, it was real scary at first, but when Ferris told me Carter was moving here, I was so excited because I knew he could be my first big sale. This guy’s not hurtin’ in the wallet department if you know what I mean.” She elbowed him playfully. Perdie avoided his eyes. “And well, now I want to be the number-one real estate agent in the Lowcountry. Put my picture on a bench for people to sit on. I just think that’d be great, don’t you? Ferris isn’t the only talented Joy kid!”
Despite herself, Perdie kind of liked Aubrey’s exuberant optimism and her guileless lack of self-awareness over the idea of people sitting on her face on a public bench. And she had to hand it to the girl, she wasn’t afraid to let her feelings show. Carter might like someone like that. Perdie regarded the two of them together. Like two bright, shiny ornaments glimmering on a tree.
“I’m sure you’ll do very well here. Sorry to tell you I’m not in the market.” Across the room, Perdie spotted a dash of red hair. Max. She needed him now, she needed him like a shield. Luckily, she caught his eye. When she inclined her head like get over here right now, he lifted his glass in her direction and headed towards her. Thank god.
“Perdie’s neighborhood is very quiet,” Carter said, his gaze challenging.
“Oh, you’ve been before?” Frank’s voice cut in. “Why, I don’t believe I’ve ever gotten an invitation.”
Max arrived, saving Perdie the necessity of explanation, elbowing his way in next to Perdie, flashing those bright white teeth. He held out his hand to Carter and then Aubrey. “Max Goodridge. We haven’t been formally introduced.”
Perdie let out a sigh of relief. Max was an ally. Someone who liked her. He’d keep her from falling off the deep end with Carter and Aubrey.
The group settled in and chatted, the conversation shifting away from house shopping and Perdie’s condo.
As the conversation inevitably turned to work, Perdie didn’t dare glance at Carter. Instead she made eye contact with Max. A smirk played on her lips as he raised his glass of what appeared to be scotch. He smothered a smile at her knowing wink and then passed the glass over. She sipped from it, confirming the evidence of the ginger ale.
A laugh escaped her as she passed the drink back.
“What’s so funny?” Aubrey asked with an expectant smile. “You two sharing an inside joke?”
With the direct question, Perdie was forced to acknowledge Aubrey and Carter. Carter’s face was tense and he was staring at her with more scrutiny than made her comfortable. But it gave her a small thrill, the idea that he might be jealous. Also, it irritated her. He was the one with the date, not her.
“It’s a secret.” She smiled. “I can’t tell you or it would permanently alter your perception of Max, and I’m not that kind of friend.”
Max winked at her and the muscle of Carter’s jaw tightened.
That’s what you get.
“Secrets. Secrets are no fun.” Aubrey laughed nervously, her eyes darting around the three of them.
Perdie allowed the lingering silence before speaking again. “I’m heading to the bar.” She tipped back her drink, a lipstick stain on the rim.
“I’ll join you.” Max smiled and rested his hand on her lower back. This time, she liked it but not for the right reasons. She willed herself not to throw a glance at Carter as she and Max walked away together. Eat shit, Pretty Boy.
She twisted the empty glass stem as they walked, watching the rotating bright pink marks smudging the rim. The lipstick. Probably a mess on her face after two drinks. God, she hoped she hadn’t looked sloppy in front of everyone. She touched Max’s arm. “Hey, I’m going to run to the bathroom to fix my lipstick. I’ll meet you at the bar.”
“Don’t be too long. You’re a vision of perfection,” Max said, making the uncertainty in her chest grow.
Perdie peeled off, escaping into the bathroom past the hallway. Once there, she leaned close to a large mirror, inspecting her face. Okay, all things considered, but still she followed Lucille’s directions. First the lip color, then the gloss. She gave a few puckers and turned to leave, walking into the hallway, the stream of music and lights creeping in from the opening and closing gala doors.
She took a deep breath, the vision of Frank and Max and Carter and Aubrey still fresh in her brain. It made her hot and foggy. She didn’t want to go back. Not yet. Instead, she turned around and walked out the back hallway exit.