The Kelly family is old money and one of the wealthiest families in Chicago. They made their money in shipping. Importing and exporting, and eventually, they expanded into cargo ships on the Great Lakes, connecting all the larger towns. I have no idea how they heard about my small events business, but I’m so grateful for the work.
Chase Kelly hired me to cater his party and make sure his guests were wined and dined. He has a small luxury yacht manufacturing business, and tonight they are launching a hybrid yacht that uses solar as well as diesel.
He’s incredibly excited about it. Chase claims it’s the way of the future. He’s so good-looking and self-assured. He’s as comfortable in a room full of millionaires as he is talking to the workers in his plant. I’ve never met anyone quite like him.
Chase is six foot three with a swimmer’s body, light brown hair, blue eyes, and a smile that gives me butterflies. This party has been six months in the making. We’ve flirted back and forth but always kept it professional, but tonight it all ends. Tomorrow I’ll go back to event organizing on a much smaller scale, and he’ll go back to all the pretty socialites who flutter around him like bees in search of honey, or should I say money.
“Ms. Jones, you should try enjoying yourself.”
Looking up, Chase Kelly is smiling down at me. “I will. When the night is over.”
Chase takes my clipboard off me and places it on the table, then he puts his hand in mine and guides me to the dance floor. Like a lost child, I let him, even though it’s extremely inappropriate.
As with everything else this man seems to do, he dances like he was born to do it. We glide around the floor, and I’m lost in those pretty blue eyes.
“You’ve done an amazing job.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “You left nothing to chance. I simply brought your vision to life. You knew what you wanted.”
“Indeed, I do.”
His double meaning makes me blush, and I break eye contact with him. “Everyone seems to be having a good time. Have you sold many of your hybrids?”
Chase chuckles. “Nice change of subject there.” I look back up at him. “And yes. We’ve sold two, maybe three, which, for a small brokerage, is amazing.”
He seems quite pleased with himself. I smile widely at him, and the slow song comes to an end.
Pulling out of his grasp, I step back. “I should get back to work.”
“Your team is doing beautifully without you, and all the hard work is done. Now, it’s about having a good time.”
Another slow song starts, and he embraces me again. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Chase Kelly, it’s that he’s used to getting his own way.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
Tomorrow is Saturday, and I normally spend it with my older sister, Charlotte. She’s twenty-four, mentally impaired, and has the mental acuity of a teenager. Charlotte lives in a group home. She’s really happy there but looks forward to our weekly visits.
“I’m busy.”
Chase raises an eyebrow. “Boyfriend?”
“No,” I laugh. “Family.”
“Surely, you can see them anytime?”
“It’s my sister. I’m seeing her tomorrow. It’s not often I have a Saturday off.”
“Invite her. If she’s anything like you, she’ll fit right in.”
I shake my head, and Chase scowls at me. “She’s not like me. Charlotte is learning impaired.”
The scowl disappears, replaced with empathy. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I reply with a shake of my head. “Charlotte was born this way. It’s my normal. And she’s amazing.”
“I’d love to meet her.”
This takes me by surprise. Over the years, the one thing I’ve come to understand is that people like Charlotte make ‘normal’ people uneasy. Most of my boyfriends met her after some time, and if they made her uncomfortable or I didn’t like the way they treated her, they never got a second chance with either of us. Charlotte is important to me, as she’s my only living relative. Mom and Dad died in a plane crash five years ago.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head.
Chase steps back from me. “I understand. Perhaps another time?” He smiles down at me and walks away.
Why do I feel like I’ve failed some test? Watching him go, he moves from group to group, shaking hands and smiling like a shark trolling through the shallows. The imagery causes me to shudder, and I walk back to the table and pick up my clipboard.
One server, Joe, stands next to me and holds out the drinks tray. “Here you go, boss, help yourself.”
I take a glass of bubbles. “I really shouldn’t.”
“They aren’t going to miss it. There are still over a dozen bottles left, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to drink it all. Most of them seem to prefer the harder stuff.”
“Make sure the leftovers don’t disappear and are delivered to Chase Kelly’s offices on Monday.”
Joe frowns.
“What?” I ask.
“Can’t Monday. I’m working at the bistro down by the river.”
Groaning, I sip the champagne. “Damn. Okay, let’s load them into the back of my car, and I’ll deliver them first thing.”
“He’d rather see you, anyway.”
“What do you think of him, Joe?”
Joe holds his tray higher, puts a hand behind his back, and straightens up. “Old money, used to getting what he wants, and from my experience, those kinds of people are dangerous.”
“How so?”
Joe smiles at me and looks me in the eyes. “They don’t take no for an answer.” He moves back into the crowd and disappears.
It’s going to be a long night, so I walk into the kitchens to make sure the food is hot and going out promptly.
