And she was our client.
I glanced back at Allegra, the stars wearing off and confusion setting in. "Was there a meeting tonight?" I looked down at my outfit. "I can't meet Rachel Laraby wearing this."
"There is no meeting," Allegra said darkly. "Only trouble."
"Trouble?” I asked, even more confused. “But I-"
"Allegra De Luca!" If the flashes of cameras and phones intensifying around us was no indication, there was no mistaking Rachel's signature Southern drawl. "If you don't stand up so I can hug your neck!"
I'd seen the real thing enough to know the smile Allegra slathered on as she rose to her feet was far from genuine.
"Rachel," she said, wary edging her voice. "I didn't think we'd be seeing you until tomorrow morning."
Rachel waved a manicured hand, dismissing that whole notion. "I just had to come and say hello to my favorite woman in Venice!" She spun in a circle and swiped a nearby chair, managing to squeeze the wicker thing between the two of us and completely ignore my existence. Allegra flashed me an apologetic smile and when Rachel lowered her lean frame into the seat, began the pleasantries.
"Rachel," she began. "This is-"
"Any friend of Al's is a friend of mine!" Rachel cast a phony smile at me before she flipped her hair and leaned in toward Allegra. "I wanted to ask you about Jacob's new assistant. He's been keeping it so hush hush, so she must be something special."
"Allow me to introduce Leila Montgomery," Allegra said with a smug glimmer in her eye. "Jacob's lovely new assistant."
Rachel turned her head so hard I was surprised she didn't get whiplash. She inspected me, nice and slow, and from the snort that fell from her lips, I came up wanting.
"You can't be serious." She jutted a finger in my face, literally inches from my nose. "She's the new assistant?"
I felt anger sparking all over my body, but I tried to breathe through it. Maybe she didn't mean it as jack ass-y as it came out.
"Yes," I said placidly. "I'm the new assistant. And, uh, your finger-"
"Is this some sort of joke?" She gave me a sly smile. "Am I being Punk'd?"
"Get your hand out of my face," I growled, nostrils flaring.
She finally dropped the pointer, but not her shock at someone like Jacob hiring someone like me. For choosing someone like me. I glanced at Allegra and she was clearly struggling to hold her tongue too.
"Well, maybe after the others he finally went with someone that can do their job." Rachel gave my hand a sympathetic pat. "Someone...bookish."
"Bookish?" I fired back. I'd had my fill of people judging me by my employer and job title, and celebrity or not, I wasn't gonna lay down and let her denigrate me. "I don't know what your problem is-"
"Leila," Allegra intervened, trying to diffuse the situation. "Maybe we should-"
"No," Rachel hissed, raising her nose so high I was surprised I couldn't see her brain. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me like I was something stuck on the bottom of her shoe. "I'm doing you a favor, sweetheart. This isn't a movie--this is real life. On what planet would a girl like you end up with someone like him?" She didn't give me a chance to reply, shoving backward from the table with a screech. "I've lost my appetite."
I balled my fists in my lap as I heard murmurs of interest all around us.
Allegra's voice cut through it, low and concerned. "Leila, don't you go listening to a thing that woman says."
I gave her a halfhearted smile and swallowed the lump in my throat. "You know, I'm not very hungry either."
"Leila-"
"I'll see you in the morning."
I moved to the lobby, shooting a look toward the entrance where Rachel stood posing for pictures, each one snapped better than the last.
Who was I kidding, thinking that Jacob could have a connection with me? I thought despondently. I tried to get close and he took two steps back. And now on top of that, I was competing with Rachel Laraby?
I walked briskly in the direction of the elevator, but a bellhop stood in my way, looking over at Rachel like she was his soulmate.
“Molto bella, no?” he said with a sigh. I didn’t need a dictionary to figure out what he said.
“Yep,” I said acidly, pushing past him. “Gorgeous.”
****
I fussed over my hair, trying to tug it into submission. With a groan of frustration, I snatched a Chanel scarf from the bundle of accessories Jacob had given me. I gathered my dark spirals into a bun at the nape of my neck then wrapped the scarf around the rest, letting only a curve of curls peek out. Paired with a black sheath dress and gold sandals, I actually pulled off chic.
Appearances can be deceiving, I thought glumly, grabbing my purse stuffed with a planner and a notebook. Truth was, I felt like the new girl on the first day of school, completely out of my element.
I moved to the elevator and punched the ‘C’ for the conference floor and the elevator zipped me to my destination.
You can do this, I thought to myself. You’re just taking notes.
But the thought of being in a room with Rachel Laraby was enough to make me hyperventilate. I hated to admit it, but the notion that she’d ever been with Jacob coupled with her disbelief that he could be attracted to someone like me was enough to make my blood boil.
I took a deep breath as I rounded the corner and came face to face with the ornate door of the room Jacob reserved for the meeting. Here we go.
When I pushed into C12, the sight of Allegra, dressed in a crisp charcoal jacket, slacks, and a supportive smile, was enough to make me sigh with relief.
“Leila,” she breathed, bringing me a piping cup of coffee. “You look well rested.”
I gave her a look and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was three minutes ‘til 10. “Jacob’s running late?”
She moved to a table on the wall, lined with fruit, slices of bread, and cheeses. “He had to pick up Rachel.”
A part of me couldn’t help but leap at the last bit. ‘Pick up’ meant that they hadn’t spent the night together. When Allegra turned and gave me a curious look, I brought the mug to my mouth, trying to hide the smile at my lips. If she picked up on my reaction there’d be even more questions, which meant more confusing emotions for me to muddle through.
The door creaked open and the sound of Rachel chattering about chateaus and gondolas came rushing in.
“You should have seen it, Jacob. The stars, the music, the water.” She cozied up to him, obviously for my benefit. “Maybe tonight?”