Page 63 of In League with Ivy

My eyebrows hit my hairline. “You’re fucking kidding me. Do we have to do that?”

“Maybe. Or if not, they’ll make you feel like a douche for wimping out.”

“But they’re meant to be all amiable and soft,” I said.

“In a quiet, militant way.”

“New Age tyrants. That doesn’t quite fit, does it?”

“No. But you haven’t been around Mitchell and his anal ways. I mean, he even questioned my mixing red with purple the other day.”

“Huh?” I asked.

“I wore purple socks with a red dress. Mitch commented that the vibration was too intense.”

“Mm… I like you when your vibration is all intense.”

She giggled.

“So have you had one of these colonic thingos?” I asked, my anus tightening in protest.

“No way. But that’s what’s on the brochure that just arrived today. After you left, a box-load was delivered to Mad Love.”

“Can we catch up later?” I asked. “You can show me.”

“I’ve got pole dancing classes tonight. Maybe later.”

“Can I come and watch?”

“No. You’ll only perv on all the girls.”

“I want to perv on you,” I said.

“I’ll drop in afterward and show you what I learned,” she said, sounding all sultry.

“Can’t wait.”

I ended the call, beaming. Life was great. I had a private pole dance to look forward to, and I’d earned myself an afternoon off.

Just as I was about to leave, my father stepped into my office and performed a slow clap.

“They loved it. I got a call from Jensen, and we scored the contract. They have a couple of other products too. Well done, son. You really brought it home. This is a big one. They’re a huge international company.”

I rubbed my neck. Better late than never. That pat on the back had only taken thirty years to arrive. That wasn’t counting my first year alive. Babies couldn’t exactly impress. I thought of my nephew, Dylan, who was an exception. His babbling continuously impressed my father, as though the crawling toddler had invented a one-day trip to Mars.

“That’s great, Dad.” I kept my tone cool, even though I was giving myself an internal high five.

Ms. Sharp entered the office and said, “I’ve drawn up the contract.”

“I was just congratulating Chase. There was a hell of a lot of competition.”

She regarded me and nodded.

“I need the day off,” I said. “I’m exhausted. I was up all night putting the finishing touches to the pitch.” I was lying of course. I’d been up Ivy all night.

My father looked at Ms. Sharp. “Can you leave us for a moment?”

She nodded and walked out.