"Susan, I need your plans for the rooftop party... NOW!" Susan lifted her head from the film sheet she had been combing through for the last hour.
"What party?"
"The one I called you about on Monday night. I asked you to put together a party mock up." Susan stared at Pierre. He always did this. Remind her of something that he forgot to tell her about. "This client is huge. This party is one that everyone in New York society attends. And this woman chose us to do the planning and PR." She rolled her eyes at her desk mate Edward. They both sat in the outer office, sharing an old oak table as their desk. As always he was impeccably dressed in black slacks, a green button up that popped off his chocolate skin and a black vest. Edward didn't really look like he fit in a PR firm. He looked more like the bouncer outside of a club than a party planner. But Edward was good at his job. He knew everyone that could do a job well and cheaply – which is why Pierre had hired him.
Pierre knew absolutely no one. However, he had a talent for hiring extraordinarily talented people who needed a job.
"OK OK OK, Pierre I get it. Big deal party! When is she coming in?"
"In 20 minutes. So I need to review the mock-ups so I know what I am talking about."
"20 minutes. Are you kidding?! Its Friday you couldn't have done a follow-up on Tuesday, you wait until now?" He looked at her confused. "I didn't get the message, Pierre."
"Look just throw something together. Put together the details of the party we did in Brooklyn last month. I'll make it work." Susan looked at him exasperated. He wouldn't make it work, she would. She always did. "And when Mrs. Montgomery gets here show her into my office."
Susan ran around the office frantically trying to find the board she used for the Brooklyn clients. She knew it wouldn't work for high New York Society, but she had some ideas that would. Landing this job was more important to her than it was to Pierre. She could meet someone that would take her to the next level. Or at least pay her somewhere above minimum wage. "Edward when Mrs. Montgomery gets here stall. I'll be back." She ran out the door to the local fabric store. "Jacob!" she bellowed. "I need silk. Suitable for table clothes."
"Middle aisle," the attendant called back. Susan raced down the aisle. She didn't have a specific fabric in mind. It had to look luxurious but simple. Her eyes settled on one piece. It was perfect. It was white silk with tiny flecks of gold. She made her way to the counter.
"I need a foot."
"Pierre spring a client on you again."
"Yes. She should be there now." Jacob cut the piece and handed it to her.
"Go! You can pay me later."
"Bless you. You sweet sweet man."
Susan raced the two blocks back to the office. "Is she here? Has Pierre ruined everything?" Susan ran over to her desk. Grabbed her board and turned around to see why Edward wasn't answering her questions. Edward looked at her and slowly moved his head to someone standing behind Susan. Susan followed his gaze. The redhead. 'Oh god!' her mind raced. "Your Mrs. Montgomery."
The redhead extended her hand. "Bizzy Forbes Montgomery. It's nice to see you again, Susan." Susan just stood there with her mouth open. Edward took pity on her and pulled the board and fabric from her hands.
"Mrs. Montgomery right this way. Pierre had to step out due to an emergency, but he has left you in Susan's capable hands. Can I get you some coffee?" Once Edward made sure Bizzy was comfortable in the conference room he walked back out to find Susan standing in the exact same spot. "Susan," he whispered. "is that the redhead you have been drooling over all week. She's a bit old for my taste but I get it. Very sexy." Susan didn't respond she just stood there. "Susan!" he whispered a little louder. She looked at Edward still a little shocked. "Its time to dig in," Edward said placing his hand on her shoulder. She was making him a little nervous; Susan was always in complete control. "Pierre bailed when he came out and you weren't here. You need to go in there and make an impression before she starts to get angry." Edward pushed her towards the conference room.
Susan shook the cobwebs out of her brain. Fixed her suit and walked in. Bizzy was standing looking at the board. She turned when she heard Susan came in. "I'm sorry Mrs. Montgomery for keeping you waiting."
"That's all right. I was looking at your little idea here. It's not really going to work." Bizzy said leveling her gaze at Susan. Susan tried to sidestep the stare. "The fabric however is a lovely choice," she said. "Given that I called your boss Monday morning to tell him that I had chosen his little PR firm for this project. I figured you would have had enough time to put together something at least passing for suitable."
"The idiot just told me about it a half hour ago." Susan quickly covered her mouth. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. You make me nervous." Bizzy smiled. "God! I shouldn't have said that either. I don't usually say the first thing that pops into my head." With a hard sigh, she pulled herself together. "Look, Mrs. Montgomery. I am not sure what you are doing here, but you're right this is not what I would have put together if I had known about this on Monday. If you give me a chance, and the weekend, I will put together something better than you imagined."
People weren't usually honest with Bizzy Montgomery. Most people kissed her ass. No one was ever vulnerable in front of her. Bizzy could have gotten any PR firm to do this party. Usually she went for the best in New York, but some reason she wanted to see Susan again. The young woman intrigued her and made her smile. "You have until Monday at 4pm. You will come to me this time." She placed her card and a picture on the table; and walked out of the office, leaving her perfume swimming around in Susan's head.
Susan slumped down in a chair. Her name was Bizzy. Bizzy Forbes Montgomery. Susan had spent the better part of a week dreaming about her. All the way home on the train, Susan thought about her eyes. The next day when Elise had stumbled into the apartment she peppered her with questions about the redhead. Elise said she never saw a redhead. And besides all of the woman at the party were selfish; no one would have ever offered Susan a ride to the train station. As the week went on Susan had actually started to think she had imagined the whole scenario. But she had been here, in the office. Susan got up and pulled the board off the easel. She picked up the card and picture heading back to her desk.
"You saw her right," she said to Edward. He nodded. "I can't believe she came here. Hell I can't believe she remembered my name. All I did in that car was ramble like a 12 year old girl."
"Did we get the party?" Pierre said as he came in.
"I don't know yet. She told me to come to her house in Connecticut at 4 on Monday." Pierre smiled.
"Good. I'll leave here at 2:30. You'll familiarize me with the board that morning." Susan stared at him in disbelief. She wanted to tell him to shove it. He wasn't going to take credit for hard work. Not again.
"She said she only wanted to meet with Susan." Susan turned towards Edward's voice. He gave a slight shrug. Pierre began to object, "Look. Susan told her that you would love to come meet her but she insisted Susan come alone." Susan looked from Pierre to Edward.
"Fine," Pierre said. "You make sure you land this," he said to Susan.
"I will," Susan said. Pierre retreated to his office, closing the door behind him. "Why the hell did you say that?" She looked at Edward.
"Susan a woman like that didn't hear about the great parties of Pierre's and decide to throw him some business. She came here for you." Susan stared at him in disbelief.
"She's not a lesbian. Did you see her finger? That woman is married." Susan shook her head. "Maybe I said something in the car about a party we threw and she was impressed."
"Doubtful," Edward said. "Lesbian or not she walked into this office and asked for you. Not Pierre."
"Whatever. Either way I need to work on a plan and go pay Jacob. Tell Pierre I am working from home. I will see him on Tuesday." She grabbed her jacket and waved goodbye to Edward.
After paying Jacob, Susan grabbed a pizza and headed to her apartment. When she got there, Elise was lounging on the couch.
"You're home early."
"Yeah we had a new client come in today. I decided not to work with Pierre leaning over my shoulder." She put her stuff on the desk in their third bedroom and sat down next to Elise on the sofa. "Do you know a Bizzy Forbes Montgomery?
"Why?!" Elise said excitedly. Looking at Susan anxiously.
"She came into the office earlier today." Susan looked at Elise who was looking at her expectantly. "She's our new client."
"Did she say anything about me?"
"Why would she say something about you? She's the woman at the party who gave me a ride."
"She's also married to man I've been sleeping with. The Captain. Remember you met him at the party." Susan couldn't believe it. "I guess that explains why she gave you a ride. She wanted to find out how well you knew me. Damn! That means she knows. I guess I'll need to be a little more discreet."
"I guess you will." Susan got up from the couch, grabbed a couple slices of pizza and went into the third bedroom to work. 'Well Edward was wrong. She came in to ask about Elise.' Susan resigned herself to putting together the best presentation she could. She still wanted to wow this woman. She turned the picture over, it was an empty rooftop. In the background was the New York Skyline. She titled her board New York Garden Romance. She spent the rest of the weekend working.