Call It Business ( Book 3 of 'Call It' Series )

Chapter 18 | Family Business

"That's true, but since they are too stubborn to change the guest list, my point actually is that," Macy tried to save the situation with a startled chuckle and caught to coin before darting her index finger around the room, "They could have done it better than this."

The woman hummed a musical noise, tilting her head, "Really? How so?"

"Well," She huffed, turning the wheels of her mind to come up with better planning than Judith Blanchard possibly had done, "If I was responsible for this event. I wouldn't tuck all the items into this salon. I'd display them throughout the hotel, perhaps in different shops too, like that would increase circulation. I might even place some pedestals in special suites so that people can compete for those rooms." She mused, and a smile widened on her lips, "I know most people here aren't exactly interested in prehistory, but they'd love to brag about having a 3000-year-old artifact lying on a glass pedestal in their suite or for being able to reserve a table in the dining room with the company of a giant, no-touching statue. The shops would increase their sales too if people had to walk through them to see the objects."

The woman cast her an approving look that was tinged with surprise, "So, instead of displaying them, you'd blend them into the hotel itself?"

"Yes." Macy flipped the coin and closed her palm around it, "Everyone wins."

"I like that." The woman admitted with an arched eyebrow before turning back to the sculpture, "If only Judy wasn't so obstinate on following the ancient and boring PR strategies of Cohens."

Macy furrowed her eyebrows, "Cohens?"

"Yes," The woman absently nodded, "Blanchards has worked with Kurt Cohen's PR company for almost thirty years, and his twins, Annabelle Cohen and Aiden are responsible for how dull and usual things have been tonight. Well, them and Judy's love for old-fashioned ways." She informed, gesturing her head to the side to emphasize her point.

Staring in the direction of the right, Macy saw the woman in an off-shoulder burgundy dress that matched the lipstick on her wide lips, talking with a small court of guests around her. Her dark brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders in loose ringlets, and her huge electric blue eyes kept wandering off the salon every now and then as if she was looking for something or someone.

Before Macy could entertain the idea that it was the villain, the woman continued to speak again, "Do you like Judy?"

That was a strange question.

Making a face and pushing the villain-centered problems to the back of her mind, Macy stared at the woman's green gaze seeming to shine with genuine curiosity. Unfortunately, the answer had more layers and sides than one simple 'Yes' or 'No' answer.

Macy shook her head, running a hand through the blonde waves of her hair in an attempt to stall herself, "I don't know. It's –" She huffed out an aggravated breath, "I know she doesn't like me if that counts, and after the entrance I did tonight, I have a feeling that she will hate me."

A smile, almost cunning and oddly understanding expanded herself on the woman's red lips before that answer, taking her aback if it wasn't for the next words that fell from them, "Hah, I must have missed that one," She breathed out in amusement, tipping her head back, "Maybe I will truly like you after all. Should I? It wasn't definitely in my bingo card."

What now?

"I'll probably decide it by the end of the night." The woman scrunched her nose, eyebrows raising in amusement.

Her frown took an edge of amusement at how odd that sounded before a chuckle escaped from her lips, and she gave a playful shrug, "I'll find you by midnight in that case."