Chapter 23

Kent

Over the last few weeks a lot had changed. I was spending a lot more time with my mom than I had before, and Emma had signed the contract. The night of the party of the year was here and I felt better about it than I thought I would have done. Not because the Japanese had finally signed a contract with the company, but because things were finally falling into place.

I had a party coordinator in place, and she was doing a fine job of keeping everything straight. My job was to socialize, keep an eye on things, and make sure everyone was laughing. I spotted a couple in the midst of an argument and went over to distract them.

"Paul, Anne, have you seen the new aquarium we've had installed in the reception area? It's spectacular." I knew the couple had met on a scuba diving trip and that they loved aquariums. It would also get them out of the public eye. It wasn't a rebuke, just an offer of privacy. There wouldn't be a soul in the reception area right now.