The Boss Project by Vi Keeland

I attempted to play dumb, raising my drink to my lips. “Who?”

“The woman in the red dress you haven’t been able to take your eyes off.”

I looked around as if I had to figure out who she was referring to. I may have oversold it. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

She smiled. “Mmm-hmm.” She pointed to Will and Evie. “Well, I guess you’re about to figure it out, seeing as she’s heading this way.”

Sure enough, Will and Evie were halfway across the room, walking straight toward us. Will still had that shit-eating grin stuck on his face.

“What’s up, boss?” He bounced heel to toe.

I offered a curt nod to each of them. “Will. Evie.”

“I don’t think we’ve met.” Erin extended a hand to Evie. “I’m Erin Foster. I run Home Start.”

Evie shook her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you. Will was just telling me all about your program on the way here. My mom was a victim of DV, and we relied on a lot of temporary housing over the years. Helping survivors find something permanent like you do, where they can plant roots, is so important.”

“Absolutely. Making people safe for the short term is understandably the priority of most DV nonprofits. But we focus on what comes after that. Abuse survivors who own their own homes are ninety-three percent more likely not to go back. So, our goal is to make it easier for women to buy homes by providing down-payment assistance and low-interest loans from partner banks.”

“That’s amazing. I’m not sure what I could do to help, but I’m available.”

“Are you a broker?”

Evie shook her head. “No, actually. I’m a therapist.”

“Oh my gosh. I need to introduce you to Genie. She runs a group that helps people make the transition to living alone in their new homes. I’m absolutely positive she needs you.”

Evie smiled. “Okay.”

Erin glanced at Will then me. “I hope you don’t mind if I steal her for a few minutes.”

We both shrugged, but it was Will who spoke. “Steal away.”

Erin looped her arm with Evie’s, and the two of them continued chatting as she guided her away. Will and I watched as they walked over to a group of women sitting at a table.

Will leaned toward me. “Tinkle tinkle tinkle.”

I looked at him like he had two heads. “What the fuck?”

“Just like my brother and his piss with the dog.” Will sipped his drink with a gloating smile.

I rolled my eyes.

“Not that I can blame you,” he said. “My date looks insanely hot tonight, doesn’t she?”

“Don’t be a dick.”

“Why am I a dick?”

I ignored him. “Why are you so late?”

His shit-eating grin spread so wide, it looked like his annoying face might crack. “Evie needed a little help getting into her dress.”

I scowled at him. Luckily, the emcee came over the speakers and asked everyone to please find their seat. We’d bought a twelve-seat table at the event, so I had no choice but to sit with Will. Four other people from Crawford Investments and their dates or spouses were already seated, so I made the rounds and said hello to everyone before sitting down. The spot between Will and me was empty when Evie walked over a few minutes later. I stood and pulled out her chair since her date was too busy flirting with a woman at the next table to even notice she’d returned.

“Thank you,” Evie said as I tucked her in.

The emcee took the stage, and for the next half hour, we listened to speeches about all of the things Home Start had been able to accomplish over the last year. Well, most of us listened. Will was too busy typing into his phone. I was reasonably certain, based on the glances being exchanged, that he was texting with the woman at the table next to us. Luckily, his date didn’t seem to notice. When the speeches finally concluded, they opened up the dance floor and said dinner would be served shortly.

Will wasted no time pulling back from the table and standing. “I’m going to dance.”

My jaw flexed, assuming he meant with the woman he’d brought tonight. But instead, he walked over to the table next to us and took the hand of the woman he’d been flirting with.

I frowned, but Evie at least pretended to be a good sport. She smiled as we watched Will make a spectacle of himself, twirling the woman around on the floor. When a second song started and Will pulled his partner close, it felt awkward, so I tried to distract Evie.

“I should have warned you about Erin. If you so much as look in her direction, the next thing you know she has you opening your wallet or working for her.”

“Oh, no. I’m happy to volunteer. Home Smart is an incredible organization. I really need something like that in my life.” Evie smiled. “Thank you for inviting me.”

I thought it was strange that she thanked me since I hadn’t been the one to invite her. But she probably assumed the company paid for all of the seats, which it had. “My grandmother is the one who told me about the program,” I said. “Some of the people she’s worked with got housing through Home Start.”

“Ah. I should’ve known Kitty was involved somehow.” She smiled. “I’m sorry I made us late. Will feels horrible about ripping my dress.”