"Actually, it's not so much a coincidence as I'm meeting someone here," I said. I felt a strong pull towards Corsica and wanted nothing to do with the cloying heiress. "Nice to see you, though."
"Nice to see me?" Alicia said, her smile fading to a ghost. "We used to run into each other and spend the next five days together. Remember when we started with dinner and ended in Moscow?"
"Probably not as well as I should," I admitted. "I'd love to relive old times, but I am actually meeting someone."
Alicia's eyes turned shrewd. "So am I. You might have heard of him-Steven Mayer."
I stopped and turned around on the top step. "The sports clothes designer? That Steven Mayer?"
"Yes," her smile curved in calculation. "Haven't you been trying to meet him these last few months?"
"He's been busy," I frowned. I didn't want to, but I took a step down towards Alicia. "I didn't know he was going to be in California."
Alicia tossed her silky hair. "He changed his mind when I mentioned the fun we had at last year's celebrity golf tournament. We're having drinks before he settles into his hotel."
It was a very attractive net that Alicia spread, but I didn't want to get caught up in it. Alicia was very wealthy and very beautiful, so she was used to people bending to suit her. I'd tried it before, believing that she was worth it.
For my effort, I had been scrutinized and critiqued. When I didn't adjust my looks or my life to fit the perfect picture in her head, Alicia had shown her spoiled side. It was all my fault, of course, but our unrealized romance never got off the ground. Too bad she couldn't leave it alone.
I took a deep breath and pictured Corsica up on stage. Just the thought had my chest pumping. "Let Steven know I say hi. If he's free, I'd love to sit down with him for a few minutes."
Alicia tittered and wrapped an arm hard around mine. "Darling, that's the whole idea. He's free right now for drinks. I told him I might invite a few friends. Though," her gaze swept over me, "you might want to get cleaned up."
"Where are you meeting him?" I fought the words, but I had to ask.
"Here," Alicia said. "I was just running out to my car because I forgot my phone. He'll be here any minute. Come on, we'll get settled at the table and order the first round."
I didn't have time to answer because a black town car swept into the driveway. Before the driver could reach the back door, Steven Mayer swung it open himself and climbed out. "Alicia, you look more beautiful here than in Paris. How is that possible?"
Alicia laughed. "Steven, darling, I'm so glad you could make it. I know it seems set-up, but I literally just this moment ran into Penn here on the steps. Penn, you remember Steven Mayer?"
I appreciated her perfect set up, but it still bothered me. The voice that boomed from my chest sounded more like my father than me. "Steven, nice to see you on the West Coast. I've been watching your clothing lines sneak into the bigger stores all summer."
"Penn Templeton," Steven slapped me on the back. "I hope you don't think I've been avoiding you. I've been trying to grow the new lines slowly and not oversell the market. Now that I think they've got a solid market, I'd be ready to hear some of your ideas for crossovers."
I had the words ready and rehearsed. The short speech was the perfect blend of compliments, challenges, and suggestions for how our two companies could forge a mutually beneficial relationship. I listened to myself as if from a distance. The pandering was enough to make me sick, but I kept telling myself the deal was worth it.
Until I saw Corsica. She stood under the awning outside the lounge and pretended she couldn't hear us. The dazzling smile that signified the success of her audition faded as she heard my practiced spiel. I was practically begging him to work with me. Corsica already thought I was the black sheep, but now she thought I was squeezing cash out of my rich connections.
"Penn?" Alicia tightened her grip on my arm. "Why don't you let us get settled before you talk any more business? I have a table waiting for us in the lounge."
She started to pull me towards the awning, then stopped when she saw Corsica.
"I'd love to hear more, Penn," Steven said with an indulgent smile. "As long as Alicia can put up with a little shop talk."
Alicia tossed her hair and laughed again. "I don't mind a bit. Penn has great ideas that I'm sure you'll like and then we can all celebrate."
I watched as Corsica slipped away and her shoulders were stiff. I felt the same stiffness steal over my body, the weight of the perfect payback. Here I had been making fun of Corsica for wanting to spend her life scrambling around after the rich and she had just seen me doing the exact same thing.
It was no use leaving to chase her. I refused any more than one drink. That turned out to be a good idea because Steven was much more open to working with me when he knew I was going to leave him alone with Alicia. We made plans to finalize our business and I took off as quickly as I could. I got the bonus of trying out the new bike headlights on the way home and made it to the house just as the sun finished setting.
I was just in time to see two people walk out the front door, hand in hand, and stroll down the path to the beach. I squinted in the pinkish light and realized it was not my father and mother, but a younger couple. Then I saw Corsica's curls waving in the wind, and I marched down the path after them.
"I can't believe you drove here just to see me," Corsica said. Her voice was soft and breathless. "That's so sweet, Joshua."
My fingers clenched into a fist as Joshua intertwined his hands with Corsica's. "What can I say? I've been missing you. It was totally unfair of me to expect you to graduate and jump right into everything. I mean, I've had a year since I graduated and I remember what it was like at the start."
Corsica let him tug her closer. "I'm still figuring everything out. There have been some amazing opportunities that have come up, and I don't want to choose something I'll later regret."
"Like missing out on the Ritz-Carlton job?" Joshua asked.
"Actually-"
"Corsica, please, I'm just thinking of what's best for you."
I couldn't stand it anymore and marched over the sand dune so they noticed me. "Hey! There you are. How was the audition?" I called out.
Corsica jumped and loosened her fingers from Joshua's grip. "It went really well, thank you. I got the gig."
Joshua frowned. "Gig?"
"Don't say it like it's a dirty word," Corsica said. "I'm going to sing with a jazz trio at a very nice resort."
"Singing? Again, Corsica?" Joshua looked at me and crossed his arms. His distasteful look made it clear he blamed it all on me.
I answered his accusation by lifting Corsica up into a spinning hug. "Congratulations! I knew it was more than just a hobby. And, I think it'll suit you more than licking boots at some snooty hotel."
Joshua tugged down the front of his jacket. "There's a big difference between a gig and a career. I know you obviously don't want to hear my advice, but I seriously think you should reconsider. Get your job and your finances all squared away, and then you can pursue anything you want without ruining your life."