Chapter 128 An Inspiration
“You wouldn’t keep bananas in the fridge for a whole month and expect them to be fresh,” said a man in dark-framed glasses who sat beside Emily, “so why would you keep coffee beans in the fridge?”
Emily loved coffee, but she didn’t need to know that much about how to prepare it ‘the perfect way’. The man just kept talking and talking. Just as she had expected, this business event was making her eyes glaze over with boredom.
Katie seemed to be loving the event. She wore a matching skirt and blazer combo, looking very professional, and excited by whatever she and Brandon were conversing about.
Emily’s neighbor to the left was a woman in her thirties or so, who seemed to have no sense of humor. The man in the glasses, whose name was either Morty or Monty and looked to be in his fifties or sixties, kept lecturing everyone on the proper way to make coffee. Then his wife, a skinny woman with a blond pixie cut, made the conversation even more boring by talking about credit card insurance.
Emily tried to focus on anything other than the conversation. She was after all dining in a splendid hall, and the food was crafted by master chefs.
“… and then I coordinated my entire closet by color,” the woman on Emily’s left was saying.
Emily found that mildly interesting. “Did you go by primary colors, or was it like a rainbow?” she asked.
“No,” the woman said, looking offended. “Black on one side and white on the other.”
“You could also try to alternate black and white,” the man in the glasses suggested.
“Have you tried to add some color to your wardrobe?” Emily asked.
“I couldn’t possibly,” said the woman, “It’s hard enough to be taken seriously in the business world as a woman. I’ve got to look like a serious and competent employee.”
Emily didn’t think that Byron would think any less of any female employees who wore color, but she didn’t want to argue.
“I wish I could just shoot one,” the man in glasses on the other side was saying. Emily tried to tune in to the conversation, curious who he was going to shoot.
“People just love otters because they think they’re sweet and cuddly,” his wife added, “But they’re not!”
This time Emily couldn’t hold back. “You want to shoot an otter?”
“Yeah, they’re not cute like you imagine,” said Morty, “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen real otters, but they’re nasty things, very aggressive.”
“I have seen them in California,” Emily said, “and they just float around minding their own business.”
“Well, they pooped all over my porch,” said Morty’s wife, “and their droppings are extremely disgusting. The smell!”
“They’re not doing it to annoy you.” Emily tried to appear calm in order for her argument to be convincing. “They’re wild animals who don’t know any better.”
She could not believe these people. It was a good thing otters were protected under the law because they had already come back once from near-extinction, and their populations were still not very stable.
Finally, the dinner part of the event was over, and everyone was free to walk around and mingle.
Emily met Katie by the punch bowl. She wanted to get the scoop on what happened with Brandon.
“How do you like the party?” Emily asked.
“It’s great! I’ve been talking with Brandon, and he’s a fabulous guy. He knows so much about stock volatility and how to spot growth investments.” Katie had a wide-eyed, excited look.
“Do I detect some romance in the air?” Emily asked in a playful tone.
“Maybe… He did ask for my number. And I think I like him.”
“That’s great!” Emily tried not to let her enthusiasm show too much.
“That other guy I met at your house party, though, Carter! He’s swoon-worthy. Wait a minute, you didn’t set me up with him, did you?”
“No, Katie, I wasn’t trying to set you up with anyone. Certainly not with Carter.”
“Why, don’t you think he’s cool?” Katie asked.
“Carter is my friend, but honestly, he doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to dating,” Emily said. “I think you can do so much better.”
Katie seemed to have selective hearing, as did many young people when told negative things about someone they had a crush on. “He’s into motorcycles and stuff. Can you teach me how to ride?”
Emily swished the punch around in the glass. “And have your parents kill me, in case they aren’t planning to already?”
“Oh, but I really like him. Although I really like Brandon now too… I’m in a dilemma.”
“It’s a fun dilemma to be in,” Emily said. She decided to relax and just be happy for Katie, who was obviously enjoying all the male attention and flirtation as a young woman should be. “You’re very smart, Katie. I have confidence that you’ll choose the right guy. Maybe try dating them both and see who you like better. Maybe it’s neither. The important thing is, you’re young, and you should enjoy it.”
“Wow, another inspiring speech from my wise mentor.” Katie hugged her, nearly making her too emotional. “I’m still your biggest fan, you know.”
Emily felt a genuine smile taking over her face, the kind of smile she hadn’t had all evening. “And I’m yours.”
