Flash

an opportunity to glance at the special edition of
Hard Currency
until nearly noon. When she finished reading it, she slapped it down on her desk and snatched up the telephone. Seething, she dialed the number on the bottom of the newsletter.
    "Andy Andrews here."
    Olivia drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair. "Where do you get off calling my Camelot Blue event a glow-in-the-dark arcade game?"
    "Come on, Olivia, where's your sense of humor?"
    "You ask me that after the way you stabbed me in the back?"
    "Readers remember the name of your firm better when it's in a humorous context," Andy assured her.
    "You've got absolutely no scientific proof of that." Olivia scanned the article a second time. "And what's this stuff at the end about Seattle's own Mr. and Ms. Sleuth?"
    "You can't blame me for working that into the piece. After all, you and Sloan were all over the front page because you nearly got yourselves murdered in that storage facility."
    "You're on thin ice here, Andy."
    "Well, as long as I haven't yet fallen through, I've got a favor to ask. In fact, I was just about to call you."
    "Don't hold your breath."
    "This is serious." Andy dropped his hearty, cajoling tone. "Any chance you can get me into the Dane Retrospective reception at the Kesgrove Museum tomorrow night?"
    "Give me one good reason."
    "I'll give you two reasons. I've given you two great mentions in
Hard Currency
recently."
    "This may come as a shock, Andy, but I haven't been real thrilled with having my events called Foil Town and a glow-in-the-dark arcade game."
    "You're a businesswoman. How about we do a deal?"
    "What kind of deal?" she asked suspiciously.
    "I'll give you advance notice of some information that I think you'll find interesting. In return, you get me into the reception."
    "What's your information?"
    "Word is, Crawford Lee Wilder is flying in to cover the Logan Dane Retrospective. He'll be at the reception."
    "Damn. Now my day is just perfect."
    "Have we got a bargain?" Andy asked.
    "Yeah, sure. Why not? I'll get you a ticket to the reception. After all, Light Fantastic isn't producing the event. You'll have to insult some other event firm in your next issue."
    It wasn't until after she hung up the phone that she realized she had just made her own decision to attend the reception.

28
    « ^ »
    I f the event had been anything other than a reception to launch the Logan Dane Retrospective, Olivia thought, she probably would have enjoyed herself. It was not often these days that she got an opportunity to be a guest at an affair staged by one of her competitors.
    A glossy crowd in formal black-tie attire filled the Northwest wing of the Kesgrove Museum. The marble floors echoed with the patter of a hundred pairs of high heels.
    Olivia conceded privately that Out of Sight Productions had done a fine job. The event firm had had the great good sense to let Logan's disturbing paintings provide the focal points of the evening.
    There was no glitter, no sparkle, no garish colors to compete with the dark brainstorms that splashed across the canvases. The only lighting in the room was that which focused on the pictures looming on the walls.
    The buffet tables were draped in stark black-and-white bunting. The serving staff wore severe white jackets and black trousers. Most of the guests had instinctively worn black and white.
    "Tasteful," Jasper said dryly.
    "In a word." Olivia smiled in spite of her edgy mood. "Not exactly a Light Fantastic type of event, is it?"
    "We all have our niches in the great ecosystem of the business world."
    "Very philosophical."
    "We CEOs are supposed to be able to grasp the big picture."
    "I try to bear that in mind, but for some reason I keep forgetting." She turned to him on impulse. "Thanks for coming with me tonight. I haven't exactly been looking forward to this. I appreciate the support."
    "Forget it." Jasper's eyes gleamed. "That's what partners are for."
    It occurred to Olivia that the word
partner
was beginning to grate on her nerves. But, then, everything grated on her nerves tonight. She would not be able to relax until the reception was over.
    "Take it easy," Jasper said, as if he could read her mind. "We can leave anytime you want."
    "Unfortunately, we just got here," Olivia muttered.
    "
Olivia
, you came."
    Olivia turned at the sound of her name and saw Nina. Her cousin was glowing. The happiness in her eyes was more than enough, Olivia decided, to repay her for coming to the reception.
    "I'm so