Party Favors, page 1
PRAISE FOR SARIAH WILSON
The Hollywood Jinx
“Wilson nails the small-town setting, complete with nosy but well-meaning residents, and delivers a sweet happy ending. This is a treat.”
—Publishers Weekly
The Chemistry of Love
“Abundant pop culture references and nerdy quips only enhance . . . This is utterly adorable.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“In this adorable romantic comedy, the fake dating trope is taken to another level with banter and nerdy references Anna and Marco throw around. Adding to the fun, Anna’s grandparents and their pet birds will have readers in stitches. A fresh and fun romance from Wilson.”
—Library Journal
“The Chemistry of Love is full of funny moments . . . that will have readers cringing and laughing out loud in turns.”
—Bookreporter
Cinder-Nanny
“Diana and Griffin’s slow-burn closed-door passion is authentic.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Cinder-Nanny is a definite must-read. This cute play on the age-old fairy tale will surely worm its way into your heart and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy.”
—Harlequin Junkie
“Wilson’s ability to weave a sweet tale of two people, each of whom needs what the other has to offer, is magical.”
—Bookreporter
The Paid Bridesmaid
“Combining a fast-paced plot with a slow-burning romance, this is sure to give readers butterflies.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Wilson’s (Roommaid) funny, sweet stand-alone about marriage, friendships, and mistaken identities is full of witty dialogue, endearing characters, and fast-paced narrative. Will appeal to fans of feel-good romances, rom-coms, and plots about weddings and social media.”
—Library Journal
The Seat Filler
“Wilson (Roommaid) balances the quirky with the heartfelt in this adorable rom-com.”
—Publishers Weekly
The Friend Zone
“Wilson scores a touchdown with this engaging contemporary romance that delivers plenty of electric sexual chemistry and zingy banter while still being romantically sweet at its core.”
—Booklist
“Snappy banter, palpable sexual tension, and a lively sense of fun combine with deeply felt emotional issues in a sweet, upbeat romance that will appeal to both the YA and new adult markets.”
—Library Journal
The #Lovestruck Novels
“Wilson has mastered the art of creating a romance that manages to be both sexy and sweet, and her novel’s skillfully drawn characters, deliciously snarky sense of humor, and vividly evoked music-business settings add up to a supremely satisfying love story that will be music to romance readers’ ears.”
—Booklist (starred review), #Moonstruck
“Making excellent use of sassy banter, hilarious texts, and a breezy style, Wilson’s energetic story brims with sexual tension and takes readers on a musical road trip that will leave them smiling. Perfect as well for YA and new adult collections.”
—Library Journal, #Moonstruck
“#Starstruck is oh so funny! Sariah Wilson created an entertaining story with great banter that I didn’t want to put down. Ms. Wilson provided a diverse cast of characters in their friends and family. Fans of Sweet Cheeks by K. Bromberg and Ruthie Knox will enjoy #Starstruck.”
—Harlequin Junkie (4.5 stars), #Starstruck
OTHER TITLES BY SARIAH WILSON
Stand-Alone Novels
Hypnotized by Love
Almost Like Being in Love (novella)
The Hollywood Jinx
The Chemistry of Love
Cinder-Nanny
The Paid Bridesmaid
The Seat Filler
Roommaid
Once Upon a Time Travel
The End of the Line Novels
The Friend Zone
Just a Boyfriend
The #Lovestruck Novels
#Starstruck
#Moonstruck
#Awestruck
The Royals of Monterra Series
Royal Date
Royal Chase
Royal Games
Royal Design
The Ugly Stepsister Series
The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back
The Promposal
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Otherwise, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2024 by Sariah Wilson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Montlake, Seattle
www.apub.com
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781662514241 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 9781662514234 (digital)
Cover design by Caroline Teagle Johnson
Cover images: © surachet khamsuk / Shutterstock; © Liliia Hryshchenko / Shutterstock; © Karlygash / Shutterstock; © melissahelddesigns / Getty Images
For my mom—
thanks for being the best mother in the world
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
EPILOGUE
AUTHOR’S NOTE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CHAPTER ONE
“Everly, can you come in here?”
I’d been getting a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge for my boss and happened to pass by the door of our events director Claudia Delgado. She was at her desk, working on her computer.
I glanced down at the bottle in my hand. It was important to bring it straight from the fridge to Adrian because he somehow could detect if the water had warmed even slightly. While I knew that he might be upset about the delay, I did as she requested. “Is there something I can help you with?” I asked.
“Sit down,” she said, gesturing toward one of the chairs opposite her. She finished typing and then gave me her full attention. “I know I’ve only been here for a few months, but I wanted to let you know how impressed I am by the work you’re doing.”
“You mean the work Adrian’s doing,” I said, suddenly feeling a little anxious. Getting recognition always made me feel nervous.
“No, the work you’re doing. I know that it’s you from start to finish. You’re the one making the budgets, contacting the vendors, finding sponsors and event partners, taking care of the scheduling, overseeing all of the staff for the event, making sure everything goes off without a hitch. And it’s not just your organization and communication skills, impressive as they may be. I’ve watched you running events. You are in your element—you inspire confidence, and the clients trust that you’ll take care of them.”
My heart started beating even faster. I didn’t know why she was saying this. I didn’t see myself the way she was describing me. I’d never wanted to be in the spotlight or get a lot of attention. I mean, yes, I did want to get promoted. I’d been Adrian’s administrative assistant for the last four years, and now that I’d graduated from college, I was ready to become an official event planner for Elevated Events. I’d been ready for three years, wondering when it would be my turn. Every other administrative assistant who had worked for an events director had been promoted within a year.
Not me.
But I was happy to labor on the sidelines. If no one ever heard my ideas, that was okay, right?
I loved being Adrian’s assistant and I liked doing a good job for him. I didn’t mind that he got the credit. His success was my success, and vice versa.
Which meant that I wasn’t sure what to say to Claudia right now. She and Adrian were one step below the CEO, a man I’d met only once, right after I started, as he didn’t seem all that concerned with the day-to-day operations of Elevated and had never come into the office.
Claudia and Adrian were in charge. Adrian hadn’t been happy about Claudia being hir
Which made it so that I wasn’t sure how to respond to her or what she was getting at. I was so fiercely loyal to Adrian—so protective of him. I wouldn’t ever say anything bad about him.
I sat there silently, not knowing what I should say.
Claudia studied me, and it felt like she could read my mind. As if I were broadcasting my innermost thoughts onto my forehead.
“Tell me one thing you’d change about Elevated,” she said.
What? She had gone from seeming like she wanted me to take credit for the work both Adrian and I were doing, to tear him down, to now seeming . . . encouraging? “One thing?”
“Yes. I’m sure someone as talented and driven as you has a lot of ideas on how to move Elevated forward into the future, but I’d like to start with just one thing you’d change if you could.”
She was right about that—I had so many ideas on how I would improve things at the company and the way we did business. “I would take on new clients. I know that corporate clients have been very good to us, but I’ve never understood why we don’t take on individuals as clients. Why we don’t do luxury parties or showers or celebrity events.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve thought the same thing. I don’t understand the reluctance to broaden our market, either.”
I could almost hear Adrian’s voice in my head, going on about how it was better to focus our efforts on one type of clientele and that we didn’t need to go looking for new clients, especially not ones who would completely alter the kind of work we currently did.
There was a pang of guilt for my disloyalty that made me uneasy.
“Well, there are lots of reasons why—” I started, but she cut me off.
“If I bring in a potential client, an individual, would you be willing to ask Adrian if you could pitch?”
She was challenging me, and again I worried about her possible endgame here. It was true—I never participated in pitch sessions with clients. I was there, taking notes, but I always stayed quiet.
Even when I had good ideas of my own.
I glanced over at the bottle of water. Adrian was going to call me soon to ask what was taking so long. I had to get going, despite wanting to respond affirmatively and take that leap.
“Yes.”
And I didn’t know which one of us was more surprised by my answer. Me, because I had been intending to say no, or her, because I’d actually agreed to it.
Her face broke out in a huge smile. “Excellent. I think it’s long past time for you to be given the official title of event planner. I’ve scheduled this new client to come in two days from now, and I hope that you’ll be one of the people pitching an idea. I’ll forward you the email with all the relevant details.”
I nodded. “Thank you. I have to go. Adrian’s expecting me.”
At that, she pointedly glanced over at the large clock hanging on her wall. It was nearly nine o’clock at night and her own assistant had left hours ago.
But as long as Adrian was in the office, so was I. Just in case he needed something.
Like his favorite brand of water.
My roommate and best friend, Vella, kept trying to tell me that Adrian took advantage of me and that I should stand up to him and create professional boundaries, but she didn’t understand.
Neither did Claudia.
I wanted to be here with him.
There was a definite flash of pity in Claudia’s expression, and I ignored it as I headed back to my desk.
I rushed down the hallway, eager to escape to the comfort and familiarity of my own workspace. I was excited at the prospect of pitching while still feeling as if I’d betrayed Adrian somehow. I hadn’t corrected her about the work that I’d done, because she was right. It wasn’t Adrian who took care of all the major and minor details of the events—it was me. I was the woman behind the scenes who got everything done, and much as I hated being the center of attention, it felt good to be recognized for my hard work.
Would I be brave enough to ask Adrian to let me pitch? I’d hinted over the years about being promoted and becoming an event planner, but he always changed the subject.
And I hoped that it was because he couldn’t bear to lose me.
Not just because I was good at my job.
I sat down in my chair and wondered what Adrian would do if I marched into his office and asked for the opportunity to pitch the potential new client that Claudia had found. Would he be upset?
Supportive?
Change the subject without giving me an answer?
I didn’t know.
And that bothered me.
I took my cell phone out of my pocket, intending to open my email, and saw that I had a text from my mother.
DID YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF NICO AND KAT AND THEIR CHILDREN? SO, SO CUTE! MOM SEND
Nico and Kat were King Dominic and Queen Katerina of Monterra, but in my family we always referred to them as Nico and Kat. Like we knew them or something. I responded quickly.
Of course I did.
As if I didn’t have the same Google alerts set up as she did.
DO YOU THINK CHIARA IS GOING TO RELEASE AN EARLY SKETCH OF HER WEDDING DRESS? MOM SEND
I’d told her on numerous occasions that she didn’t have to sign her texts, that I knew they were from her, but she didn’t believe me. She also insisted on writing her texts in all caps, despite me explaining that it was the equivalent of yelling at someone, because she had decided it made it more likely that her texts would go through.
She also dismissed me when I told her that she didn’t have to write the word send and that just pushing the button made the text arrive on my phone.
She was a stubborn woman, and there was no point in arguing with her or trying to use reason.
My mother was texting me about Princess Chiara (Nico’s younger sister) because her wedding was set to take place in a couple of weeks, and because she loved fashion the most out of all of her royal siblings, we were expecting wedding-dress greatness.
I don’t know if Chiara will. She loves her privacy and I’m sure we’ll have to wait until the actual wedding to see.
I HOPE SHE WILL! MOM SEND
If there was one thing the women in my family loved, it was royal families. And we were especially obsessed with the royal family of Monterra. My grandma had started the whole thing, and while some families passed down silverware or noble titles, our love of royalty was what bonded us all together.
I remembered viewing Nico and Kat’s wedding on TV eight years ago. We’d all gotten up at four in the morning to watch. Kat McTaggart, an American girl, had met the crown prince of Monterra while on vacation in his country, a small kingdom situated between Switzerland and Italy. Nico was gorgeous and had the sexiest accent I’d ever heard, and I completely understood why Kat had fallen head over heels in love with him.
I was fourteen years old when they got married, and it was the most romantic thing I’d ever seen, a real-life fairy tale.
I’d been chasing that dream for myself ever since and had continually come up short. I wanted my own Nico but hadn’t been able to find anything even close.
ARE YOU STILL WORKING? MOM SEND
I made a disgruntled noise but didn’t respond. She’d be upset if I told her I was still at the office.
The intercom on my desk phone buzzed and I reached for the button. “Yes?”
“Everly?”
Adrian’s warm, rich voice came over the loudspeaker and I couldn’t help but smile. He had called me Beverly for the first three months after I started as his assistant, and there had been a period of time when I’d considered giving in and just letting that be my new name, but I’d resisted and gently corrected him each time.
And I was glad that I had, because I got a flutter of happiness each time he said my name.
“Everly? My water?” he said when I didn’t respond.
Oh, right. I’d totally forgotten. I rushed into his office and handed it to him. He was very handsome. I’d expected that at some point I’d become more accustomed to his appearance, that light blond hair and those deep, dark brown eyes.
He was my own personal Nico. Not that they looked anything alike—but Adrian Stone was the heir to one of the richest families in New York. Adrian was working at Elevated to learn the ropes so that someday he could take over all of his father’s businesses.
Adrian and his family were constantly showing up online, dressed to the nines, going from one fabulous event to another.
