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her.
    “See, we just added a bit in here for the color,” Miko says, pointing to something on the page.
    “And the cymbidiums?” Selah asks.
    “Overkill I think,” Miko says decisively.
    Selah considers the page again. “Agreed,” she says finally, then looks up at the Gnome again. “You’ve made her aware of the changes.” It’s not really a question.
    “Yes, she’s excited about this direction,” the Gnome responds.
    “She’s excited about the dissolution of her design scheme three days before her event?” Selah raises her voice.
    Miko interrupts again, waving a hand through the air in a staying motion. “She is. We showed her the new design, and I mentioned that I haven’t incorporated this combination into a piece before. She’s thrilled to set the trend.”
    The Gnome looks relieved at not having to answer. Selah looks irate, kind of like the angry cat on Miko’s shirt.
    “Well done, Jin,” Selah finally says begrudgingly, and Miko walks back to her chair without acknowledging the praise. More than a few people throw pointed looks at the little designer as she takes her seat, but she either doesn’t know or doesn’t care. Miko’s clearly a Selah-favorite whether she wants the title or not.
    “The Riverton party is new, but since it’s moving so quickly I suggest we discuss it next,” Quade says.
    “About the venue—” Selah begins, but McKenna interrupts, suddenly overeager.
    “I was able to secure Milk Studios. I had to beg to get them to release the date, but JJ owes me a favor and—”
    “And who approved that?” Selah’s sharp tone ricochets off the windows behind me, and the already-quiet room grows ominously more so.
    Holy crap.
    “You asked me to get—” McKenna tries.
    “Absolutely not! The brand asked for something exclusive and fresh, and Milk is so overdone it’s nearly pedestrian.” Selah attacks with far more venom than seems necessary. “In fact, last time I checked it was my name on the wall. So maybe you can explain why decisions are being made about my company without my input.”
    “It must have been a miscommunication,” McKenna says quietly. “When you asked me to book it I—”
    “Tell me you weren’t idiot enough to confirm!” she hisses.
    It takes everything I have not to cower down in the seat alongside McKenna, who looks like a beaten puppy.
    “I did, but I’m sure I can—” McKenna tries.
    “Oh, you will. It’s not my job to correct your mistakes. I’m not even sure why I’m having this conversation with a second assistant .”
    She says his title the same way she called me “ thisgirl,”andeven though he’s a jerk, I feel so badly for McKenna. The entire room is looking anywhere but his direction.
    “The party will be at Twenty-Five.” Selah announces it like a proclamation.
    All around me murmurs rise up in a swirl, praising her decision.
    “Gorgeous space,” someone says.
    “Go there all the time—”
    “Love the vibe.”
    “Oh, it’s sexy and masculine, a great departure from other Riverton parties.” I’m surprised to hear McKenna agree loudest of all.
    I can’t believe he can even find his voice after she just ripped him a new one in front of everybody. But apparently he rebounds quickly, because as she starts to describe her vision for the party, he nods along emphatically like a church lady listening to a testimony. I half-expect him to throw out an “Amen!” when she starts talking about the celebrity DJ she has in mind. I don’t know how she’s gone from flirtatious to complimentary to ruthless in the span of one meeting, or how her staff has learned to keep up.
    My gaze slides tentatively down the table to Miko, and at my wide-eyed stare she mouths the exact words I’m thinking.
    Pod-people.

Chapter FOUR
    After the uncomfortable meeting we make our way back to the office in silence. If it were me, I’d be railing to anyone who would listen about my nightmare boss or crying in a stairwell somewhere, but