“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?” I said.
Slowly, the voices died down, and faces turned to stare up at me at the front of the room. My eyes roamed the room, trying to pick out Heidi in the crowd.
“I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I just wanted to say thank you so much for all that you do for this company. Every single person in this room is integral to the development and continual progress of Wright Construction.”
A few people in the back clapped, and then everyone joined in, applauding their own accomplishments.
“Additionally, I wanted to make you all aware that, as of next week, Wright Construction will merge with the Tarman Corporation headquartered in Austin.”
There were loud whispers all around as everyone tried to figure out what that would mean for them.
“Wright Construction is purchasing the company to continue to grow and expand in and out of Texas.”
I was about to say something else when a figure appeared at the back of the room. It was as if a spotlight were being held over Emery’s body, revealing her to me. She looked stunning in a tightfitting black dress. And, for a moment, I was completely frozen in place. All thoughts of letting her leave for her own good disappeared. I was not going to let that woman walk away from me.
I could feel her eyes on me from across the room. She smirked like she fucking knew what she was doing to me. And it only made me want her more.
“Jensen,” Morgan muttered, nudging me.
“Um…yes. Right. More details regarding that will follow,” I said into the microphone. I’d completely lost my train of thought. “Now, more booze! Enjoy!”
I handed the microphone back to the DJ and turned to go find Emery, but Morgan blocked my way.
“More booze? Enjoy?” she asked in dismay. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Something else is on my mind.”
“Jensen, you didn’t even tell them that we weren’t downsizing here. You didn’t tell them what the merger meant or that we’d be getting new employees from Tarman.”
“Then, you tell them, Morgan,” I told her.
My eyes drifted over her head to try to find Emery again, but she was gone. It was as if she had come to me like a vision in that moment and had since disappeared.
“What?” Morgan asked, staggered. “You want me to address the crowd?”
“You’re a Wright, are you not? You know just as much about the merger as I do.”
“But, Jensen…” she whispered.
I smiled and bumped her shoulder. “I have faith in you.”
“Wait, where are you going?” she asked as I moved away from her.
“To make another mistake,” I told her before melting into the crowd.
Seventeen
Emery
Okay, so I’d made my grand appearance.
I’d felt like Drew Barrymore in Ever After, whispering to myself, “Just breathe,” when I entered the room. I’d caught Jensen’s eye. He’d stared at me, momentarily in shock. I’d basked in the glow of that attention. And then I’d promptly and completely lost my nerve, disappearing into the crowd by the bar with Heidi.
What am I even doing here?
He’d pushed me away. Twice.
It was no matter that he’d been texting me all week. His text messages had been nonsensical. Half-trying to convince me that leaving me was for the best and half-trying to convince me to give him another chance. I didn’t know which half he wanted me to believe. So, I just hadn’t responded. I was still hurt from the conversation we’d had at Death by Chocolate. I should have just stayed home. Actually, I should have probably already left.
What am I trying to prove by being here? That I can get his attention? Check.
I knew that I couldn’t ignore him if he approached me. That was why I had moved out of the spotlight as soon as I had. I might have had the strength to push him away that day after our date, but after a week of his messages, I was too curious to step back now. I wanted to know why he had been acting like this and whether or not the guy I’d had that first date with still existed somewhere in there.
A hand on my elbow made me jump. I whirled around and came face-to-face with Jensen Wright himself.
“Oh,” I said, feeling like an idiot.
“Oh?” he asked.
And then I stared at him because seeing him across the room had not done him justice. I never thought I would be the kind of girl who swooned at a guy in a tuxedo, but hot damn. Jensen Wright wore a tux like a second skin. It molded to him, and all the long, straight lines did things to his body that just weren’t possible in other clothing. Or maybe I was biased.
“It’s you,” I finally managed to get out.
“You do realize that this is an office party, right?” he asked. He arched an eyebrow, as if asking, What the hell are you doing here?
“I might have heard that somewhere.” I sank into my hip and let him get a good look at the black dress I’d gotten earlier this week.
“Last I checked, you didn’t work for me, Miss Robinson.”
“True,” I agreed, fluttering my eyelashes. “Are you going to kick me out?”
“I might let you stay…if you tell me what you’re doing here.”
I swallowed. I had no answer to that one. I’d come at Heidi’s request, but I knew that wasn’t the answer he was looking for, and it wasn’t even half of the real reason.
“I came to listen to your inspirational speech. More booze, Mr. Wright. Very motivational.”
He laughed unabashedly. It was deep and masculine and sincere.
“Thank you. Probably not my best speech, but I got a little distracted.”
“Oh, yeah?” I asked innocently. “What distracted you?”
“A beautiful woman walked in the door.”
“Oh,” I said with a shrug. “You must get distracted a lot then.”