: Chapter 6

“Did you hear what I said?” Genesis asks, tugging on my arm.

“Hmm? What’s that? Sorry.” I clear my throat. “It’s loud in here.”

“It is,” she softly says. “But I can’t help think that you’ve been distracted all night.”

Because I have been.

I’ve been distracted by glimpses of a yellow dress sweeping through the crowd. A yellow dress that I can’t seem to get out of my head ever since I first caught sight of it this evening. A form-fitting creation that wraps around her waist but drapes down to her ankles, and the delicate straps that hold up her mouth-watering tits, and that slit . . . fuck. I’d lied. Kelsey had looked—looks—stunning in her dress. Why on earth I said otherwise . . . well, my fucking stupid defense mechanism.

Don’t say you like someone, because then you’ll never get hurt. Fucking idiotic.

But, yeah, I haven’t been paying attention to Genesis because someone else has completely captivated me. And I hate that.

Fuck do I hate that she has control over my head tonight.

After the “ground rules” she set, I chalked up any chances of becoming close with Kelsey to absolutely zero. And sure, did I assist in that zero percent chance? Of course I did, and I’m not going to pretend I didn’t. I use instigation as a defense technique, to guard myself. Kelsey is no exception.

She’s the first girl I’ve had more-than-one-night interest in. From the moment I met her in the conference room with Lottie, when they were pitching their organizing services, I felt the need to get closer to her. To find out who this strong-willed, intelligent, woman is, what makes her tick, what brings her joy . . . who brings her joy.

And I’ve tried everything you could think of to break down her walls.

I’ve attempted friendship, which was a complete shitshow.

I’ve tried flirting. I was knocked down a peg or two rather quickly.

I tried sarcasm, wit, and well . . . that didn’t go over well either.

On the date, I reverted to my last resort, poking her with annoyance. I think we all know how that ended up—a follow-up the next day with ground rules on how to stay the hell away from her. Instruction received.

I’m not one to push against the tide, I know when I’m simply wasting my time, so when I met Genesis at a meeting at Mecca Tech and we got on well, I didn’t hesitate to give dating a shot. She’s smart and beautiful, and we seem compatible.

When Kelsey’s working at Cane Enterprises, I’ve behaved professionally, kept my eyes down unless asked a direct question, my heart guarded, and avoided inhaling Kelsey’s flirty perfume.

It’s worked.

All of it.

Until she walked down those stairs tonight.

Until her hand landed in mine when she exited the van.

Until I helped her into the back entrance of the estate and caught a rare glimpse of her vulnerability, something she keeps very well hidden.

Now, I’m a desperate, needy asshole all over again.

“Sorry, Genesis,” I say softly. “Work events are always stressful. Even though it’s supposed to be a fun night out, I still have eyes on me at any given time.” Very true—I’m always stiffer at work events.

Cane Enterprises is always under scrutiny because of how powerful we’ve become. Our competitors would like nothing more than to see us crumble and fall.

“I can totally understand that. The pressure of being one of few female vice presidents in the tech world is intense. Feels the same way, everyone is waiting for me to make a mistake.”

“Sorry for interrupting,” a waiter says, coming to stand before us. “But they’re calling everyone to their assigned seats as dinner is about to begin.”

“Of course.” I nod at the man and then offer my arm to Genesis. She takes it and together we walk into the ballroom of the estate.

The room is bustling with Beverly Hills elites dressed in their finest. From Tom Ford suits to obscure designer gowns, the glitter and the glam of the evening almost overshadow the cause, the reason why we’re here. Typical for most events in this part of town. You pay a fee to attend, and then the rest of the night, business is conducted, gossip is spread, and deals are made with a discreet handshake.

But not this event. It’s one of the reasons why my brothers and I attend. Right after dinner, they remind guests why we’re all here by showing a very poignant video. A video about where your money is going, whom you’re helping, and why it’s so important. You not only leave feeling fulfilled, but you leave educated and with a slightly lighter wallet.

After receiving our table number from the door attendant, we weave through the golden ballroom, which is decked out with low-hanging chandeliers over every long, rectangular table. Each table is decorated with low-profile, lush centerpieces of white lilies, complete place settings, and gold serviettes that match the gold in the room and the golden swirls in the cream tablecloths. An exquisite, intimate dinner that provides the opportunity for attendees to communicate easily across the table.

“What table are we again?” Genesis asks.

“Table two,” I answer. “It’ll be up front. They always stick us up front.”

We’re stopped by a few attendees who shake my hand. I introduce Genesis, she hands out her card, and when we finally make it to our table, I’m ready to drop the smile for a second and just breathe.

That’s until I see that the only place setting available is directly across from Kelsey and her date.

Fucking great.

I scan the table, and when I see a smirking Breaker glance up at me, I wonder how much of this seating arrangement was because of him.

“Seems like we’re right over here.” I direct Genesis to the table and pull out her seat for her.

For a brief second, my eyes connect with Kelsey’s, but she quickly looks away and adjusts the silverware in front of her. Well, seems like the moment we had at the back entrance is gone. Probably better off since she’s with her—wait, is that her date?

A gangly man with glasses and frumpy hair is perched next to her, fidgeting, and pushing up his glasses every few seconds. He looks very out of place, rather uncomfortable, and his ill-fitted suit practically swallows his neck in his seated position.

This is Edwin?

This is the guy Kelsey has been seeing?

I think I know enough about Kelsey to know this guy—just from appearance, yeah, I’m judging—is an absolute dud.

“Genesis?” Edwin says as his eyes connect with my date.

Genesis glances across the table as I take a seat and then audibly gasps. “Edwin, oh my gosh. Wow, how are you?”

Kelsey and I exchange confused glances.

“You two know each other?” I ask Genesis, who’s now leaning over the table to reach out and take Edwin’s hand. He grips it tightly.

“I’m great,” Edwin responds, both of them ignoring me. “You look . . . wow, you look stunning.”

I catch Kelsey’s reaction to the compliment. A turned-down brow and an insecure look in her expression. What’s that about? Surely she knows she’s gorgeous.

“Thank you. You’ve grown out your hair. I always thought you looked exceedingly handsome with longer hair.”

I clear my throat rather loudly and repeat my question. “You two know each other?”

“Oh, sorry, yes.” Genesis releases Edwin’s hand and turns toward me. “Edwin and I attended UCLA together. We were in the same study group all four years. We spent many late nights studying together.”

“Remember that one night in the library when we snuck ice cream in our backpacks?”

Genesis laughs. “For how smart we are, that was really dumb. There was ice cream all over our books.”

“How were we supposed to know we were going to be stopped by Professor Harkin for half an hour?”

Genesis chuckles. “I can still remember the look on your face when you pulled your notebook out of your backpack, drenched in strawberry shortcake ice cream.”

“Thank goodness you were a better notetaker than I was so I could copy your every page.”

“Well, anything for you, Edwin.” She winks, and I can feel my irritation start to climb. “What are you doing here in LA? I thought you were up in San Jose?”

“I was, but three months ago, I moved down here to be closer to family.”

“Edwin, you should’ve called me.”

He blushes, actually freaking blushes. “I wasn’t sure you’d want me to call you.”

“Are you kidding me? Of course, I would’ve wanted you to call me.” And then, they fall silent as they stare at each other from across the table.

Sparks fly.

Just like that, the air is thick with an intimate history.

And I can honestly say, without a doubt, this doesn’t look good for me or Kelsey.

“OH MY GOSH, I completely forgot about that,” Genesis says, cutting her salad into more manageable bites. “The baseball team had no idea you could actually hit a ball, let alone off their best pitcher.”

The now very lively Edwin dusts off his shoulders. “Sometimes the nerd can play a little sport too.”

“And get the ladies,” Genesis says with a wink.

Kelsey pushes her salad to the side while I dab my mouth with my napkin, not sure how to contribute to this conversation.

All I can think of is how athletes usually don’t use the phrase “play a little sport.”

“WOW, I am so impressed with you right now, Edwin.” Genesis smiles brightly.

“Impressed with me?” Edwin says, pointing the tip of his fork at his chest. “You’re the one who’s the vice president of Mecca Tech.”

Genesis waves him off. “But you’ve changed the medical field in the best way possible.”

“What did you do?” Kelsey asks, attempting to butt into the conversation. But like every other attempt, she’s brushed off.

“I thought about you, the night I got my award,” Edwin says. “I considered calling you.”

“You should have. I would’ve answered in a flash.”

A flash, huh?

Well, she takes at least a few hours to answer my text messages.

Not sure why I divulged that deprecating information, but there you have it. Clearly, I’m not as important as Edwin.

I TAKE A VERY large bite of my dessert as Genesis laughs so loud I feel like stuffing her half-eaten piece of bread into my ear to drown out the noise.

“The pants are in the oven, oh my God.” Genesis waves her hand in front of her face, warding off her tears of laughter.

The joke isn’t that funny.

The pants are in the oven being the punchline . . . honestly, I don’t even get it.

And from the looks of it, neither does Kelsey, who’s mindlessly sipping her water, looking around the ballroom.

“I knew you’d like that one,” Edwin says. “You’ve always had a great sense of humor.”

“You always know how to make me laugh,” she replies.

Jesus Christ.

Barf.

“WAIT, so Christie and Matt broke up?” Genesis asks. “I thought they were meant to be together forever.”

Clearly, they weren’t.

“Christie was cheating on Matt,” Edwin says.

Ooh, now . . . this is some juice I can get on board with. Let’s dive into the specifics.

“What?” Genesis asks. “But she told me Matt was the best she’d ever had.”

“It was with her strength coach,” Edwin says.

“Wait . . . Strength with Sven? Him?” Genesis asks. When Edwin nods, she slaps the table.

“Have you seen his Instagram? He has a ‘fans only’ page.”

Which could probably mean one thing: poor Matt’s penis was eclipsed by Sven’s most likely mammoth of a cannon.

I’m not particularly thrilled about being ignored this entire night, but the gossip about Matt and Christie has at least captured my interest for a second. Don’t know the people, but their adultery gossip is more entertaining than Edwin’s lackluster jokes.

Doesn’t seem like everyone is as keen on the Matt-and-Christie drama though. When I glance over at Kelsey, I spot her leaning on the table, her chin in her hand, looking wearier than ever. I’m trying not to let this girl get in my head again, but I actually feel bad for her, seeing her so bored.

Seems like there’s only one solution to this unconventional evening, one solution that will make this situation slightly more bearable . . .

“WHY ON EARTH would you switch seats with Edwin?” Kelsey asks through clenched teeth. Not sure I’ve ever seen a woman so perfectly poised and ballistically heated at the same time.

Well . . . I thought this was going to be a good idea. Once again, I’m proven wrong.

“I switched with Edwin so at least we didn’t have to hear about the old UCLA days anymore,” I answer while leaning back in my chair and staring around the ballroom.

The presentation about the Children’s Hospital just ended, and for a second, I thought that was going to be our out, that once the lights turned back on, I would be able to sneak Genesis away and bring her attention back to me. Once the presentation was done, however, Edwin leaned across the table and started rambling on about the coffee shop they used to go to all the time.

Fucking boring shit.

I couldn’t sit through it anymore, so I switched seats with him, which he gladly jumped on. And now that I’m sitting next to Kelsey, I’m wondering if that was a good idea after all and if I shouldn’t have just stuck out the monotony of traveling down memory lane with Genesis and Edwin.

Didn’t anyone ever teach them ignoring their dates is just fucking rude?

But, no, now I’m stuck with a prickly, unappreciative woman who barely looks my way.

Here I was, trying to be a Good Samaritan, help a damsel in boiling distress and come to her rescue, maybe give her someone to talk to, but clearly, she’d rather stare off into the distance and listen to a reminiscing Edwin than talk to me.

If I were a better man, I’d sit in silence with her.

But I think at this point, we all know I’m not going to allow that attitude to slide.

Leaning in close to Kelsey, I whisper, “Do you actually like that guy?”

The chill, ice-queen façade around her warms—only slightly—as she shrugs and casually examines her nude, manicured nails. “I thought he was nice.”

“Is that what you’re looking for? Nice?”

“I’m not looking for an asshole, if that’s what you’re asking,” she says while giving me a once-over.

“Are you calling me an asshole?”

“If the shoe fits, JP.”

I lean in so only she can hear me when I say, “The shoe absolutely does not fit. If you actually got to know me, you’d see that I’m more than what you assume of me.”

“I don’t agree. You can’t seem to take anything seriously, which I think is obnoxious, you’re messy, something I abhor, and you see the glass as half empty, rather than half full.” She crosses one leg over the other and rests her hands on her lap.

Well, isn’t she just a fucking ball of fun?

“I see,” I answer. Not the definition of an asshole, but it would probably be asshole-ish for me to point that out.

She has me all wrong. Sure, my desk is messy, but that’s the way I fucking like it. And I might be obnoxious, but I can’t help the way I seek attention. It’s in my bones and I shouldn’t be chastised for that. And the glass half empty? That’s called being a realist.

I’m not going to parade around thinking the world is made up of puppy-and-kitty parties where fanciful Parisian desserts are served and romantic comedies blast on repeat as background music.

Sorry.

I’ve been through too much shit growing up, being sucked into a profession I never asked for and ending up stuck with no way out, to sit here and say, yes . . . I’m living a glass-half-full life.

I might have money, but what they say is true—money can’t buy happiness, and that’s the most honest thing I’ve ever heard.

I’m not sure how she developed such a low opinion of me, but it seems to have stuck with her.

Okay, I know . . . I know, I was kind of a dick on our surprise date, but what was I supposed to do, sit back and let her act like it’s the worst thing ever that she was paired with me? A guy has to save his dignity somehow.

Just then, Edwin stands from his chair and takes Genesis’s hand in his. Turning to Kelsey, he asks, “Would it be all right if I took Genesis out for a spin on the dance floor?”

Hell, the fucking balls on this man.

Here I thought he was a bit cowardly with a penchant to touch his glasses every six seconds, but then he goes and pulls this stunt. Takes a massive amount of douchery to do something like this. I didn’t know he had it in him.

“Of course.” Kelsey kindly smiles, but that smile is quickly wiped away when the happy “couple” turn away and head to the dance floor.

“Oof, that has got to sting,” I say.

“Uh, he stole your date, so I’m not the only loser here.”

I shrug. “I wasn’t too attached to her. Honestly, I just brought her because my brothers said I should have a date.”

“Then how come Breaker didn’t bring anyone?”

I glance over at my single brother, who’s entertaining a circle of women. “Because he’s able to pass off the appearance that he’s with someone, when really he isn’t. Younger brother showmanship type of stuff.”

She folds her arms over her chest and says, “This night is stupid.”

“Tell me how you really feel.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Why not?” I ask. “We’re both here, have been ditched by our dates. Might as well delight in each other’s company.”

“There’s nothing delightful about your company.”

Jesus, she’s snappy. Good comeback, though. Got to give credit where credit’s due.

“So, what was so delightful about Edwin’s company? Before he lit up with an onslaught of memories, he seemed like a bit of a bore.”

“He wasn’t boring,” Kelsey says. “Just different.”

“Different? How so?”

Warming up a bit more, she answers, “Well, he likes birds, and I found that fascinating. Not the bird facts, that actually was a bit rough at times, but that he was so in tune with nature that he could recognize specific bird chirps of each species.”

“Is that how he lured you into his bed? Chirping and flapping his arms?”

Kelsey’s eyes dart to mine in a deathly stare. “For your information, we never went to bed together. Just a kiss. And he’s not a geek who speaks bird to unhook a bra. He just likes to tell stories.”

“Gathered that from the mundane conversation he shared over the table.”

“As if Genesis was any better,” Kelsey snaps. “What did you even see in her?”

“Stature,” I answer honestly.

“Eww, that’s repulsive.”

“At least I was with someone for a purpose. You were with Edwin because you were desperate.”

She gasps and now fully turns toward me. “I was not desperate. I’m trying to find my soulmate, you know, someone to fall in love with, not that you could ever relate to that kind of emotion with that cold, lifeless heart of yours.”

I press my hand to my chest and say, “Lifeless, not so much. There’s quite a steady pulse beating through my soulless veins. Cold, though, now that’s an accurate description.” When she turns away, I push her a little more and ask, “What did he think of your dress?”

She glances at me over her bare shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“When Edwin saw you tonight, did he wax poetic about how you reminded him of his favorite chickadee perched amongst a field of flowers?”

“He did not.” She lifts her chin.

“Okay, so then what did he say?”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because you say you’re looking for love. A simple reaction to your appearance tonight would warrant you an answer on where he stands with you. What did he say? A simple you’re beautiful? Maybe a shy . . . wow?”

Her clenched jaw works back and forth as she stares at the dance floor. “He said I was wearing a nice colored dress.”

“And?” I ask.

“That was it.” She picks up her glass of water and takes a sip.

“Wait, that’s all he said? That you had on a nice colored dress?”

She carefully sets down her glass and I can see her bitter movements, the way she clenches her fists, and the longing in her eyes as she stares at each couple on the dance floor.

I don’t know how long she took to get ready tonight.

I can’t imagine what she went through picking out the perfect dress.

Nor could I imagine the excitement she felt about her date seeing her—because she’s a vision.

But I’ve watched Kelsey for several months now, and I know when she’s annoyed, and probably when she’s hurt. So I’m sure about one thing—the time she spent getting ready for tonight was enough time to warrant a better reaction than nice colored dress. And it makes me feel even shittier for telling her I’d seen better. Shit.