I try to force a pleasant smile on my face and concentrate on Jules’s words.
“We’d love to see if you’re interested in working directly with some of the kids who will benefit from your donation,” she continues. “We’re doing some wonderful mentoring programs with Boston University’s graduate program. We’ve been talking about taking that a step further and starting mentorships with people like yourself in the corporate world, really show the kids how the tools they’re learning from our standard programs actually fit out in the broader context. It’s good to show them that what they’re learning is practical and not just a bunch of fluff. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, of course,” I say, even as I think to myself that it is all just a bunch of fluff. But I’m here and I’m being pleasant.
“So it’d be okay if we reached out to you about the mentorship?”
Shit, what did I just agree to? I have to squash this immediately. “Jules, I love the programs you’re working on. Very innovative, really preparing the future entrepreneurs of America. My schedule is very tight—I had to move several meetings around in order to attend today’s luncheon, which I’m happy to do.”
Jules smiles and holds up her hand. “Say no more. I’m sorry, I just get rolling when I talk about the fund. Still, if there’s someone at Croft International—a little lower down the food chain—who would like to be a mentor to some of our kids, we’d be happy to set that up.”
“Of course,” I say amicably.
Jules looks around the room—maybe for more conversation since I’m not helping her out. I can be good at this sort of cocktail-party talk, but once again I’m off my game.
“Oh, look,” Jules says, spotting someone in the crowd. “It’s Emily. You know Emily—obviously you know Emily.” She grins. “She’s the reason you’re here, after all.”
“Excuse me?” I say, taken aback by her blatant assumption.
“Emily is the one who talked you into donating in the first place,” Jules reminds me, her brow creasing. “You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.”
My eyes dart around the room, searching her out. I spot her across the room, talking pleasantly to two ladies.
“How could I forget Emily Brown?” I say, watching her. It’s almost as if she can feel my eyes on her. She turns slightly and our eyes meet. We both freeze for a moment. I can feel my heart picking up speed. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in so long, and the urge to plow my way through the room to reach her is real.
She’s every inch as beautiful as she was at dinner, and in my fantasies. The hunter green cocktail dress she wears makes her eyes glow, and the way her lips are parted as she watches me, makes me swallow hard.
“I should call her over,” Jules says, raising her hand to get Emily’s attention, but Emily is already looking away from us.
She glances down at the floor as her hair falls in her face. She’s so pretty but…then someone appears beside her.
Some guy. When he puts his arm around her waist she jumps slightly but seems to relax when she sees who it is. I feel my chest tightening and my stomach burning like it’s filling with acid.
He says something to her that makes her smile. If I’d taken a glass of wine or water I’d crush it in my hand right now.
Jules is still babbling. “…Emily has really been working hard in bringing in new donors like yourself. She’s a real asset to the team…”
Meanwhile, Emily and this guy begin to move through the room, together. The anger is rising up through my throat as Jules goes on and on about Emily. Meanwhile I feel as though I’m about to explode, even if my expression hasn’t chanced an iota.
I glance at my watch and tell Jules, “You know, I’ll just pop over there quickly and say hello to her,” I tell Jules, not wanting to bother waiting for a second longer.
Emily is so close but she’s moving away now, perhaps on purpose.
I start toward her, politely nudging my way through the crowd with Jules close at my heels, damn her.
Emily sees me, and there’s a panicked look in her eyes. The closer I get to her the more quickly she moves toward the exit. I’ve got Jules following me and Emily has that guy stalking her.
What is his deal? Why won’t he leave her alone?
Emily moves out of the room and is absorbed by the crowd moving like cows into the ballroom. I slow down.
“That was strange,” Jules says. “I swore she saw us. Let’s head into the ballroom and find your table.” She waves off Emily. “We’ll catch up with her later.”