Now he was paying the price—contracts had to be revaluated, shareholders placated, and meetings had to be rescheduled. If any of those didn’t happen, then MI could start down a slippery slope of no return. Thousands would lose their jobs, and he would only have himself to blame.
God, he’d been foolish to allow her to disrupt his life like that. He wouldn’t let it happen again. He refused. If and when Hannah visited Charlotte, nothing would change for him. He would continue as he always had, putting Montgomery Industry first.
*
After twelve straight hours at the office, Drew came home to a rather large party at his downtown apartment. Music played in the background, and waiters carried silver trays piled with hors d’oeuvres as partygoers mingled and talked.
Dropping his bag on the floor, he muttered, “When in the hell did I plan this?”
“You didn’t,” Ella said, appearing out of nowhere. “That man did. You weren’t supposed to be back until tomorrow.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To keep an eye on your place,” she said, and then took a deep breath. “About the other day, I might have given you the wrong impression.”
“You’re a consummate professional, Ella. I don’t know how well my professional life would run without you to direct it,” he said, heading off the inevitable apology. “However, if I’ve given you the wrong impression, at any time, then I’m sorry. I value you as an employee.”
Ella stared at him for a moment, and then said, “Thank you.” She placed her empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray. “I’ll head out now.”
“You’re welcome to stay.” And now that he was refocused, he could enjoy himself as well.
She eyed the room. “Not my kind of scene.”
“Good night.”
“Night.”
“But the party’s just starting, love. Come back,” Blake said, nearly sloshing wine over his glass. “Who else will glower at me all night?”
Ella arched a brow. “I’m sure if you give enough people the chance to get to know you, then they’ll do more than glower.”
“Feisty.” He winked at her.
Drew bit back a groan. “Leave her alone, York.”
“Right. Wouldn’t want to see Ms. Simpson get unruffled,” Blake said.
“While I would love to see someone muzzle you,” she snapped.
“That’s later, darling. Once everyone’s gone to bed.”
Ella didn’t say another word. Instead, she pivoted and left Drew’s apartment.
“Why do you needle her like that?” he asked.
Blake smirked. “Because she likes it.”
“You’re drunk, and she hates it.”
Blake’s smirk gave way to a frown. “I know, mate. I can’t please the woman, no matter what I do. I’m nice; she’s icy. I’m an arse, and she’s fiery.”
“You’re insane and a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
“I would never harm her. Never,” Blake said flatly. “While I’m keen on teasing her, I don’t take things too far.”
“I don’t think Ella sees it that way.”
“Perhaps we can have a conference about it, have her come into the room, and—”
“Look, I get that the two of you have some kind of weird thing going on, but you will stop treating her disrespectfully.”
“I would like the same promise from her.”
“You’ll get it.”
Blake clapped him on the back. “Come in, come in. Take a load off. You look great, by the way. Your wife must be very agreeable.”
“She’s herself.”
“Shall we leave, or am I fired for the party?”
“A couple of hours won’t hurt.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Andrew Montgomery?” Blake asked, his eyes narrowing in on his face.
“Still me.” He motioned to a waiter. “Beer, please.”
“Your ex came.”
“Ask her to leave.” He had no desire to deal with Alexis.
“No worries. You go enjoy yourself, and I’ll take care of everything.”
Over the next few hours, he mingled, talked, ate, and drank. He did every thing a good host should—except when he asked Alexis to leave when she tried to hit on him. But the party was wearing on him.
Without Hannah, everything and everyone seemed pointless. He wanted her by his side. He looked around at the couples, at the way they stood beside each other, held hands, and whispered into one another’s ears.
That was what he was missing. Maybe he’d been too hasty coming back. Maybe he could—
He’d lost his damn mind. He’d had his vacation with Hannah. Now it was time to focus on work, he reminded himself. To refocus on running MI. Hadn’t he married her for that very right? Last week, he’d been in a crisis of sorts. Today, he’d gone to work and put things back to right.