She left the office without saying another word. She knew it wouldn't do her any good and what was the point, anyway? They both knew she'd lost their little battle so she may as well walk out with her head high.
Jennifer went home and told Molly about the party, which had her niece ecstatic for the rest of the week. Her week also passed pleasantly. She got the entire building decorated, with a lot of extra help from other employees and felt joy when she walked in each day, listening to the Christmas Carols coming over the speakers.
The party snuck up on her before she knew it and she took her time getting ready. As she slipped the beautiful dress back on, she was amazed at how pretty it made her feel. She supposed the saying about clothes making the person had some merit, because she felt good in the gorgeous dress and stunning heals.
Molly looked adorable in the dress Jennifer bought her. It was a pretty blue color because her niece had insisted they have matching dresses. There was no way Jennifer would put her niece in a gown like the one she had on, but she'd found a similar color, satisfying Molly. She'd also been able to find sparkly shoes her niece instantly loved.
By the time the car came to pick them up, her nerves were stretched thin and she was unbelievably anxious. She was relieved when Trenton wasn't in the vehicle. It gave her extra time to compose herself before she had to face him.
Trenton was beyond irritated by the time he finally arrived at the party. He'd gotten held up with business and was over an hour late. He'd wanted to ride to the party with Jennifer, and wasn't happy about missing part of the evening in her company. He was finding more and more that he needed to be around her. He was learning to accept the fact.
He stepped into his uncle's large mansion and immediately went on a search to find her. He spotted her niece, Molly, without trouble, sitting with his cousins' children and Santa. Molly was receiving a lot of presents. Trenton had to smile, as his uncle certainly went overboard when it came to his grandkids, and if there were any extra children in the mix, the old man figured, the more the merrier. All of the children were getting gift after gift and were squealing in delight.
He searched the room for Jennifer and couldn't seem to spot her in the large crowd. He was about to go searching somewhere else when he heard her laugh and turned in that direction. He could pick her out of a crowd anytime, and as a sea of people parted and he finally spotted her, he felt a tight fist of jealousy knot deep inside him and for the first time in his life, he wanted to rip his brother's head from his shoulders.
He began stalking toward the two of them, who were as yet unaware of him, and there was murder in his eyes. He logically knew his brothers would never poach on his woman but he hadn't staked his claim on her yet, so as far as they knew she was available. He was about to make it more than clear she was indeed not available.
"Good evening, beautiful," he stated and took her in his arms, in front of everyone, and kissed her with so much hunger, she forgot where they were. Her arms wrapped around his neck drawing him closer and she moved her hips against his straining erection pushing against her stomach.
As suddenly as it started, Trenton pulled back, and she whimpered in her sexual haze, trying to draw him back to her. He was staring into her clouded eyes with a look of frustration on his face and she finally noticed the soft chuckle.
Jennifer looked in horror at the laughing face of George and she felt immediate heat suffuse her cheeks. She buried her head into Trenton's neck for a moment, trying to get herself together. She'd never kissed a man like that in a crowded room.
She heard conversations around her and braved another look. She wasn't reassured by the glances still coming their way.
"I guess someone just staked their claim," Max said with his brows raised.
"Damn right," Trenton said, not even trying to deny it in front of her.
"Excuse me, please," Jennifer said, pulling away from him and disappearing from the room. She found the bathroom and locked herself in. She didn't know which emotion she was feeling more at the moment, anger or embarrassment.
She was infuriated Trenton would decide it was his right to claim her, and then proceed to embarrass her in front of his family like that. They most likely thought she was a money hungry tart, which is what she always thought of women who slept with their bosses.
She wished she hadn't worn the sexy dress, feeling far too much skin was showing. She rinsed her face, reapplied her light make-up, then squared her shoulders, and walked back out. She would've loved to slip away but she couldn't do that to Molly, who was having a wonderful time.
She found no one was acting any differently toward her from how they'd been before the kiss so she started to relax, but she certainly avoided Trenton, though she felt his eyes on her no matter where she was. She'd certainly have words with him later about his high handed behavior but she wanted to enjoy herself at the Christmas party.