Ed wasn’t in on the secret about Emma. No one but Jane and his secretary knew the truth. They were the only people he trusted with this, because he paid them enough to stay quiet. His success was their success.
“So you’re the one who has Jackson leaving the office early,” Ed replied, smiling at them both warmly. “I must say, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you,” she replied. Her grip on Jackson’s arm lessened a fraction.
“Don’t be scared of the guests here,” Ed advised. “They all bark, but none of them bite. If anything, they’ll be curious how you managed to keep him this long. I must say I am curious myself.”
“Emma is amazing,” Jackson replied for her. “She’s smart and funny and obviously beautiful. What isn’t to love?”
“Love, huh?” Ed didn’t look completely convinced, but he shrugged and smiled anyway. “Speaking of love, have you met my wife? She’d love to meet you.”
Emma looked over at Jackson, her eyes making sure that she was doing the right thing. Jackson gave her a subtle nod. Ed’s wife was a sweetheart who would spread the news of Jackson’s change of heart. It was what they came here to do.
“Have fun,” Jackson told her. “I need to go schmooze a little.”
“And you can’t flirt with this lovely lady on your arm,” Ed teased. He motioned to a different part of the room. “My wife is over by the bar.”
Jackson gave Emma’s hand a gentle squeeze as she let go of his arm. He could see her nerves in the small movements she made. Her breath came fast and her eyes were wide. If he didn’t know her, he wouldn’t know to look.
She flashed him an smile and followed Ed. He watched her walk away, sad to see her go but enjoying the view. With a deep breath of his own, he went to mingle. He needed to show he’d turned over a new leaf and not flirt with the beautiful women of the party.
He should have felt disappointed about not being able to chase the women here. The hot new movie starlet was here and just his type, yet he had no desire to speak with her. If anything, he wanted to go find Emma.
It was a strange sensation. He shook his head. He was just getting into character, he told himself. He was method acting, and just like actors, his character bled onto his real life person. It sounded like a fine theory as to why he had no real desire to seduce the movie star.
The night went slowly. Jackson made sure to talk to as many people as possible, all the time working in how happy Emma made him. He made sure to mention that she’d moved into his building but was actually spending most of her time at his place. He mentioned how wonderful it was to have a roommate.
And it didn’t feel lik
e he was lying.
The crowd inside the fundraiser increased. Jackson made sure to keep an eye out for Emma. She was always in the back of his mind and he wanted to make sure she was alright. As much as he had promised her that everything would go well at the party, the crowd here could eat her alive if she stumbled.
Luckily, she was doing amazing.
From his spot in the room, he could see her smiling and laughing with a set of wives. As far as visibility was concerned, she was one of them now. She’d charmed them, just as she had charmed him. And she appeared to do it effortlessly.
He smiled and took a sip of his drink. She was doing so well, he was starting to relax. Maybe this night could go as well as he’d hoped.
That’s when he saw Max. Max Singleton was the Public Relations officer for the Innocence Company. Jackson had hired him several years ago, but had found the man to be willing to do anything to get ahead. Jackson hadn’t approved of the man’s methods and fired him.
Max was a snake and exactly the last person Emma should talk to. He would figure out their little plan in two seconds flat and then announce it to the entire room. Max would ruin everything.
Jackson set down his drink and hurried across the room until someone caught his arm and attempted to pull him into a conversation. Jackson tried to get away, but he was too late.
Max was talking to Emma, and she looked panicked...
Chapter 17
Emma
* * *
“And how exactly did you two meet?” the man asked Emma.
He looked nice enough with his tuxedo and smoothly combed brown hair, but there was something in his ice blue eyes that made her squirm. Something that made her want to run from the man.
“Excuse me, I’m afraid I didn’t get your name,” she said, doing her best to be polite. She glanced around, looking for Jackson, but she didn’t see him anywhere.