Chapter Fifteen Josh
Asteady ache pulses in my head as I work at my desk with a mile long to-do list to complete before the end of the day.
I usually don’t get so behind like this, but my life has been full of distractions lately. In and out of the office.
My fingers drag through my hair as I check through the dozens of unopened emails in my inbox, reading through reports from employees, inquiries from other businesspeople, and even some emails that Stacy sent me.
She’s been blowing up my phone for days to the point that I had to silence her notifications to get any work done.
She can be helpful when it comes to business, but I think she’s making things too personal. I’m not her boyfriend. I’m trying to run a business.
I lift my eyes to sweep them across the office. Max, Ryan, and Emma are all diligently working at their own desks with Max’s focus playlist playing at a respectable volume. When we’re not crunching, like now, Emma will put on Christmas songs, but we can’t get swept up in holiday cheer right now.
The elevator dings as the doors open, making me spin around in my chair to see who’s joining us.
“Oh, come on,” Ryan mutters as Stacy walks out of the elevator, her heels clicking against the floor.
A sigh breaks from me as I stand up from my desk, abandoning my work. Again. I should fire myself at this point for my slacking.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” I say as Stacy makes a beeline over to me, ignoring the others.
“Well, you weren’t picking up your phone, and this can’t wait, so I had to come to you,” Stacy replies as she flashes me an annoyed look. Her Prada bag hangs on her arm, swinging around obnoxiously as she walks like a runway model. “You’re going to love me for this.”
I glance at Emma as she watches from her desk, her eyes seeming a bit more narrowed than usual. I wish this wasn’t happening right now. “What is it?”
Stacy stops in front of me, perching her hand on her hip as she juts it out. “My dad is hosting a fancy Christmas gala for a bunch of rich CEOs and their successful businesses tomorrow night. It’s super exclusive, and I got SyncUp an invite.”
My eyebrows shoot up in intrigue. “Oh, wow. Really? That’s kind of awesome.”
Stacy scoffs. “Kind of? It is awesome. You could make a bunch of good connections there.”
She’s not wrong. I’m always looking for opportunities to collaborate or mutually support another business that aligns with our mission and values. This is a great opportunity for us.
“I think we should all go, guys,” I say as I turn to them. “We can spread the word about the update and generate some local buzz.”
Stacy nudges me. “Not everyone has to go. Just a representative will do.”
“Well, all three of us own the company. It would be good for all of us to go. We’d cover more ground and meet more people,” I tell her before gesturing to Emma. “And you should come too! You’ll be my plus one, and you’re technically part of the team now anyway.”
“Temporarily,” Emma points out.
I wave my hand dismissively. “Doesn’t matter. You’re part of the update, and this is a great opportunity for us to advertise it. Right, guys?”
Max nods in agreement as he leans back in his chair.
“If she wants to deal with going,” Ryan replies, not looking all that eager about being dragged there himself. He would certainly skip it if I didn’t already volunteer them all.
“Hold on. Hold on,” Stacy says with a humorless laugh. “This gala is only for successful business owners. People who have worked hard over the years to build their companies from scratch. I’m not sure that she fits that bill as an… artist.”
“Graphic designer,” Ryan corrects her.
I flash him a look, silently begging him not to start any drama. I know that he doesn’t like Stacy, but if he just keeps his mouth shut, I’ll get this conversation over with as soon as possible.
“Whatever. My point still stands. Successful business owners only,” Stacy replies with some sass in her voice now.
“Technically, I am a successful business owner. I’ve built my business and my brand over many years now, and I’ve worked with some of the top companies across multiple industries,” Emma tells her in a calm, even voice.
She offers Stacy a casual smile. “There are so many ways to achieve success nowadays. If you work for it.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Emma can be sweet and gentle, but that tongue of hers can become dagger-sharp if someone messes with her. Her brothers always acted like she constantly needed protection, but she can definitely hold her own.
Stacy huffs a little. “I just don’t know if you’ll fit in with the others there.”
“She’ll be fine with us,” Max speaks up as he sits straighter.
He glances over at Emma, who quickly looks away from him.
He clears his throat and looks at me instead.
“Besides, I can’t even remember all the stuff that she’s already done for this update.
It’ll be easier if she’s there to talk about it. ”
I nod in agreement. Emma deserves some limelight too after all she’s done for us already, and we’re not even done yet. “Just make a note that I’ll be bringing three people with me.”
Stacy’s eye twitches as she stares at me. If I could read her mind right now, I’m sure her thoughts wouldn't be very happy. She probably hates the thought of me inviting another woman to come with me.
But that shouldn’t matter because I’m not hers. If my heart belongs to any woman, it’s the one I can’t have.
“Fine. I’ll be there too,” Stacy tells me before flipping her long hair behind her shoulder. “See you there.”
Without even saying goodbye to the others, Stacy heads to the elevator, walking with a purposeful sway to her hips.
I don’t care to admire her, though. Before the elevator doors even shut, I’m already halfway to Emma. “I’m sorry. She can be…”
“Bitchy?” Ryan speaks up.
“Prissy,” Max laughs. “How about jealous?”
“Definitely jealous,” Ryan agrees.
I wave my hand at them, motioning for them to shut up. I know that Stacy is a handful, but this opportunity can be big for us. We don’t need to bite the hand that feeds us too hard.
Emma fixes her hair and shrugs. “It’s fine. I look forward to going and meeting people, even if I don’t quite fit in. It’ll be a good experience for me.”
The determination on her face suits her so damn well. She doesn’t seem fazed at all by Stacy’s rude remarks. In fact, she seems eager to go.
“It’ll be fun. We’ll make it fun,” I say as I nod to Ryan and Max, who typically hate events like these.
“It’ll be fine,” Ryan agrees.
Max nods quietly before getting back to work.
Emma offers me a small smile. “I just need to find a nice dress to wear. If I’m hanging on your arm, I want to look good.”
I click my tongue at her as I grin down at her. “You always look good. I’m about to make a bunch of poor guys jealous showing up with you.”
Emma rolls her eyes playfully, the tense air lightening. She matches my energy so well, able to turn a not-so-great situation into a boost of motivation. She even got the others to stop bitching as much about having to go.
And something in me twists.
It’s too easy to picture it—walking into that gala with her on my arm, her smile lighting up the damn room, and every guy there wishing they were in my place.
But what happens when they realize I’m not actually in that place?
When I can’t even touch her the way I want to? Can’t kiss her? Can’t claim her?
“Don’t fall for her,” I mutter under my breath.
But even as I say it, I know I already have.
She’s only been here a few weeks, and she’s already made a difference. Not just on our platform. But on us.
Ryan actually smiles and laughs so hard that he can’t breathe from time to time. Max doesn’t eat and sleep work as much as he used to. And I haven’t felt feelings as strong as this… ever.
Stacy made me wary about getting into another relationship and opening myself up in that way, but Emma makes it seem so promising. So right.
I just wish that Ethan and Andrew weren’t her brothers. I wish that I wasn’t kind of her boss right now.
Things are so damn complicated, and if I follow my heart like everyone says a person should, I’m afraid it’ll lead to nothing but heartbreak.
And not just for me.
As I watch the other guys with her, I think that there are more feelings involved than just mine and hers, and that raises the stakes astronomically higher.