Chapter Twenty
Emma
Thank goodness Marcus didn’t take my faux pas for ignorance. I knew better than to generalize. I sat back and listened.
“I want all of you to know we have three others listening in today. The R I’m sure he has some ideas.”
“Good. I’m going to start working on new code. R we expect you to make an appearance.”
I sighed as I lowered my head and rested my forehead on the desk. Not exactly banging my head on the desk to make this stop but close enough. Damn it! Does this crap never end? “You know I dislike them.” Why couldn’t I tell her no? I was an adult. Maybe because she was my mother?
“Just make an appearance with us, then you can leave. An hour tops.”
Like I believed that. My parents would drag me around, introducing me to everyone as their successful daughter. They didn’t even know what I did for a living.
“One hour, that’s all.”
“I’ll send you the details along with your invitation. You’ll need that to get in. Bye.”
Great. Another exclusive party. A headache in the making. I put the cellphone back on the desk, screen down. Better than throwing it across the room.
“You okay?” Asher asked.
I jumped. “When did you get back?” Damn, how much of the call did he hear?
“A few minutes ago. I didn’t want to disturb you since you were on the phone.” Asher took his usual seat next to me. “Want to talk about it?”
I’d been avoiding this conversation since Monday. Maybe it was time to have it, especially since we were the only two in the office. I didn’t want to do this at work, but it was probably for the best.
“That was my mother.”
Asher nodded.
“Remember when I mentioned last Friday that my parents wanted me to attend an event with them?”
“Yes, you said that’s why you were in a bad mood.”
“Yeah. Well, the event is Saturday night, and I’m expected to attend.” Must not grind teeth, must not grind…
“You would prefer not to?”
I raised my hand and pointed at Asher. “Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.” Angry and frustrated just about covered my headspace right now. “Let me explain my family to you. First, you might have heard of my parents, Roger and Victoria Palmer.”
Asher didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was thinking. “The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.”
“Palmer Logistics. Dad’s first, best adored child.”
Asher blinked, and I watched as the lightbulb came on and his mouth opened. “Palmer Logistics? As in the computer chip manufacturer and applied technologies?”
“Yep.” I gave myself a pat on the back for eliminating sarcasm from my tone.
“Why aren’t you working for him?”
Seriously? “No way.” Work with my father? Hell, no. We had different philosophies on a lot of things, including business. “Trust me, that would end up with one of us murdering the other.”
“Go on.”
I leaned back in my chair. What was the saying? ‘And now for the rest of the story’. Deep breath. “Let’s just say growing up meant lots of family events and lots of parties.”
“Even if you didn’t want to go?”
“Right. I was forced to go. I hated them. My sisters enjoyed them. I used to sneak off and find a quiet corner.”
“I don’t blame you.”
I flashed Asher a grateful grin. “As I got older, boys at school started paying attention to me. Not that I was interested. I enjoyed learning not flirting. Anyway, most of them were more interested in my family than me.”
“That’s not right.”
“Finally, someone who understands.” I covered my mouth. Oh boy, did I let that slip out? “So, I began to ignore the boys, and while I was still forced to go to parties, I got very good at sneaking off or just staying in my own head.”
Asher leaned forward, his head lowered, braced his elbows on his knees, and laced his fingers. When he looked up, his expression left me feeling like he really understood on a gut level. “Is that what you meant when you said you stayed aware even while you concentrated on something?”
“Yes. At parties, it was useful to keep some of the men away from me. At home, my sisters would torment me.”
He sat up straight, but his hands remained clasped in his lap. “What men?”
“Long over with.” I waved my hand in dismissal. “Let’s just say that, even after I left home, people still tried to use me to get to my parents.”
“I would never do that.” Asher leaned closer to me.
“I know you wouldn’t.” I did believe him. He hadn’t even realized who my parents were, even though Palmer was a pretty common name.
“Does Tri-O-Tech know who your parents are?”
I shook my head. “I don’t talk about them. They might’ve found something when they backgrounded me, but they would’ve had to go a lot deeper than the typical search. There’s never been any clue that they know. I’m pretty good at covering my tracks. I’m only telling you because I told you I would.”
“Got it. So guys used you to get to your parents.” He unclasped his hands and seemed less tense, now more curious than concerned. “Why did your parents make you go to these parties? Why do they want you at this one?”
And there’s the complication. “My parents are pretty self-absorbed, more concerned about how they’re being perceived than how their children feel.
My sisters love going to these events.” I blew out a breath.
“Those two wouldn’t know how to do anything but style their hair, apply their make-up, and flirt. ”
“I’m sorry you grew up with shallow sisters. You deserve so much more.” His whole demeanor telegraphed genuine empathy and understanding. Something inside me began to warm. Cautious but appreciative.
“You don’t have to say those things.”
“I do.” Asher took my hands in his. “I mean them, Emma. I’ve watched you since you’ve been here. You’re kind, generous, and everyone enjoys being around you. You don’t put on an act, and you’re a hard worker.”
I ducked my head. I always felt like I wasn’t doing enough and that people never saw me. “Thank you.” That warmth was spreading, and I liked the feeling.
“So, this event on Saturday. Are you allowed to take someone with you?”
I frowned. “I don’t know.”
“Find out.”
“Why?” Why was he so interested?
“Because I’m going with you. You’ll have not only a bodyguard that night, but someone who will make sure no one takes advantage of you, not even your parents.”
Heat filled me and caution evaporated. He championed me. “Is it obvious that I’m that weak?” I hated not being able to stand up to my parents, although while some might say I did after I got my degree and moved away, that phone call proved the ties—chains?—still existed.
“Sweetheart, you are not weak.” His grip tightened on my hands. “You’re strong. You only need to learn how to be assertive.”
I laughed. “That’s never happened.”
“Oh, it has. Remember that drive to the restaurant where I told you to wait, and you didn’t? You have no trouble telling me what you think and feel. Now you just have to apply it to your family.”
“You don’t get it.” How could I explain?
“Maybe I don’t. But I’m not going to let you walk into the lion’s den unsupported.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I did appreciate what Asher was offering.
“I do. Did your mother send you an invitation? I’m assuming such events have invitations.”
“Yes.”
“Look at it.”
“Stop with the damned orders, Asher.” His commands were starting to get on my nerves.
He grinned. “There’s that assertiveness.”
I pulled my hands from his and opened my email.
Yep, there was the invitation. Yuck, another black tie performance.
I looked at the invite. It was addressed to Emma Palmer and guest. “Looks like I can bring a guest.” That was different.
Usually, it was an invite that said Roger and Victoria Palmer and family.
Good. Word was out that I wasn’t living at home.
“Good. Let me see.” Asher took the phone out of my hand before I could stop him.
“Hey.” I went to grab it back, but he held it away from me.
“All right. Saturday, at seven in the Hunt’s Point area.
” He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised, and a knowing smile.
“Very exclusive.” Asher continued to read the email.
“Black tie. No worries there.” He handed my phone back to me.
“I’ll pick you up at six. That should give us enough time to get there.
” And an unspoken but clear don’t worry, we got this attitude.
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do this.” How would I explain Asher’s presence? Not that my parents cared.
“I want to do it.” Asher rolled his chair back to his workstation. “Now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss what Lucas just asked me for.”
I put my phone away and tried to concentrate on what Asher was saying, but I wasn’t doing so well with that. All I could think about was Asher being with me on Saturday, keeping me company.
Okay. Looks like I’m going to need a dress.