6. Hazel
CHAPTER 6
Hazel
My nerves are all over the place. Tonight is the night of the event and I'm worried. What if he doesn't get what he's been after, all this hard work would have been for nothing. Not to mention, I'm freaking out. I don't have a dress, I've been trying my hardest to find one, everything is either out of my budget or not what I'm looking for.
"Hazel," Joe calls out, his voice thick and gravelly. He's been in a weird mood this week and I know that it's down to the event, none of us know what the outcome will be. We're all on edge.
"Yes?" I call as I turn to him, he's standing in the doorway of his office. "Is everything okay?"
He nods. "Once you've finished the emails, you may go home."
I blink, surprised by his words. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," he responds. "I'll pick you up at seven."
I shake my head. "Oh no need, I have a ride to the event," I tell him with a smile. "There's no need to inconvenience yourself."
I watch as his eyes flash with annoyance and his jaw clenches. The elevator doors slide open before he can respond to my words.
"I have picked three dresses from my closet," Briar tells me as she races into the office. "You can pick whichever one you want, I don't mind. But they're all perfect and will fit you and will work well for the event, all of them are purple, I know that it's your favorite color not to mention it looks good on you."
"Take a breath," I tell her with a smile. "Thank you so much, Briar, you truly are the best."
"Fucking hell," I hear Joe mutter. "That's not fucking happening," he mumbles and slams his office door closed.
"What's wrong with him?" she asks.
I lift my shoulders and shrug. "I have no idea. He's been in a weird mood all week."
"Eh, forget him. What time are you finished up here?" she asks.
"As soon as I finish this email."
She beams. "Excellent, that gives me time to beautify you. Not that there's much to do. You're gorgeous."
I smile shyly at her, I'm not great at taking compliments and I feel nervous when I'm given one. I'm getting better at it, especially from Briar, she's always plying me with compliments and telling me how gorgeous I am. "Thanks honey," I whisper.
She bounces on her toes. "Let's get you finished here, and I'll bring you home and get you ready for this evening."
I smile at her, I'm so damn lucky to have her as my best friend, I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She's been my rock since the moment we met. She's by far my favorite person in the entire world. I'd do anything for her just as she would for me.
I quickly finish sending my emails and then say goodbye to Joe, he's distracted and waves me away. I turn back to Briar. "I'm all yours for the afternoon."
She bounces once more, clapping her hands. "Excellent. Then let's go. I have so much to do and not enough time."
I shake my head as she links her arm through mine. I have no doubt she's going to go all out on me today and she'll love every second of doing it, I just hope she's not spent money, I don't want her spending money on me when she needs to save what she has for her sister.
As the elevator doors open, I can't help but glance back at Joe's office, the door's closed and my heart skitters a little. I still can't get past the kiss and it's driving me crazy. But there's distance between us and it's needed. I just hope that I will be able to push past it and focus on the job. I'm good at what I do, and I need this job.
I feel like a million dollars wearing this dress, I have no idea why Joe purchased it for me, but I'm extremely grateful that he did. Briar was willing to lend me one of her own dresses to wear, but for some reason that wasn't enough for Joe. After storming into his office when Briar announced that she had found three dresses for me to wear, I hadn't heard from him again. But when I returned home from Briar's house, a package was waiting for me outside my door. I was shocked to find the beautiful deep purple dress that was just my size.
Joe is crazy, there's no doubt about it, but he is also very sweet and generous. I can't lie, I was shocked and extremely honored that he'd gone out of his way to do this for me. The dress is to die for.
I walk into the ballroom and not for the first time this evening, I regret not taking Joe up on his offer to drive me here. But I'm trying to honor his wishes, he doesn't want anything to happen again and keeping my distance is what needs to be.
I glance around and see all the glamorous people already seated and having a good time. My stomach is in knots just as it has been all freaking day. This isn't me, while my family have been to these events a few times, it's not who I am. I don't need money or status to feel as though I'm exceeding in life. I just need my friends and family around me and I'm golden. It's one of the reasons why I get along with Briar, although if you were to meet my girl you wouldn't think of her as one who enjoys the simple life, but she does.
“You look gorgeous,” the deep gravelly tone of Joe sends shivers down my spine.
I glance up at the man that I’ve slowly been falling for and see just how amazing he looks. He’s wearing a black suit, white shirt, and a purple tie—My heart races as I realize he matched his tie to my dress—I plaster on a smile and pretend that little detail doesn’t affect me. “You look handsome,” I reply a little breathlessly. He rewards me with a blinding smile, his weathered face doesn't look so harsh when he smiles, there’s something about those deep intense green eyes that has my heart racing a little too fast.
He places his hand at the base of my back, sending electricity pulsing through me. “Shall we?” he questions, tipping his head in the direction of where we’re about to be seated to have dinner. The event is huge and there's over a hundred different businessmen and women here, all of whom are dressed to the nines and happy.
I grin when I see who we're seated next to. God, Briar's mom is the best, Kathleen Irvine may have some qualities about her that I don't like, but she has always been sweet and gracious to me, it's not for the first time that I wonder if it's her husband, Brian, that's pushing her into making stupid decisions that involve their children.
Mr. Williams is the owner of New Cut Bourbon, one of the biggest distillers here in Kentucky. The man is a multi-millionaire but is getting older in life and has no children. He's looking to go into business with someone, and that’s where Joe Ranieri comes into play. Joe's hoping that by taking over an already successful business he’ll be able to make it global. His ultimate goal is to be closer to his daughter—Gabby and his grandson—who lives in Indiana. He wants to be close but also doesn’t want to be in Indiana as his status as mob boss would have his life on the line along with that of his daughter and grandchild. I get it, it's one of the reasons that I'm so enamored by this man, the love he has for his daughter and grandson is so pure and so raw that it makes my heart warm whenever I see them together.
The heat from Joe’s back has my body humming with electricity. The man may be thirty years older than I am, but he still sets my body alight. I have fallen so hard for him and the connection between us isn’t some stupid young girl crush. I know that he feels it too. The heated glances, the little touches, the whispered words. Sometimes I wonder if I’m playing with fire. I’ve been thinking about quitting, knowing that if I don’t, I’m only going to end up getting hurt.
As we approach the table, Mr. Williams rises to his feet. “Evening, y’all, how are you this fine evening?” His southern drawl makes me smile. He’s in his seventies and has the sweetest eyes that I’ve ever seen, but I have no doubt that he’s a Pitbull. I've heard stories about how ruthless Jeremiah Williams truly is. He’s a shrewd businessman and takes no crap from anyone.
“Good evening, Mr. Williams, I'm very good thank you. How are you? You're looking dashing tonight,” I tell him softly.
He grins at me. “Well, little lady,” he says, and I feel Joe’s hand tighten against my back. “I thank you kindly. It's been a while since I've had a pretty lady tell me that I look dashing. I'm honored to be seated beside you tonight,” he tells me with a soft smile as he tilts his head toward the nameplates that have mine and Joe's names written perfectly in calligraphy.
Joe hasn’t once removed his hand from my back and I’m not sure what the hell is going on. This isn’t like him. I’ve been working for him for the past four months and not once has he been this—possessive—yet, tonight he’s acting as though we're together and it’s freaking me out.
“Joe,” Jeremiah begins, his tone a harsher than when he spoke with me. “I know all about you and how you're after my company. I’m wondering why the hell you think I’d sell my company to you.”
Joe’s jaw clenches and I know that he’s taken what Mr. Williams has said as disrespect, I jump into the conversation, hoping to calm things down. “Mr. Williams, Mr. Raneri has never made his past a secret. He’s never once hidden who he is. He’s a man of integrity, honor, and most of all loyalty. He’s the perfect man to buy your business from you because he doesn’t give up, he doesn’t mess around, and he doesn’t fail. Mr. Raneri has proven over time that he’s a smart businessman, such as yourself. While you may have had different businesses, it doesn’t negate the fact that Mr. Raneri was at the very top of his, just as you are. Selling to a man that has that much power is the right thing to do.”
My cheeks heat and my heart races by the end of my little speech, Joe’s hand slides along my waist until it rests against my hip. The dress that I’m wearing has a slit on my left side and Joe’s currently caressing my bare skin.
Mr. Williams' laughter rings through the room. “I like that, Missy, your loyalty to your employer is very hard to come by. That shows me more than any background check ever could.” He raises his hand for one of the servers that are moving fluidly around the ballroom. “You have yourself a deal, Mr. Raneri. Tomorrow we will work out the details. But tonight, we celebrate.”
The server arrives with three glasses of champagne. I guess tonight is a night worth celebrating. I take a seat, Mr. Williams tells me about his life, he's full of stories and I truly enjoy them.
I suck in a sharp breath when Joe’s hand moves along the apex of my thigh and brushes against my pussy.
“No panties,” he growls in my ear as he slides a finger inside of me.
“Joe,” I whimper, trying my hardest to not make it obvious what he’s doing, especially with Jeremiah sitting opposite us.
“Tonight,” Joe says so that only I can hear him, as he pulls his finger out of my pussy. He brings his hand to his face and inhales deeply. My cheeks heat at the sight, anyone watching wouldn't have a clue what is going on.
I’m utterly confused and aroused.
What the hell happened? Why did he touch me? What's going to happen tonight?
God, I'm so worked up, so needy, and I'm soaking wet. Damn Joe, leaving me here like this.