by Ellie Hall
"I have one more," he said. His tone low, uncertain.
"Me too."
They both stood there dumbly, not saying a word.
Emma could feel his energy humming next to her. He was warm, a human furnace like he'd joked. She was still in her shorts and tank from the run. She shivered.
"I could turn up the heat."
"I shouldn't be much longer." But she knew she'd stay up all night to pull this off if only to prove to herself she was more than a girl someone used to improve his public persona.
They both returned to their desks.
An hour later, deep in negotiating terms for the flowers at the event, Will called, "Emma, I'm ordering dinner delivery. What would you like?"
"I'm fine. Not hungry." Her voice was rusty when she spoke.
"Your stomach has been growling for the past half hour."
She shook her head. After another half hour, the scent of something cheesy flooded her nose.
A man wearing a blue and red uniform poked his head in. "Pizza for Emmaline Jones."
Emma glared.
The delivery guy shrugged. "The girl at the desk said I could come right up."
Will paid and set the box on his desk. "That's for you." He nudged it toward her.
"I told you I'm not hungry."
"You're fibbing. You can't deny the doughy, cheesy, toh-mah-toh-ey pizza smells delicious."
"You eat it then."
"Emmaline," Will said, exasperated.
"William," she countered. "Also, it's tomato. Toe-may-toe."
He brushed her comment off. "Tomato-tomatoh, potato-potatoh," he said, using the American English and British English versions.
The pizza sat on the desk tempting Emma but so did the guy on the other side of the box. She didn't want to bicker. She had the urge to dazzle him, to show him who she really was. But she was also mad and hurt and conflicted. All the feelings overwhelmed her inside.
Will powered down his computer and sighed as he looked at the pizza.
She got to her feet, grabbed a slice, and stalked to the door.
Again, Will kept pace with her.
They both tried to exit at the same time.
"Excuse me," she said.
He gestured she go first. "After you. I have to go tend to some business."
"So do it."
"Good."
"I will."
"Well then."
"Go on."
"I'm going."
"Surely."
"Me too."
The ride down the elevator was awkward. Emma nibbled the pizza because she was starved. However, next time William Wheaton saw her, her hair would be smooth and styled, there wouldn't be pizza grease on her fingers, and she'd be sensational.
Chapter 18
Will
Will woke to a text and then a phone call, then another text. He rubbed his temples. He hadn't fallen asleep until nearly three am and the night ahead would be long. It was New Year's Eve and never had he wanted to put a year behind him more.
The phone demanded his attention again.
Whatever it was, he told himself it could wait. He'd built the company from the sweat off his own back, literally. If people couldn't hold it together for a single morning, well, perhaps he really, truly was a failure. He'd failed at being a son and boyfriend so perhaps his meteoric rise was just so he could fall splendidly, publicly, humiliatingly.
He tried to ignore the phone and go back to sleep but saw Emma behind his closed lids. Their argument burned into his mind.
The phone buzzed and slid across the table beside his bed. It was Jared. He ignored it. They'd see each other at the New Year's Eve bash, an event he'd hosted for the past few years—the it party in the city. In past years, they'd had a beach theme, carting in tons of actual sand and a pool with a wave machine. Another year it was a masquerade. It was always over the top and outrageous. The party planner surprised him and did a wonderful job so he had no idea the theme for this year's event, but hoped Emma pulled it off. She was smart, resourceful, and…
He wouldn't let himself think it. No. He refused to let himself feel the way she filled in the hollows inside of him. She'd made it clear she hated him, and he hadn't been on his best behavior either. It was as if she somehow brought out the worst in him when all he wanted to do was give her the best. There was a block there and despite all his strength, he couldn't find a way around it.
Will threw the covers off, suddenly restless and grabbed his phone after it buzzed again. He'd give Jared a piece of his mind. It was from the hospice. He sunk onto the bed and listened to the message.
The nurse gave him an update. No change. An exhale escaped. He'd mentioned the party later that day so she was letting him know how things were now so she didn't have to bother him later.
Nothing about Sydney was a bother. He was just in his own world now. The doctors said he was dreaming. But how did they know? He might have been having nightmares. Will clutched his fists angry at how helpless he felt.
After showering, he met his eyes in the mirror. Sydney would have blasted him for having a pity party. He'd tell him it was a new day. A gift denied to many. Will blamed the negative thinking on fatigue. He just needed a break from it all. A chance to reset.
He hit the gym. Hard. He'd blow the stupid thoughts right out of his head. He lifted until stars flashed in front of his eyes. He ran until he couldn't breathe. He just wanted to bring the man who was like a father, a mentor, and a best friend back to life.
Will spent most of the day at the office, fielding calls, putting out fires, and trying to ignore the image of Emma working across from him the night before every time he made the mistake of looking up from his computer.
Later, he got ready for the party, donning a perfectly fitted tuxedo and his favorite watch—it had been a gift from Sydney on his twenty-first birthday. Now, he felt like time was running out and not how Jared meant. Freshly shaven, he slapped on some cologne.
He rode to the party, prepared to meet Emma, apologize, and then kiss her for the cameras as well as shower his guest with attention, network, and continue to build his empire. It was a simple, tidy plan. Exactly what he needed.
He followed a red carpet toward the entrance of the grand building that hosted the event each year. Cameras flashed and he posed, waved, and smiled.
"Will, where's your date?" a reporter asked. Another said, "Are you on the outs with the American?" A third thundered, "He can keep fit but he can't keep a woman."
Will ground his jaw and took a deep breath. It was just noise he told himself. People trying to get a rise out of him. He didn't hate reporters, in fact, they were key to his career, but there were some out for blood—like the bloke who made the last comment. Likely, the same kind of person who followed him around, trying to get into his private business.
He blinked his eyes a few times to refocus and thought he saw paw prints on the red carpet. When he looked up, the cameras were still popping and he continued into the building.
Friends, employees, and acquaintances all greeted him. It took him what seemed like ages to get through the line of people as they made small talk, asked questions about the direction of Apex, and a few making condolences about his personal life. It was at the last New Year's Eve party he and Veronica seemed to be in love. So much had changed.
What sounded like a dog barking got his attention. He finished a brief conversation as a member of the catering staff offered him a mini hot dog. "Thank you, but I'll pass." Pigs in a blanket weren't his idea of upscale party food. He scanned the room for Emma.
When he finally broke free of the people clustered around the entrance, her party theme became clear. It had to be her doing.
Dozens of dogs, wearing New Year's party hats, roamed through the crowd. The woman with the pop-up animal rescue from the day out with Birdie held court by a corral of puppies. Several volunteers wearing Wags and Purrs animal rescue T-shirts talked with his guests, likely about the animal adoption cr
isis. He knew all about it. Sydney and his sister were dog lovers.
One of his best trainers from the gym played fetch with what looked like a boxer mix. The girls that worked the desk cooed over the puppies and one of the high rollers who he relied on to keep his stock prices favorable pet a Great Dane on the head while he spoke with a model that was as leggy as the dog.
With the exception of the paw prints everywhere, the décor was tasteful black and gold with lots of glitz. If his guests were at all concerned or confused about the theme, they didn't show it.
He continued to scan the crowd for Emma. His eyes floated over men in black and white tuxedos and women in their finest, flashiest, and frilliest dresses. He recognized several actresses and singers, a few models, and then finally a gorgeous brunette in a stunning floor-length silver gown. His breath caught.
Emma was dazzling.
With each step, his frustration lessened, replaced by awe. He opened his mouth to tell her she looked beautiful but she spoke first.
"You wanted help remaking your image. I imagine people will appreciate your cause."
"I already have a cause. Health and fitness."
"How does partying fit into that again? Seems like the opposite." Her tone suggested she was still bitter about their argument and only hated him more.
A handsome couple interjected, thanking Will for hosting. She wore a red dress with feathers. He had a trim salt and pepper beard.
Will and Emma plastered on polite smiles.
"Did you try the puppy chow?" Emma asked.
"Puppy chow?" the woman asked, confused.
"It's delicious—chocolate, nuts, and some kind of caramel crunch. Don't worry, not actual dog food."
The woman's eyebrows lifted. "That sounds like a treat."
"Oh, and be careful, if you have too many salty dogs, you might feel a little ruff in the morning." Emma lifted her glass to the couple.
She was charming and gorgeous.
They laughed cordially before moving on.
A server passed with glasses of sparkling water. Will lifted his. "Well, thanks fur pulling it off."
"Did you just say fur?" Emma's eyes shone with laughter despite her obvious irritation.
Just then, Jared clapped Will on the back, nearly spilling his water on Emma.
"If it isn't the man of the hour? Interesting concept for the party. Listen, we have to make sure everything is perfect for the kiss." He glanced at Emma. "You ready to smooch this stud?"
Emma barely nodded. "Have to keep things running smoothly," she said as she rushed off.
Will turned to Jared. "Do you have to be so—?"
"So outstanding, a genius, a power player? Well, yes. Yes, I do."
"I had the word obnoxious in mind."
Jared laughed him off. "Listen, we nearly have the Nexxiss account clinched. They just want to see that you're a good boy and won't blemish their image."
"Right." Will enjoyed modeling. However, he was starting to question his career or at least his agent's intentions and investment in it.
"I've been telling everyone you have a midnight surprise. So remember, after the kiss, you're going to propose."
Will shook his head. "I don't have a ring."
Jared fumbled in his pocket and passed Will a small box.
He refused to take it. "That's going too far. I'm not going to fake propose."
"Trust me; it'll be worth your while." Jared tossed it to him, winked, and then called across the room, waving. "Ricco! So glad you could make it." Before Jared hurried off, he said to Will, "Circulate. Mingle. Have a grand time. Just make sure the kiss at the stroke of midnight is the billion dollar shot."
While Will engaged in polite conversation with a Duke or Count or someone, he spotted the DJ. Live music equipment was set up on the stage as well. A large crowd danced in the middle of the room on the parquet floor. Will's eyes floated over them until they landed on Emma.
The straps of her dress draped delicately over her smooth shoulders and the neckline accentuated her collarbones. Her hair was professionally styled and her lips a tasteful pink. He wanted to taste them but not in front of the cameras.
It all felt wrong to him. He wanted it to be real, natural, and organic. Not staged as Jared insisted. He wouldn't go through with the proposal though. That's where he drew the line. She'd say no because she was clearly done with the charade. However, it was too late to do anything about it now. They had a party to host, a kiss to enact, and then he could let her slip quietly from his life.
Yet he couldn't take his eyes from her as she circulated the room, likely talking up the dog rescue, and doing her part to earn donations for the organization. His sister would appreciate her efforts.
She glowed and he had the urge to go to her, but he couldn't pull away from the man banging his ear off about foreign investments because he was also a top investor in Apex.
Will was the host and had to be on, the life of the party, charming, and demonstrate the value these people made in him. Jared's distinct laugh boomed from across the room.
Standing next to him was a woman in a hot pink dress. Her long blond hair curled at the ends and she draped her arm over Jared's shoulder. They both smiled in a private, intimate way.
Veronica? What was she doing there? Will's stomach turned to cement and he gritted his teeth.
Either she was someone's guest—tasteless to make their plus one his ex at his party, or a mistake and her name were still on the list made the previous year.
He didn't make eye contact. She was crazy, ruthless, and would be out for his blood. She'd turned the situation around to make him look like the bad guy after he broke it off when she was the one who'd cheated.
It was too late. She'd spotted him. He moved to vanish into the crowd, but one of his associates locked him into small talk.
Veronica brushed this person aside and laid her hands on the lapels of Will's tuxedo. He recoiled, but that only drove her closer.
"What are you doing here?"
"Visiting old friends. But I see you have a new one." She turned her vicious gaze to Emma.
"Yeah, something like that."
She pooched her lips. Her eyes lingered on his. Then she straightened his bowtie. "I sure hope it's only a kiss." She strutted away.
Will wanted to leave but instead, he turned his attention back to Emma. She held a glass aloft and then tossed her head back with laughter. A guy in a slate gray suit flirted with her. It was Ricco, Ricco Guasparre Salvestro—an Italian hotshot who owned more cars than he had letters in his name. He also had an equally high number of women in his life.
Yet, Emma flirted back. He could see it in her smile. The one she'd shown him but once. The one he tried to draw from her when he'd tickled her. Again, she laughed at something Ricco said.
Confusion battled with contempt. It was his party. She was supposed to be his date and helping to clean up his image so he could land the deal with Nexxiss.
A woman in a little black dress lifted onto her toes and gave him a kiss on both cheeks. "Will," she purred.
"Nice to see you, Geneva."
"You looked so lonely over here, on your own." She linked her arm in his. "I thought you could use some company." Like so many other women he knew she only saw an opportunity in him. He sighed because he'd built his billion-dollar company off his looks, his charm, and his ability to draw attractive people like a moth to a flame. It was his doing and perhaps his undoing.
Across the room, Emma linked her arm through Ricco's.
Will adjusted his collar, suddenly hot.
"Tell me who you'll be kissing at midnight?" Geneva asked.
"A very lucky lady," Will said vaguely.
An uneven breath escaped as she lifted onto her toes again and whispered in his ear, "I hope it's me."
At the same time, Emma whispered something into Ricco's ear.
Will stiffened.
Geneva's hand floated to his chest. "You're looking rather dapper tonight."
Over her shoulder, he watched as Emma did the same to Ricco.
His eyes narrowed. Will reached for Geneva's hand and asked, "Would you like to dance?"
"As long as we don’t step on any paws." She laughed.
As they made their way to the dance floor, from the opposite direction, Emma and Ricco approached.
He and Geneva swept across the floor. He was less concerned about the dogs and more concerned about Emma. Ricco was a nice enough guy but he wasn't too careful with women and had broken his share of hearts.
When her shimmery, silver dress swept by, Will led the dance with Geneva in the same direction. His hand rested on her mid back because he was a gentleman. Ricco lowered his hand on her back.
Will's jaw tightened. He leaned into Geneva's neck and whispered that he'd appreciate any assistance she can offer the dog rescue. "It's a cause near and dear to my heart." But to anyone watching, namely Emma, it may as well have looked like he was telling her she was gorgeous and hoped they could go on a date soon.
It was a test to see what she'd do if she was, in fact, toying with him.
Emma leaned closer to Ricco and Will thought her lips had brushed his cheek.
Will pulled Geneva against his chest, stepping closer to the pair.
Emma did the same, thrusting herself against Ricco.
Will dipped Geneva back, and Emma spun into Ricco's arms.
Jealousy and anger boiled under Will's skin. Why was she messing with him? Was this some kind of revenge?
The song changed and Geneva left the dance floor when she spotted one of her best friends.
Will sidestepped several couples and planted himself in front of Ricco and Emma. "Excuse me, may I take this dance?" he asked.
Ricco looked at Emma.
She smiled tightly. "No, you may not."
Chapter 19
Emma
Emma wasn't a vindictive person but she faced three problems.
One, she thought she saw a guy who looked like Everett when Benson drove her over to the venue earlier.
Two, it was clear Will had feelings for the woman who showed up wearing the brightest pink dress she'd seen since senior prom.