Prove Me Wrong

by Gemma Hart

  Joe gave a warm smile. Joe, as burly as he was, had the softness of a teddy bear. It was hard not to take anything he said without smiling in response.

  Jonah looked over at our table. I immediately turned my face but not before seeing his dark gaze zero in on me. Why the hell was the man here?

  “I’d love to,” he said finally. Everyone at my table let out the breath they were collectively holding. “That’s very kind of you, Mr.—?”

  “Oh, just Joe,” Joe answered genially. “Just call me Joe.”

  Joe led Jonah back to the table. Everyone quickly moved aside so they could make room for their new guest. An extra chair was pulled up and Jonah was sat directly across from me.

  With Joel on my right and Mary on my left, there was no way I could wriggle out to move seats. I was stuck. And looking at the look of satisfaction on his face, Jonah knew it. Damn him.

  For a minute, there was an awkward silence as everyone tried to figure out the next move. It was one thing to invite a billionaire to our table in a gust of drunken bravado but now what? Everyone seemed to realize at the same time, they now had a billionaire at their table!

  Jonah took the situation in hand and asked genially, “Miss Daniels, it’s good to see you again,” he said, as if just taking notice of me. I managed to give a small nod of acknowledgment.

  “So what’s the occasion here? Birthday party?” he asked.

  I eyed him. He had to know why we were here. I was no dummy. If he was in Don Maggio’s, Brenda had told him. And that meant he knew exactly why we were celebrating.

  Joel poured Jonah a glass of wine. “No, no birthday, sir,” he said as he grinned down at me affectionately. “We’re celebrating a business victory. Boss here just signed two big contracts. Well, actually, she signed one with Losel, which is your—”

  Jonah quirked a brow in surprise. “Oh really? Well then I should be pouring you a glass in thanks,” he said, raising his glass to me in salute.

  I looked at him in confusion. What was he talking about? Clearly the rest of the group was just as confused.

  “Didn’t you know that she had signed with Losel?” Joel asked, his brow furrowed. “I mean, I guess with so many other businesses to keep your eye on, you wouldn’t….But then again you were at the Devons Awards together so we just assumed—”

  “Miss Daniels,” Jonah said, “did accompany me to the Devons Awards, yes. But merely as a designer colleague that I admired. She was very busy that night being hounded by so many buyers, I was sure Losel wouldn’t have a shot with her.”

  He gave a small deprecating smile that made everyone laugh, relaxing the table. As if the largest home goods buyer would ever have to worry about competition.

  “I had told our head buyer to make an offer but I wasn’t sure if Miss Daniels would sign. After all, there were so many other buyers who were very interested in her that night.”

  I watched as everyone at the table nodded slowly, understanding dawning in their eyes.

  I stared at Jonah, amazed at what he had done.

  Although I’d like to think better, it was clear that even my own team had believed the papers. They had thought I was secretly Jonah Lowell’s girlfriend and had used that connection to get myself as many lucrative contracts as possible.

  But in one small exchange, Jonah had extinguished that line of thought. He made it sound as if we had gone to the awards as two strangers who were there on a business date and that I had spent most of the night being courted by other interested buyers.

  He made it clear in just a few words that I had earned all my contracts through merit and talent alone and not because I had slept with one of the richest men in the city.

  Just like that, he had given me back my reputation.

  I saw Mary purse her lips and nod as if it all made sense now. I wanted to resent everyone who doubted me but putting myself in their shoes, I could see how convincing the news stories would’ve sounded to anyone. Especially when Jonah also had such a playboy reputation.

  “It’s pretty incredible the work you all have done with Miss Daniels,” Jonah said sincerely. “It’s clear she chose the right team to work with.”

  I watched in amusement as everyone squirmed with unbridled pleasure at his words. It was amazing to see how Jonah could play a group of people so perfectly. They were literally like putty in his hands. He knew exactly the right words and right tone to hit.

  “It’s definitely been quite a ride,” Joel agreed, taking another sip of wine, his face already flushed from his previous glasses. “I keep telling her to bring her family up to town some day to see all that she’s accomplished but Clara’s always being so coy.”

  He elbowed me familiarly in the arm and I gave a small smile back, feeling naked in front of Jonah. I had unconsciously taken it upon myself to just not mention my family since moving up to the city. Not because I was ashamed of my parents but because I was tired of being pitied. I had just escaped a town full of people who couldn’t help but lovingly pity me. I didn’t want to start new professional relationships in the same vein. And with both parents dead, I knew it would be hard for a stranger not to pity me.

  I lowered my gaze, focusing on my half full glass of wine.

  “Well family relationships can be complicated,” Jonah said. “I know mine sure aren’t easy.”

  I jerked my gaze up, completely surprised. Jonah’s family drama was well reported in the press. Everyone knew about the contentious relationship he had with his uncle and I personally knew the coldness and blindness he had suffered at the hands of his stepfather and mother.

  But he had been willing to bring this all up and draw attention to himself just so that I wouldn’t be as embarrassed.

  Jonah took a sip of the cheap wine and gave a casual shrug. “But the good thing of being an adult is the ability to make your own family with whom you can share those priceless moments with.” Jonah gave them a warm nod. “Clearly, Miss Daniels has chosen well.”

  Joel grinned in pleasure with the rest of the table blushing in appreciation.

  And for the next hour, Jonah continued to charm the pants off of everyone at the table until they would’ve gladly taken a bullet for the man. Eventually, with gentle suggestions, Jonah encouraged everyone to find their cabs back home.

  “It is late,” Joe said looking down at his watch. “Mary, wanna share a cab?”

  Everyone rose, deciding who would ride in whose cab and which route would be best to get home.

  Joel looked down at me. “Boss? Wanna share a cab?”

  Before I could answer, Jonah replied, “I can take Miss Daniels home.”

  Joel gave Jonah a grin, automatically feeling good whenever he heard the billionaire’s charming voice. Jonah had done a thorough job in pulling everyone under his spell.

  “See you tomorrow, boss!” Joel said as he clambered back up the stairs.

  I watched in slight desperation as Joel and the rest of the team disappeared.

  I turned around and stared at Jonah.

  “What was all that about?” I asked finally, now that we were alone. The dim restaurant lights glowed warmly about us.

  “I’m sorry about the papers,” he said, keeping his eyes pinned on mine. “You know that I would never have wanted any of that.”

  I looked down at the table before nodding. I did know that. If for no other reason that he must be tired of all the constant press he got. He would never take pleasure in having my name splattered across the papers in conjunction with his.

  “Also,” he continued, reaching out and gently putting a hand on top of mine. I tried to pull back but he held on, forcing me to look up at him. “I had nothing to do with the Su Lo Designs contract.”

  I looked up at him probingly. “Really?” I asked him.

  He nodded. “Really.” He gave a small smile. “You got that all on your own, sweetheart.”

  My heart skipped a beat at seeing that once familiar warmth in his eyes. Hearing the endearment spoken in his
deep voice made heat ripple within me.

  I tried feebly to pull my hand away again. I shook my head. “Your fiancée…” I mumbled suddenly, remembering the cold judgmental look of the raven haired socialite.

  Jonah snorted. “Jesus, you really must’ve been busy holed up working to have missed that press shitstorm,” he said. He had a bit of a wry smile curling the corner of his lips but I saw that his eyes were sincere. “Vanessa and I were finished months ago. I haven’t seen her in nearly a year.”

  My brows furrowed. It made no sense. If their engagement had been so easily broken, why had he come to the store that day in that dramatic fashion to—

  My thoughts were interrupted by Jonah suddenly rising to his feet. He reached his hand out towards me. I instinctively put my hand in his, watching it be swallowed up by his large fingers.

  “Come on, let me take you home,” he said, pulling me to my feet.

  But I resisted a little, keeping myself in my seat. I fixed him with a look. “Only home,” I said firmly. “You’re taking me straight to my apartment.”

  “Only home,” he replied solemnly. “Scout’s honor.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. I doubt Jonah was ever in the Boy Scouts. He seemed too rebellious for something like that.

  I looked around the empty restaurant as we exited. “I didn’t know this place was opened this late,” I remarked. “I thought they closed earlier.”

  “They do,” Jonah said simply as he held the door open for me. “But I asked them to keep it open for a few more hours. I wanted to make sure I got to speak with your friends first.”

  So he had come in with a plan. He had waited a few hours to let our group celebrate and relax. Then once we had had some fun, he had come in by himself and purposely sat far away to highlight his aloneness. Once invited to sit at our table, he had made sure to immediately fix any damage that had been done by the press. None of it had been directly his fault but he had taken responsibility for it all the same.

  My throat almost choked at the thought and detail that had gone into his scheme. It made me feel as if I was speaking to the same Jonah I had known a year ago. The one that had made me laugh in the day and moan at night.

  Outside on street level, a sleek black sedan waited for us. Jonah opened the door for me and I slid in, feeling the hesitation and fear in my heart melt a little.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Clara

  “That was still a sneaky thing to do,” I said through my teeth as I smiled for photos.

  “It was a necessary thing to do,” Brenda said, also through her teeth as she smiled on the sidelines.

  We were at a press event. Su Lo Designs was holding a press event to announce all the designers they had recently signed contracts with. Two other designers stood next to me, beaming, as photographers snapped photos of us.

  Each of us was standing next to one piece of our own designs. I stood next to a small side table I had made. The other two designers looked out into the sea of photographers proudly. And proud they should be; signing with Su Lo was no easy feat. They only took on a handful of designers every few years.

  After the photo session was over, there was a small reception of press, other buyers there just to congratulate, and various celebrities both in the entertainment world and the design world. I had spotted a few famous fashion designers as well.

  It was an exclusive event but small in size.

  Standing next to Brenda, holding a glass of champagne, I sighed as another well wisher walked away. I was not good at the mingling and schmoozing designers often had to do.

  “He would’ve found a way to meet with you regardless,” Brenda said, picking up our conversation. “It was better that it was in a controlled and private environment.”

  “Controlled?” I said, turning to her. “It was a public restaurant filled with my friends.”

  Brenda gave me a patient but slightly exasperated look. “Did you see any other customers while you were there?”

  I thought about it. Surely there had been other customers while we had been eating. But the more I thought about it, I realized there hadn’t been. It had just felt like it because our party had been so large.

  Brenda gave a satisfied smirk. “See? He probably had made sure no one else had come into the restaurant after you kids. He made sure no one else was around in case anything was misunderstood,” she said. Then in a gentler tone, she said, “He was trying to do right by you, honey. You know that right?”

  I took a sip of my champagne, not answering. But of course I knew she was right. But the question was, why? Why was he suddenly doing this for me? And after the dramatic break up from a year ago? Why the change of heart?

  And the most important question: could I trust him?

  I sighed. “I have a headache,” I murmured. “These events always stress me out.”

  Brenda squeezed my arm in support. “Just a couple more hours,” she said. “Su Lo knows press like this drives interest and sales. The more your name is out there, the better.”

  “I don’t need to be here for my name to be here,” I whined as I took a sip of my champagne for extra courage.

  Brenda opened her mouth to say something but froze, her mouth still agape, as she caught sight of something over my shoulder. Suddenly a small smile began to curl at her lips and I saw the corners of her eyes wrinkle in amusement.

  She looked at me suddenly with a knowing warmth. “Well, something tells me you’ll soon have a lure to keep you here,” she said. And with a final squeeze to my arm, she disappeared into the crowd.

  Before I could chase after my moral support, a deep voice behind me said, “You seem to be quite the superstar today.”

  I whirled around and saw Jonah standing behind me in a tailored suit that looked custom made for his tall broad body.

  My eyes widened. I heard people twittering like mad behind him, just as surprised by his appearance as I was.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked. This was a closed press event. But then again, I realized, where couldn’t Jonah Lowell get in?

  He gave me a soft smile that nearly melted my spine. “I came here to support the newest star in the home goods world.”

  Cameras began flashing around us. I knew they were taking photographs of us. I knew I should push him away and remove myself so nobody misunderstood our relationship.

  But after seeing how carefully he had taken care of my reputation last night and how good he looked today, I couldn’t find it within me to do it. I was surprised to find myself glad he was here. I wanted him here.

  I bit my lower lip, a smile playing on my own lips. “Then don’t you think you’re being a little forward?” I said. “There are a lot of people that have been waiting to meet me. It’s rude to just jump the line.”

  A grin flashed across Jonah’s chiseled face, instantly transforming him into that tantalizing playboy that the papers titled him as.

  “I’m afraid when it comes to you, Miss Daniels,” he said, taking my hand, “I can’t help but always be a little forward.”

  Cameras flashed around us. People whispered and stared in our direction. I knew we were causing a flurry of attention. Jonah Lowell hadn’t been invited to this event. Which means he came for one reason and one reason only.

  But he had done his duty. He had tried his best to rectify the first stories in the press and my own friends. He showed the world that I was a respected designer in my own right.

  And now he was recreating the story by his terms. Here was the billionaire, come to pay court to the star designer on her turf. It made it look as if he, the playboy, couldn’t help himself but crash the event the sought after designer was at.

  It gave me the power.

  I looked up at him, a smile playing at my lips. Just as he had probably planned.

  “Care to show me your piece on display?” Jonah asked politely.

  I gestured towards the small stage where three pieces were on display. “Follow me,” I said, turning
towards the stage.

  A deep voice murmured behind me, “Anywhere.”

  I shivered in response but continued walking.

  At the stage, Jonah gave a very convincing portrayal of man enthralled by side tables as he carefully examined mine. As we stood, admiring the table, he said to me in a voice only I could hear, “Knocking them dead as usual, kid?”

  I suppressed another smile. “Trying to,” I said. I took another sip of the champagne. “But I’m not a fan of these kind of mingling events.”

  He gave a sidelong look at the glass in my hand. “I’m surprised you’re still a fan of champagne.”

  I had to hold back a snort of amusement. “It’s my liquid courage. I can’t abandon it just because of one bad night.”

  He turned to me, looking down fully at me with those powerful dark eyes. “Clara,” he said, making me shiver hearing my name spoken by him. “Look around. You don’t need to mingle. You don’t need to charm. You’ve got these people hook, line, and sinker. All you need to do is be you.”

  It was as if his words were like strong hands that pulled my shoulder back, my back upright, and my chin high. I could feel myself feeling a little bolder and a little stronger with each word.

  “I wanted to say…thank you,” I said softly. “For last night.” At Don Maggio’s. I realized the care he had taken that night on my behalf.

  Jonah shook his head. “It was the least I could do.”

  I looked around the room. Although the mini uproar Jonah’s entry had stirred had died down some, I could see that we were still attracting quite a few looks. And cameras were still busily snapping away at us.

  “Are you sure you want to stay here?” I asked. “There are a lot of cameras here, even for a small press event. I know that the last time you had gotten in the press for a woman it hadn’t ended…prettily.”

  He pressed his lips lightly, as if giving me a considering answer. I had done my research, even though I had sworn to leave everything related to Jonah alone. I had seen the smear campaign Vanessa had created against Jonah after their separation.