Page 95 of When Glitter Meets Gold
“I missed you too,” I say against his cheek. “Lots.”
“Why were you charging through the crowds?” He smirks, applying subtle pressure to my hips as he leads me in the slow dance.
“I was looking for you.”
“Been here the whole time.” He pulls me closer, his mouth brushing my ear again. “Never left.”
A pang of heat spears through me because I know he’s not talking about his presence at this ball.
“Me either,” I whisper so quietly I’m not sure he hears until his fingers sink into my lower back.
Then he’s looking down at me again, head tilting to the side as his face turns serious. “I let you down.” He sighs. “I said I’d give you honesty, but I got so caught up in…whatever incredible thing was happening between us, I didn’t stop to take care of the serious stuff too.” He shakes his head. “I guess I wanted to keep the bad stuff out.”
I bite my lip. “I’m still figuring out all the things that come with who you are, Jack. And I know a lot of those things are complex, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to try to understand. Especially if it involves another woman.” I inhale, because I know this next part might be premature, but I’m not scared to look vulnerable in front of him, I’ve never been afraid to look that way. “But the moment you keep the bad stuff to yourself, that’s the moment you go through it, alone. And if you want there to be anus,then we go through things as a team, no matter how shitty they are. Your weight, is my weight.”
Jack doesn’t say anything, but he swallows, and I see his brows raise.
“I mean, I was going to apologize for what I said about you working for your boss.” He narrows one eye, smirking. “But, I changed my mind. I don’t apologize. You should be running my company with smart things like that coming out your mouth.”
I brush the side of his face with my fingertips. “Couldn’t afford me, I’m afraid.”
He grins, swaying me into a spin before drawing me tighter to his body. “I figured.”
I grin back before I’m serious and composing myself again. “Just know that if we’re not being honest, we’re saying this isn’t worth the truth. That’s what it comes down to, okay?” I’ve seen what hiding your feelings does, I’ve seen what saying everything is fine does, I know how it ends.
Jack nods, his chin tilting down, his nose grazing the side of mine. “Sara, you will always, always be worth it.”
And then we’re swaying again, leaning into each other,letting our bodies sync with the other, making up for the lost time. I’m a few elevated heartbeats from telling him about my theory about Kandi when a voice comes from over my shoulder, pulling us from our daydream.
“Long time, Vandenberg.” A man with olive skin and round features pats Jack on the back. “Come meet my son, he’s been dying to talk to you.”
Jack nods tightly at the man, while flashing me an apologetic look.
Right at the same time a pair ofveryfamiliar faces stop in front of me.
Faces I see daily when I enter the office, and again when I leave. Staring down at me from their four-foot glossy portraits on the wall at reception. The founders, CEO’s, presidents. Leaders on every level and in every capacity.
Reza Parvin and Justin Spence, creators of Street Bandit.
At first, I don’t think they’ll recognize me, because they haven’t set foot in the office in over six months, and even then, the visits are compressed into thirty or so minutes of meetings led by Walter which rarely involve me.
Only, they’re looking at me with blatant hints of recognition. Reza is pinning me with dark brown eyes, and Justin is tossing his blond highlighted head back to finish his drink before exclaiming, “I know you.”
Reza nods, places a hand over his thick black beard, his eyes swelling with contemplation. “Our marketing girl.”
The pair, in their mid-thirties, exchange looks. Undecipherable, long looks.
And that’s when I know that I’m thoroughly and unavoidably doomed.
They’ve been informed about the leak, and how I was the one who let the private information of our most important client to date, filter to the press.
I draw in a deep breath as I prepare to accept my fate.
“Great idea with the app by the way,” Justin says.
Right at the same time I blurt, “I’m so, so, sorry.” Then I shake my head. “Wait, what did you say?”
“The idea you pitched the other week, about creating a sister app?” Reza frowns, smoothing the material on the arm of his black suit. “We liked it.”
