Page 106 of Playing A Risk
Until she says she doesn’t love me back, I’m not going anywhere. The problem is, the app just went live.
We’re at the launch party in the ballroom of one of the area’s hotels. A screen shows the commercial being circulated around the world, at all the casinos, and on the web. A sales ticker tracking new users is on the bottom of the screen.
Everything we’ve worked toward rests on this moment. My time at Efron Worldwide will diminish tremendously in the next month. And so does my time with Dori.
I’m exhilarated one minute and desperate the next. Either way, I can’t stand still.
Hunter’s positioned at the front of the room with a microphone in his hand, waiting for the commercial to end. Dori’s in the corner, chewing on her thumbnail.
The board, Efron’s employees, and the sponsors are glued to the screen. I pace back and forth, glancing at the ticker as I do.
The final scene plays with glass breaking and shattering. Then it fades to black. The link to the app flashes in its place and grows larger. Ten seconds pass and the ticker starts to click up.
The room erupts with people hooting and hollering. I freeze and can’t take my eyes off the increasing numbers. Myshoulders relax as the weight of the world falls away. I can breathe again.
“There it is, team. It’s live and growing by the second. Congratulations to those who gave their all to this project and a special shout-out to Jamison Stone. Well done. This couldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you.” Hunter tips his chin in my direction.
I nod in acknowledgment but want to roll my eyes. I don’t trust his sincerity. Maybe I’m cynical, but his past behavior has left me with a terrible taste in my mouth.
He continues to thank the team. When he comes to Dori, he stares lovingly at her for longer than a boss should at his employee. My heart gets squashed once again. His actions shouldn’t surprise me because the more time he spends with her, the bolder he gets.
Fuck this.
I could use a drink.
I go to the bar while everyone listens to Hunter as he stands in the spotlight. Melanie comes up to me right as the bartender slides me a drink.
“Can I please get a glass of white wine?” She smiles at him and then turns her gaze to me. “Congratulations on all your dreams coming to fruition.”
“I’d say thanks if that were true.” Ignoring the constant pain in my chest, I circle the whiskey in my glass and take a sip. “Does this mean you’re speaking to me again?”
“I’m standing here, aren’t I?” The bartender hands her the wine. “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”
“There are a few, so can you give me the specifics?”
We move off to the side so others can join the celebration.
She waves me over to an open area. “The only elephant I know of is this thing going on with Dori and you.”
“How about the one with Jonah’s name written all over it?”
She pushes my shoulder. “Jami, you know me. I don’tbelong in that world. I like to go out and play the field, so I ended it. What you witnessed was me trying to get my girl through your betrayal.”
“So it all comes back to me.” I shake the ice in my glass. “Interesting.”
“What’s interesting?”
“That once again, I paved the way for someone I care about to get involved with an Efron.”
As if on cue, Jonah comes up from behind me. “Did I hear you right? Are you saying you have feelings for Melanie now?”
Melanie jumps in. “Jonah, take it down a notch. Jami and I were just talking. He asked me about our fling. I told him it was nothing but me backing up my friend around his?—”
“It was a fling and meant nothing? Is that how you feel? Nothing we did or talked about meant anything?”
“Umm…” She shakes her head and shrugs.
He releases a breath of hurt. “Do you think I would’ve taken you to Paris for New Year’s Eve if it was nothing? Do you think I would’ve taken you to my dad’s house for Christmas dinner if it meant nothing?”
