Page 95 of Savage Ruin
Mateo leans in close. “We heard there was a package. Everything okay?”
“We’ll show you after the party,” I murmur.
Thiago makes a huge speech about the software Marcos and I co-invented, then plays the demonstration video. The crowd exclaims excitedly. Last, he announces the donation partnership with Epic Entertainment and introduces Beau Whitman. Beau makes a speech, and suddenly, it’s done. I sigh in relief.
The crowd converges on the two of them, but surprisingly, I gain my own little crowd of people. Mainly comprised of doctors and surgeons, they express their excitement and ask me a ton of questions. At first, it’s a little unnerving to talk about my work in public, but I’m passionate about this project. It’s remarkable, and I want everyone to use it. Of course, I also make sure to mention Marcos’ name when I talk about it. It’s his legacy, too.
Is this what it would be like to work for SEI? I don’t want to make CJ Tech a legal entity because of the rescues. Surely there’s a way for me to do both. Maybe I should start a second—legal company? My eyes slide to my men. Should I talk to them about it? Will they be able to look at this objectively and help me decide what’s best for me versus what’s best because it’s legal?
Grayson excuses himself from the people surrounding him. “Everything okay?”
“It’s good. I’m trying to decide some things for the future,” I quip.
Grayson looks alarmed. “Don’t make decisions until things are settled. We’ll all sit down together and talk about it, okay?”
Giving him a bewildered look, I nod. “Is it almost time to go home?”
He laughs loudly, causing several heads to turn. “The business part is done, but the party is just getting started.”
I give him an incredulous look because we’ve been for over two hours. “I’m going to get some wine.”
“I’ll go with you,” he returns with a grin.
When we get to the bar, Peyton’s standing with the tall, good-looking man I remember from the ball. “Ahem, can I get an introduction, please?”
“Henley!” Peyton exclaims in a slightly tipsy voice. “This is Alejandro, my incredibly sexy man. Alejandro, this is Henley. My muse. And my friend.”
Alejandro looks indulgently at Peyton, then turns to me. “It’s nice to meet you,” he drawls. “We wouldn’t have met if you hadn’t invited Peyton to the ball. Thank you.”
“I don’t think I’m the reason. He looked out the shop window and decided to save me. I was desperate and thankful, so I surrendered instantly,” I joke. “He’s incredibly talented, and I’m thrilled to have him as a friend. Once things settle down, we’ll have dinner together, okay?”
Alejandro’s eyes go to Grayson, who smiles. “Absolutely. I’ll cook.”
Peyton leans over. “He cooks, too?”
“An exceptional cook,” I confirm. “He looks hot in an apron, too.”
Grayson’s hand covers my mouth. “I think the wine is flowing a little too freely tonight.”
Alejandro chuckles and pointedly looks at Peyton. “I would agree.”
“We’ll see you later,” I tell them as Grayson drags me off. “Where are we going?”
“Dancing,” he responds with a wicked smile, pointing to where Thiago and Mateo are standing on the edge of the dance floor.
All three of us. “Hmm, yes please,” I reply with a heartfelt sigh.
For the next however many hours, we dance and drink and dance some more. I live only for the moment. This moment with them. No enemies, stalkers, or ghosts from the past. And when we finally leave the yacht, I’m weaving back and forth. Laughing and singing. On the way home, I’m out.
CHAPTER42
HENLEY
When the alarm goes off next to me, I lift my head and groan. Blindly reaching out to make it stop, I encounter a hard body beside me. Opening one blurry eye, I see Thiago smirking at me.
“Somebody let loose last night,” Thiago teases in a low voice which I greatly appreciate. “I’ll get you some water and aspirin.”
“Please,” I grunt, barely able to get the words out.
