Page 13 of Roots of the Wicked

Chapter Seven

Chase

It had been a week since I saw Jax, who had me strolling into the convention with a single-minded focus. Tonight I was dressed in a dark gray, Desmond Merrion suit that was tailored to fit, from the legendary Savile Row on my last trip to London. This suit unquestionably highlighted the effort I put into keeping myself fit, and I had warn it with only one person in mind.

Jax was the only woman that I could recall wanting to impress. Her place in my mind was already established, roped off with a gold-plated reserve sign. I spent the time before this convention in Jax’s website reading her bio so many times, it was imprinted on my brain. An impressive start, she had gone to Columbia where she earned her undergrad before working her way through grad school at Cornell.

I found it very peculiar though that she didn’t have any social media accounts. None I could find anyway. She either didn’t like to socialize or was there another reason?

The media was the driving force that helped make me a household name. All it took was a few A-list celebrities talking about my company, and how I had made them millions handling their investment portfolios.

When pictures of me and those celebrities started circulating the internet, I became a household name seemingly overnight. Next thing I knew, I was being interviewed by talk shows, in magazines, and on popular internet blogs. Everyone that was anyone was throwing their money at me. People were constantly watching me too, waiting for me to fail, so the pressure to stay on top of my game, was the driving force I contributed to my success.

Camera flashes and shuffling feet followed in my wake when I entered with my date, who ate up the attention. She’d stopped me several times to take photos at different angles. My attention though, was in a different zone entirely as I scoured the space for Jax. My hand remained planted in the small of my date’s back, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember her name.

“Chase! Chase!” With their bodies bouncing with excitement, two overzealous women shouted my name. “Can we get a selfie with you?”

“Please,” they said together like they practiced it.

“Of course,” I answered. Although the attention grated on my nerves sometimes, I kept in mind that it cost me nothing to pause for a few seconds to put a smile on someone’s face. My date stepped out of the way while the ladies took their place on either side of me snapping away.

When one of the women handed my date her phone to take a photo, she frowned before snapping a few. Their pictures with me were likely already downloaded to social media as they stepped away eyeing their phones.

“I hope that doesn’t become a problem tonight,” my date muttered under her breath after retaking her place at my side.

Long rows of trade show booths, containing electronics and digital equipment, lined the large open space inside the center. Upbeat tunes buzzed about the space, keeping minds alert and inspiring positive vibes. People mingled, some ogling the latest in tech toys and devices. Owners and investors soaked up the media attention while attempting to hopefully, find rich investors that would take their products to the next level.

A bar and serving tables were set up in every spacious corner away from the bustling rows of equipment.

Booth owners entertained their guests—some giving presentations and some introducing updates on devices in energetic profit-inspired voices.

A few more fans approached to take more shots. I had never gotten used to the idea that doing my job and being good at it had earned me the status some superstars coveted.

Anxiousness nipped at my bones, biting with a fierceness that added weight to my unrelenting thoughts. “Is there anything I can do to take that bewildering look off your face,” my date asked.

“I glanced at her, but images of Jax swayed me from truly seeing her. I finally responded. “I just have a lot on my mind.”

The only thing on my mind was Jax. I asked the woman whose name still evaded me if she wanted a drink. It had been a half hour since my arrival, and I still hadn’t seen her.

“You seem distracted, Chase.” I heard my date say. Just as I thought to respond, a spark of positive energy lit my body. Finally. Without seeing her, I knew that Jax had arrived.I turned in the direction of the doorway and caught a glimpse of her entering.

This wasn’t the stylish woman I met at the office. With her head held high and her shoulders set in confidence, tonight, Jax was a goddess. Light was in love with her as it caressed the most delicate angles of her facial features. It reflected off her flowing metallic dress, draped perfectly over every curve. She had styled her hair so that three small rows of braids on either side of her head flowed into a stylish mohawk inspired ponytail.

Light makeup made her eyes pop, and her glossed lips had me tracing every intricate line and sculptured turn. Her skin tone blended well with the silver dress, which would be dull on anyone else. Her full breasts sat displayed like two tempting treats.

The physical beauty she presented was indisputable, but I knew first-hand that she was much more than what met the eye. My tongue glided across my lips, unaware that my date was observing my every move.

Her throat clearing did little to draw my focus away from Jax’s sexy figure. In fact, I did give her a side look before redirecting my attention back to the person I was dying to see since my arrival.

But the grin on my face died an unmerciful death, when I noticed something I had failed to see before now. The person standing beside Jax had taken ahold of her hand. Jax’s date—was a woman.

***

Jax

My gaze zoomed across the large space and found Chase as soon as I stepped across the entrance. What was he doing here? It would have been best to ignore him, but I was a glutton for punishment.

Chase’s attempt to hide his shock was useless. His jaw ticked when he noticed my date. I sensed his eyes lingering from a distance, as I scanned the newest in tech toys in the first few booths we approached.

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