Page 19 of The Exposed Heiress

Looking down at her slingback heels, Emma smoothed her skirt. “Yes.” Her legs felt unsteady beneath her.

Climbing off the bike, Leo asked, “Did you survive intact?”

She removed the leather jacket. “It was rather liberating. It took my mind off of all the problems.”

Placing his helmet on the bike, he asked, “Are you a fan of motorcycles?”

She smiled slowly. “I had never ridden on a motorcycle until today. My parents considered them dangerous, and when I got older no one I knew rode a motorcycle.”

His voice sounded low as he leaned forward and said, “Maybe you’ve been hanging around with the wrong crowd.”

Emma used her hands to untangle her hair. “Maybe. Where are we? You knew the code to come in?”

Leo walked towards the elevator and inserted a card. “Bloom Advertising rents the top two floors of this building. I thought you might need a place to collect yourself before we head to Francis Bolles.”

She nodded. She had been invited to pitches at Bloom Advertising, but had never come. She’d been focused on getting rid of them, but her father had steadily refused.

They rode up in the elevator in silence. Emma glanced at him and tried to put aside the memory of being in his arms. But it was impossible. His long, lean body and strong muscles made her conjure up all sorts of unwanted thoughts.

The doors opened on the twentieth floor and Emma took in the modern setting. A receptionist stood up from behind a curved desk when she saw it was Leo. “Mr. Bloom, hello.”

“Hello, Steph. This is Emma Bolles.”

Emma smiled and said, “Hello.”

Leo straightened his tie. “Could you show Emma to the women’s powder room? I’ll be in my office.”

The receptionist came out from behind her desk and said, “Come this way.”

Emma followed her through an open lobby area.

Steph said to her, “The Bolles account is my favorite. Your designs are simply breathtaking. I loved the red gown last year that was featured on all the billboards.”

Emma nodded. “It was a favorite of mine as well.”

They stopped at the restroom. “Here you go. If you re-trace your steps to the reception area then I’ll show you to Mr. Bloom’s office.”

Pushing through the door, Emma opened her handbag and took out lipstick, moisturizer, and hair product. She applied a small amount of flattening product and slowly worked a brush through her long hair. She gently rubbed moisturizer onto her face and reapplied her red lipstick. The wind had given her a natural pink glow.

She took a few calming breaths before she reached the reception area.

Stephanie stood up and said, “Mr. Bloom is in the conference room, if you want to go there.” She pointed to a glassed-in area with several people looking at something on the table.

Emma nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

Leo opened the door as she approached. “Come in. I’d like to introduce you to the creative team that works on the Bolles account.”

She said, “Hello, everyone. I’m Emma Bolles.”

An older man with a short beard and pin-striped shirt stepped forward. “It’s nice to meet you, Emma. I’m Alex. I’m the creative director for the account.”

She shook his hand.

Alex pointed to a man with his arm in a sling and a pregnant woman with pink-dyed hair. “This is Bernard, the art director on your account and someone who is hopelessly clumsy, and Louise, a top-notch designer who is about to leave us.”

Emma smiled and said, “It’s so nice to meet you both.”

Alex stepped forward. “We won’t keep you, but since you stopped in, the proofs from the first shoot of the collection are in.”

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