“Donnell,” Kayla called.
A tall, dark-skinned man turned to us with a smile.
“This is Mia. She’s starting a new coffee shop over on Grant Avenue.”
His smile grew. “I was just telling Mike about wanting to find a new shop.” He turned and tapped a man on his shoulder. “This is my husband, Mike,” Donnell continued. The two men asked me multiple questions about the shop.
This went on repeatedly as Kayla or Destiny introduced me to one and then another gala attendant.
“Mia?” a familiar voice said while I was in the middle of a conversation with yet another attendee.
I spun to find Vincent Davis. I fought to keep my smile in place.
“Do you two know each other?” Kayla asked, looking between us.
“We work together,” Vincent answered.
“Used to,” I corrected, sharper than I intended. “We used to work together.”
“Yes, Mia trained me when I started as a sales rep at Corsica Pharmaceutical,” Vincent said. “Then I got promoted to a managerial position, and Mia quit.”
I didn’t mistake the scathing tone in his voice, but I chose to ignore it.
“Resigned,” I told Kayla. “To start my coffee shop.”
“Yes, well, some of us had the grit and fortitude to persevere through trying times,” Vincent added.
He didn’t give me a chance to say anything before he pivoted to Kayla.
“Which is exactly why I, and Corsica Pharmaceuticals, would be a match made in heaven with Townsend Industries’ healthcare sector.”
I gaped as Vincent pulled out a business card and thrust it in Kayla’s direction.
She openly stared at the card and then at Vincent. “I don’t work for Townsend Industries,” she said calmly. She glanced over her shoulder. “But the CEO of Townsend Industries is right over there.” Kayla pointed over her shoulder in the direction of Aaron Townsend.
“I’m certain he wouldlovefor you to interrupt him while he’s with his wife at a charity event to talk business.” Sarcasm dripped from every word. “Give it a try.”
With that, Kayla wrapped her arm around mine, and we strolled away from Vincent. Laughter spilled from my lips.
“I bet he’s still standing there looking like Boo Boo the Fool.” From over my shoulder I saw that, sure enough, Vincent stood there at the center of the room, looking like couldn’t decide on his next move.
“If he had done any research, he would know that I’m a naturopathic doctor. I’m the last one who would advocate for a pharmaceutical company in a business deal.” She waved a hand in the air. “Nothing against conventional medicine or drugs when necessary.”
I held up my hands. “I get it. The products I sold often saved thousands of lives but some of the side-effects can be brutal.”
She nodded. “And that’s when they’re used correctly. You don’t want to know about the cases I’ve seen when those drugs are put in the wrong hands.”
I shook my head. “I bet I don’t.”
We talked for a while longer, meeting more attendees. After a few more minutes, I started to look around for Brutus. It didn’t take too long for our eyes to lock.
He strolled toward me, a determined gleam in his eyes. “Sorry. An issue I needed to help work out.”
“It’s fine.” I pressed my palm to his chest. “I’m having a great time.”
He frowned.
“A lot better now that you’re back by my side.”
