“Please welcome my nephew Curtis Knight.”
Curtis appeared out of the shadows and stepped onto the stage, joining his aunt. His black tux hugged his broad shoulders and skimmed down his fit body. My fingers, which I truly considered chopping off for their disobedience, itched to ghost over every ridge of his six-pack. His hair was slightly mussed, adding to thelethal sexiness of his five o’clock shadow. My mother was right—he was trouble for heterosexual women everywhere.
Curtis gave his aunt a kiss on the cheek, and she placed her palm on his cheek, giving him a soft smile. He returned it and gave a nod. While she left the stage, he took his place at the microphone, and somehow, through the spotlight shining in his face, his all-consuming gaze found mine.
My throat closed up. Was it weird that I couldn’t breathe, that my chest felt like it might explode from the jackhammering of my heart? Was I going to die right here in this chair?
I tried to stand so I could leave, because there was no way I was ever breathing in this room, and I didn’t want to die by suffocation. That’s when it became apparent why I was seated between Kayley and Amy. They each grabbed one of my arms and held me there. Kayley gave me an apologetic look. Amy whispered, “I’m sorry, Faith. But I’m calling in my favor right now. If you want to pay me back for everything you think you owe me, now is the time. Just stay. Please hear him out. If you want to leave after that, I’ll go with you.”
Curtis was still staring at me. Was that a pleading look? A hopeful one? The room remained hushed, waiting.
My stomach hurt, so did my heart, and now I really did need to pee. It wasn’t dissimilar to that day in the donut shop when I first laid eyes on Curtis, only there were no donuts or hot chocolate waiting for me.
“Faith?” Amy prodded.
I relaxed into my chair. My legs were wobbly, so I probably wouldn’t have gotten too far anyway. “Okay,” I whispered past the lump in my throat while staring back at Curtis. Why did he have to be so beautiful? Why did his gaze have to penetrate me so deeply? I could almost feel him above me, his mouth on mine, his skin warm against me.
They released my arms, but Amy kept a watchful eye on me,her hand on her lap twitching, ready to spring into action if I so much as lifted my backside an inch off the chair.
What was Curtis going to say? Why were we really here? What could there be to celebrate? Had he gotten his job back? If he had, why would he be happy to work for his father and with Queen B? And what did I have to do with anything? At least he wasn’t glaring at me. In fact, he was looking at me like he was saying sorry. His gaze, as usual, felt like a tumultuous vortex sucking my soul toward his. As if we were the only two people in the room. In the city. In the universe.
Finally, his lips curled up into a small smile. Had he forgiven me? Did he want to try again, or were we both here to get closure? It was obvious that Amy had something to do with the planning of this, but why? There was no way she’d set me up to be embarrassed all over again. It was only then I truly sat back and gave up on springing to my feet and bolting.
I was ready to listen. Apparently, I was going to trust Curtis one last time.
I just hoped I wouldn’t regret it.
As he opened his mouth to speak, I held my breath.
Maybe if I held it long enough, I could pass out and wake up tomorrow, when it was all over.
CHAPTER 37
CURTIS
Tonight was the biggest night of my life. A night to set things right. A night to stick it to everyone who’d conspired to ruin my reputation.
But it would all be for nothing if Faith didn’t forgive me.
In this room full of my family, ex-work colleagues, and press, all I could see was her, in a sexy green dress, peering up at me from the table at the front, her blue eyes wide in shock. I hoped Amy was strong enough to keep her from running away. A small smile found its way to my face as I remembered how feisty she was in taking down the guy in Nero’s the day I’d first seen her, a day that would forever live deep in my heart as a foundation for the relationship I hoped we could still have.
Faith said something else to Amy, pursed her lips, then rolled her eyes. I smiled wider at how she always said what she thought when things were unfair, no matter who she might offend. I was glad Amy was on the receiving end of whatever she just said andnot me. Although, Amy was doing me a favor by getting Faith here, so I hoped she wasn’t suffering too much. Verbally sparring with Faith at the office before we’d called a truce were some of my fondest memories.
She was one in a billion.
And I was an idiot.
Had beenan idiot.
I didn’t plan on screwing up again.
Please, God, tell me I haven’t totally fucked this up and lost her.
If she could just sit here for my whole presentation, I’d have a chance. At least Amy thought I would. I wasn’t so sure if the look on Faith’s face was anything to judge by. She really wanted to leave. My shoulders tensed, and I gripped the lectern for dear life, waiting to see if she’d stay.
Amy said something to her, and Faith replied. I’d kill for some lip-reading skills. Thank God she sagged back into her chair. I took a deep breath and relaxed my hands. She was giving me grace, and by the look of sadness and hope in her eyes, it was a last chance. One I wasn’t going to squander.
I flicked my gaze to the left, to the table where my family sat with Victoria. Mom had managed to get my father here by saying that I had an important business announcement. Whether he’d come to see me fail or to encourage me, I had no idea because I hadn’t spoken to him sincethatday. Victoria had come because I’d asked her, and she probably assumed I’d forgiven her for taking my CEO position. It was just “business” according to her, and we shouldn’t let it get in the way of our “friendship.” Exactly what a conniving psychopath would say.
