Beads of sweat spring up along the back of my neck.“But the presentation’s over.”
“You and the others will need to clear up everything.I’ll need you to take Cecil’s laptop back to the office.”She fiddles with her fancy bracelet absent-mindedly, the way she often does when she’s annoyed.
I open my mouth to protest.Why isn’t she angry with Tom?Talking of him, where is he?
Cecil’s laptop is his responsibility.Not mine.I’ve done what was required of me.But, my body slumps as I realize that this duty will also fall to me, in Tom’s absence.I don’t want to risk losing the laptop, or having something happen to it—I’ll only get the blame.But what irks me the most is that Katherine isn’t remotely bothered by his absence and seems intent on skinning me instead.
She fiddles with her bracelet again, and something drops onto the wooden floor, making a little noise.
Her face turns hard.“No!”Her long fake eyelashes flutter furiously, “Oh, no!”she cries, staring at the floor in shock horror.“It’s fallen out.A diamond, from my bracelet.Quick, Maya.Find it!”
She brings up her wrist and examines her bracelet closely.
But me?
I obey her, without thinking, I’ve dropped to the floor and am crawling around looking for Katherine Potts’ missing diamond.I start searching around on all fours but I can’t see anything.The light is dim here, and that gem could have rolled in any direction.
Thousands of dollars lost and rolling around in some hard-to-find crevice.
Why am I doing this?
“Hurry!”She peeks out from behind the stage.“They’re breaking for canapes.Hurry!”
I am hurrying.
But I’ve also now lost my patience.
Cecil appears suddenly.“That went very well, I think, despite the little hiccup.”He stares at me.“You were a godsend, Maya.What are you doing on the floor?”
“We should mingle, Cecil.”Katherine completely ignores Cecil’s compliment.She never likes anyone saying anything nice about me.
“Shame about that little glitch but you handled it very well young lady.”Cecil takes a handkerchief out of his pocket and wipes it all over his bald pate.
“It wasn’t the slideshow, Cecil,” I retort, still on the floor, still crawling around.
“I’m sorry Maya messed up,” Katherine says.
“It wasn’t Maya’s fault,” Cecil replies, looking around.“Where is that dastardly IT person that you allocated to me, Katherine?Haven’t seen him since he plugged my laptop in.”
“I expect he’s busy doing something around here.”Katherine’s words make my blood boil even more.
“We need more people as amazing as this young lady.”Cecil beams at me.
“What’s taking you so long?”Katherine asks, peering down at me.She’s itching to mingle with the guests.I’m still crawling around on the floor, butt high up in the air, face close to the floor, because I cannot find this stupid little gem, and suddenly I don’t care that it’s likely worth thousands.I need to get away and get out of these dirty, sweaty clothes.
“What are you doing on the floor?”
I startle and rock back onto my heels with my knees tucked beneath me and my hands braced on the polished wood as I look up.
A man stands over me.
Tall.Broad-shouldered.Expensively put together, yet not overly flashy.Heat rushes through me, making my pulse spike, and my chest tightens in a way that confuses me.
I feel like I’ve seen this man before.I feel like I know him.
He steps closer, his eyes still on me, while I still struggle to breathe, to move, to say a word.His light brown hair is neatly styled, and a light shadow of stubble along his jaw catches my attention.
Sets my heart racing.
