Okay, so it’d be showtime soon.
Her phone buzzed, and Jordan’s name appeared. After quickly excusing herself, she snatched it up. “Hello?”
“EJ? Is everything okay?”
She closed her eyes, his voice like a comforting blanket. Again that rush of tears pressed against her eyelids. “It’s okay now.”
“Why? What happened?” he asked quickly.
“Nothing. Um, are you in Sydney or back home?”
“I’m on my way to the bistro, just like you asked.”
Oh, bless him.
“Um, EJ.” Gwen waved to get her attention. “Are you ready?”
How she wished she had a few minutes more in order to get Jordan here too. But he wasn’t, and she couldn’t delay much longer. She nodded, then spoke softly into the phone. “Look, I have to get started, but can you please pray? I’ve got a few potential investors here, and I need to start without you.”
“I’ve been praying since your text message came in.”
Her heart pricked. Did that mean he’d been praying when the man attacked her?Lord, bless him.“Thank you. I need to go, but we need to talk soon. Can I call you tonight once it’s done?”
“You don’t still want me to come in?”
“Look, I think we’ll be finished by the time you get here. Where are you anyway?”
“I’m just passing the Glebe light rail station.”
Maybe there’d still be enough time, after all. She glanced up, saw she had the attention of the whole table. “Sorry, I need to go. I’ll call you when I’m done.”
“Praying for you. You’ve got this. And God’s got you, remember?”
She nodded, then realised he couldn’t see her, so she murmured “thanks” and ended the call. Then pushed her shoulders back anew and glanced at the prospectus on the table.
Dream Match. Her life’s dream. Here went nothing.
“That was a pitch and a half!” Gwen murmured thirty minutes later in the ladies’ bathroom. “You nailed it, girl!”
Her heart lifted. Judging from the varying expressions of her audience, it hadn’t seemed like she’d nailed it. Apart from Neil, whose face held a distinct similarity to a puppy dog’s expression, with his dark, eager eyes fixed on her like she might offer a treat. “I’m glad you think so.”
Gwen nodded. “Eric told me he thinks it’s great.”
“Really?” Her heart thudded. If the son of a squillionaire was excited, then maybe they could privately float Dream Match and wouldn’t need to list it publicly.
Gwen’s eyes met hers in the mirror. “There’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
Her nose wrinkled. “It’s probably best Eric tells you himself.”
Oh. She thought she’d done a pretty good job at avoiding him tonight. The idea of speaking privately with him seemed a step too far. “Okay.”
She glanced at her phone. Now would be agreattime for Jordan to appear. She’d messaged him as soon as she’d finished, and he’d said he still planned to drop by, but this tension Eric had created made her wonder what was wrong now.
She dried her hands and returned to the private room. Two of the others had gone, but Eric and Neil remained, quietly chatting. They broke off as she returned, just as her phone rang.
She glanced at it, a soul sigh escaping at the name. “Excuse me. I need to get this.” She paced back. “Where are you?”
