Those Red High Heels (14 page)

As I looked over at Dexter, I couldn’t help but smile. He was a total nerd, but a nerd that worked very hard and was good at his job.

“I have everything set up. I’m so ready to get this finished.
Stolen Ivory
is going to be big, I can feel it.”

“Me too, and I have a surprise for them. Remember how I mentioned on Monday I talked to Collin about a potential movie deal? Well, he loved it and now I’m working on whipping up a potential deal with their production company. Lyon’s Media could do the marketing as well. You’re right, it is going to be big,” I said with a huge grin and met Dexter for a high-five.

Right at 10:00 a.m. six people entered the meeting room at Purple Moon, and sat down at your typical rectangular table. Greyson was the first one to enter, and immediately found me. I shot him a smile, but I only received a slight nod. I guessed I was seeing the businessman Greyson.

Pierce Lyons was the last one in, and I could tell he was Greyson’s father the minute he walked through the door and sat down at the end of the table. His blue eyes matched Greyson's to a T, and were hard to miss. Although, I wasn’t sure what he was doing there. The CEO of a marketing company never sits in on such a small account. Dexter and I exchanged a confused look, but shrugged it off and continued on.

When everyone was settled, a woman from Lyons opened the meeting by introducing the last part of their marketing plan for
Stolen Ivory
. A book trailer had been put together which showcased the major selling points of the storyline. The writing was impeccable, and the idea was genius.

Greyson was quiet during the entire presentation, but we both caught each other staring in the others direction. When I was around Greyson, there was an undeniable magnet pull. It took everything to not interrupt and ask what was going on.

When the meeting was over, Pierce was the one who stood up first and thanked us for working with them. Dexter and I started to pack up as the rest of the Lyon’s staff filed out of the room. Just as we were about to leave, Pierce asked me to stay behind, because he had a few more questions about our plan. I was hoping to catch Greyson, but that idea was shot down.

“Go ahead and shut the door, Emma. This won’t take long.”

A queasy energy passed through my body, and I had a feeling I was walking into the lion’s den (no pun intended). I had heard some scary things about Pierce Lyons, and if the way he treated his son was any indication, well let’s just say I hoped that the conversation wouldn’t interfere with my progress at Purple Moon. “Of course,” I replied professionally and clicked the door shut.

Pierce motioned for me to sit at the table and he joined me in the next chair. “Emma, it has come to my attention that you and Greyson are getting to know each other quite well.”

My body became very warm when I finally realized why I was in there. It wasn’t to talk about
Stolen Ivory
, but to talk about me staying away from Greyson. “We’ve done a few things for the wedding together. It’s been nice getting to know one of Brynn and Collin’s good friends.” I was trying to keep the conversation light, because I didn’t know what had gone down the past few days. I did, however, have a feeling Nora was right in the middle.

“I see. Well, I’m sure you’re aware that Greyson is an engaged man. I’m not sure how good it would look if an engaged man is seen prancing around the city with a single woman.”

I really, really wanted to roll my eyes at Pierce Lyons and tell him that Greyson could be friends with whomever he wanted, but my career was on the line, so I played along. “Oh, of course. I can assure you, Mr. Lyons, we were only out together as friends. Greyson was being kind and helping not only me, but our friends as well.”

“You know, Ms. Walker, Greyson has a very high reputation to keep intact here. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to that, now that you are in town. I hope to hear you two are not alone together on any more wedding matters. Those kinds of chores can be left to the bride and groom. Greyson has his own affairs to take care of.”

I did not like that guy. How was it my fault Greyson wanted to go to Ellis land or the Statue of Liberty with me? Or that Collin and Brynn had asked us to help them? I didn’t understand, but I knew what I needed to say. “You have my word that Greyson and I will always have a chaperone.”

Pierce and I stared each other down for a few seconds before he stood up suddenly and pushed his chair in. “Good. You’re making the best decision for everyone. I’m very interested in this book, Ms. Walker. I really think your author has something here.”

A few minutes after Pierce left the boardroom, I finally figured out why he showed up at the meeting. It wasn’t because he was interested in
Stolen Ivory
, it was to warn me to stay away from his son. I collected myself and headed out to find Dexter. I pulled out my phone to shoot him a quick text.

Dexter, where are you?

Waiting for you by the coffee machine. Glad to hear you survived...

I let out a small laugh before replying with a silly winky face.

When I was about to step into the employee break room, I spotted Dexter by a table, chatting with a young woman, maybe in her mid twenties, whom I hadn’t been able to meet yet. Dexter was a complete nerd, but for some strange reason he always had women falling all over him. I chalked it up to his glasses, because he had a Clark Kent thing going on.

Just as I was about to walk over to him, the conversation I had had with Pierce finally sunk in. There goes Greyson and me being friends, which was probably for the best. It looked like Greyson’s world was way more complicated than I had originally thought.

I finally coerced Dexter away from his latest interest, and grabbed some coffee. We walked over to the seating area, and plopped down on a few comfy chairs.

“So, what did Pierce Lyons say to you?”

“You don’t want to know. It has nothing to do with
Stolen Ivory
.”

“Well, maybe I wasn’t that interested before, but I am now. Spill.”

I laughed a little and readjusted the hot coffee cup in my hand. “Want to get lunch? I’ll pay if you pretend to be a psychiatrist?”

Dexter let out a laugh, but agreed to the terms. We stopped by Jennifer’s office, relaying the details of our meeting, and headed out on the street to grab something to eat.

I looked down at my cute cobalt blue heels and decided I may have made a wrong shoe choice today. “Are you sure we can’t take a cab? I promise you won’t die. I mean look at me, I’m still alive.” Dexter has this weird complex about riding in cabs. He had a psychic tell him he was going to die in a car, so he has avoided them ever since.

“It’s only three blocks, and you’re not getting out of this. What happened?”

I finally gave in and spilled all about Greyson. “It really isn’t anything. We hung out a few times, and helped out Brynn and Collin. Nothing romantic, and we both know he’s engaged. I can’t believe I had the ‘stay away from my son’ talk from Mr. Lyons.”

“Hmm.”

I looked over at Dexter and shot him a weird expression. “Hmmm? That’s all you have to say?”

“All I mean is, hmmm; sounds interesting to me. What you explained sounded harmless, but for some reason Nora thinks you’re after her man.”

“She’s crazy. They all are.”

Dexter let out a loud laugh. “You got that right, but that’s what you get here. It’s not so bad, once you get used to it.”

We talked and bantered back and forth the rest of the way to lunch. When Jennifer heard how well Lyons marketing plan was received, she immediately called the author to tell her the great news. Everyone was celebrating when we got the conformation that
Stolen Ivory
was set to release in three weeks.

Chapter Thirteen

“Emma, my God you look hot.” Brynn let out a low whistle as I twirled and did a little curtsy for her.

“It’s your dress; of course I look amazing,” I said with a wink.

We clinked wine glasses and took one last sip before we were off to Purple Moon to celebrate the success of
Stolen Ivory’s
debut weekend. It had already broken into the USA and New York Times bestseller lists, but we’d also received word the author had signed off on a movie deal with Brynn and Collin. I couldn’t wait to see the screenplay Brynn was getting ready to start on.

“Maybe there’ll be a single guy tonight who will catch one of those pretty green eyes of yours?”

I looked over at her and let out a sigh. “God, let’s hope so.”

We both let out a laugh, but we were quickly interrupted when Collin came into the kitchen, telling us we’d better go if we didn’t want to be late.

“Emma, how’s the apartment treating you?” Collin asked as we headed down the elevator to the first floor.

“Collin, I love it. I really do. It’s perfect, and amazing, and just ... I love it. I’ve met a few of my neighbors, and they've been very welcoming. The view is breathtaking, and if you weren’t Brynn’s fiancé, I would give you a big kiss.”

Brynn told me to back off, which earned an eye roll from Collin and a grunt out of me when she nudged my stomach.

My apartment really was working out perfectly. I had moved in a few weeks ago, and I loved everything about it. I couldn’t have asked for more. I really owed those two, and I hoped that one day I would be able to pay them back.

When we finally arrived at the Katra Lounge, I was surprised to see how many people were already there. “Wow, this is a great turn-out so far,” I said more to myself, but Brynn agreed with me.

“This is going to end up big. I can feel it,” Brynn whispered into my ear and we both looked like kids in a candy store.

“I know. I knew it when I read the book.”

When we finally made it to the entrance, we both were in awe at how elaborately it was decorated and beautifully set up. Purple Moon was growing more each day, taking on best-selling authors, and you could tell they were now in the major leagues.

“We're going to go mingle and say hi to a few people. Will you be okay, or do you want to come along with us?”

“No, no. I’ll be fine. I need to find Jennifer and Dexter. We want the author to read a few pages from the novel, and then we are going to announce the big movie deal. I’m so excited. I knew moving to this city was going to be great.” We hugged each other before Brynn was pulled toward a group of people from their production team.

I found Jennifer right away and waved at her over the sea of people who were chatting and drinking. “Emma, I have been looking everywhere for you! I’m glad you’re finally here. Melissa, the author, has been really excited to see you.”

“I know. I’m so sorry I’m a few minutes late. Traffic was a bitch. I’ll go find her.” I gave Jennifer a quick hug and waved to Dexter across the crowd. As I scanned the room for Melissa, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would see Greyson. I hadn’t spoken to him since our meeting three weeks ago, and no matter how hard I tried, his perfect face wouldn’t get out of my mind. When I scanned the guest list earlier, his name was nowhere to be found.