The moment the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, a swarm of people and paparazzi descended on Richard and Jaclyn. As she took the brunt of the flashes, he smiled but ducked his head before disappearing behind the crowd. By the looks of it, she’d need some time to answer their questions.
He adjusted his glasses, clicking the connection to Margot as he headed to the bar.
“Not so fast,” she said. “Let me see Jaclyn.”
Margot’s request was endearing, a characteristic not often associated with the tough-as-nails tycoon. He readily complied, turning his face to the woman at the center of everyone’s attention.
“Look at her,” Margot said. “Breathtaking. Brilliant. But does she look tired to you?”
“Mm-hmm,” he murmured solemnly.
Though the huddle showed no signs of letting up, a man broke free, making a beeline for Richard. “You came with Jaclyn, right?”
Richard nodded, extending his arm to shake hands.
“Careful,” Margot said. “This is Jim Baxter. Power in all the wrong places. He usually sticks to Jaclyn like lint. If he’s tearing away from her to find you, it can’t be good.”
“James Baxter, but my friends call me Jim.”
Their handshake could have turned competitive, but Richard released his grip.
“I’m Richard.”
“Richard Austin, right? Jaclyn told me all about you. You work in tech.”
Again, Margot pushed forward her perspective. “He’s lying.” Richard couldn’t ask how she knew, but she explained. “Jaclyn wouldn’t give him the time of day, let alone share info with Jim about the man in her life.”
“Yes,” Richard said. “How do you know Jaclyn?” His questioning was friendly as he studied the guy’s MO.
“Jaclyn and I are sort of on-again, off-again. She might slum it every now and again, but she knows how to get ahead in the world. A man like me can take her places. A man like you? Well, it’s sort of like you and that viral video.”
The man’s words were troubling. Richard had checked every bit of video footage of the incident he could find. Even had his team verify there wasn’t a glimpse a tall blond man wearing glasses in any social media shot. Jim Baxter didn’t just happen upon this information.
Margot was right. With this guy, Richard had to proceed with caution. Good advice. Noted. And could Jim Baxter be the other party in the “we” Dylan had let slip? A definite possibility.
Guarded, Richard shoved his suspicions to the back burner, letting them quietly simmer. Then again, playing it safe was as appealing as a prostate exam after the not-so-subtle dig he’d just absorbed.
Richard’s lip curled up. “A man like me?”
“Let’s just say you might be the flavor of the week, but I’m the man to secure her status and put her in her place.”
“Don’t you mean take her places?”
Jim admonished him with an arrogant eye roll. “No.”
“The nerve of this man,” Margot said in his ear, and Richard couldn’t hold back his smile.
“Something funny?” Jim asked.
“I was just imagining you putting her in her place. I have a feeling you’d end up facedown, pinned to a table, like the last guy who tried.”
“Champagne?” a hostess said, holding a tray of flutes toward them.
Richard whisked away a flute of expensive brut and thanked her while Jim dismissed her with a conceited wave of his hand.
Straightening his tie, Jim attempted to close in, going eye to eye with Richard. “Take my advice. Be gone by midnight. Ask around. I’m one guy you don’t want to fuck with. As much as I’d hate to waste my resources making a cockroach like you disappear, if you’re still around tomorrow, I’ll do it.” His five-foot-nine-inch frame thoroughly diminished his attempt at intimidation, as much as his empty threat did.
Richard employed every inch of his height, standing a little straighter to tower over him. “Who Jaclyn dates is up to her. Want to make me disappear? Take your best shot. But a word to the wise, don’t fucking miss.” He smirked, lifting his glass in a daring toast before downing the bubbly.
The redness of Jim’s face revealed both his rage and embarrassment as he took a half step back.
Jaclyn joined them, glancing nervously between the men as she looped her arm through Richard’s. “What are you two talking about?”
Jim gave her a tight smile. “Your friend was just asking me for a job. I tried explaining that this is neither the time nor the place.”
“Don’t fall for it.” Margot practically spat out the words. “He’s trying to bait you. Jaclyn knows his number.”
True to trend, Margot’s superb advice was easily kicked to the curb. Jaclyn’s tightened grip on his arm drew his gaze to hers, and her eyes delivered a crystal-clear cease-and-desist message. Don’t engage.
Fine. He hated letting this go, but this was her night. He wouldn’t ruin it for something as trivial as stooping to the level of pretentious scum. Still, something inside him needed the last word.
“Jim misunderstood.” Richard’s saccharin-laced response oozed charm as he smiled at Jaclyn. “I was saying I couldn’t possibly take on more work, because I’m devoting every spare minute to making this hardworking woman happy.”
He ignored Margot’s high-octave beratement in his ear, not interested in her scolding. Putting Jim in his place just became Richard’s favorite pastime. And why not use it as an opportunity to lift Jaclyn?
In his book, it was a win-win.
Based on Margot’s angry response, his impetuous move to prove a point was risky. But fortune favors the bold. It must have made an impact, because Jaclyn’s lips were on his a second later, delivering an uncharacteristic spotlight of PDA for all the world to see. Richard broke away, letting her swipe the lipstick from his smiling lips with her thumb.
“I think he just said you were high maintenance,” a gruff voice said, disrupting their moment. It was Everett, his hand extended in welcome.
Richard eagerly took it, pumping Everett’s hand enthusiastically.
“Dad, let me present Richard Austin. Richard, this is my father, Everett.”
“A pleasure to meet you, sir. And Jaclyn is probably the least high-maintenance woman I’ve ever met.”
Jaclyn beamed again, but her father wasn’t stepping back from his hard-core position.
“Then you’ve got to get out more, because this one’s a handful.” He kissed his daughter on the cheek. “But your hard work has paid off. Another beautiful event.” He turned back to Richard. “You’re in the tech game, right?”
“Yes, very much so,” he said.
Jim interrupted, inviting himself to the conversation. “Funny . . . I can’t seem to find a single person who can vouch for you. Who did you say you worked for?”
Both Richard and Margot were at a loss. They hadn’t actually developed a shell company. A fake social-media footprint was quick and easy. But a fake corporation would be too susceptible to scrutiny and serious investigation.
Before he could say anything, a distinctly Latin voice joined in. “I can vouch for him.”
Richard smiled with relief as Paco Robles patted his back, joining the group. “Paco, great to see you again.”
“I’ll bet it is,” Paco said, beaming at Richard with ridiculous glee.
The right-hand man to Alex Drake, Paco controlled much of what went down with the multibillion-dollar corporation Drake Global Industries, or simply DGI. Based out of Manhattan, Paco often made the rounds across the world, so his presence in Dallas was no surprise. DGI and Black Technologies had been long-standing business partners, collaborating on the latest in surveillance.
Paco nodded to Everett and Jim, then kissed Jaclyn on both cheeks. “Well, gorgeous, I’m ready to emcee the event. Any changes from what we discussed?”
“No, and I’m ready to make some magic with you.” Jaclyn turned to the confused faces of the group. “Paco and I will close out the evening with a magic trick. I’ll make him disappear.” As a woman waving from across the room caught Jaclyn’s attention, she smiled and excused herself. “Oh, looks like I need to disappear myself.”
Paco grabbed Richard’s arm. “Let’s catch up over a drink. Excuse us.” He dragged Richard to the bar and ordered two vodka tonics.
“One vodka tonic,” Richard said, correcting him. “And one club soda.”
Once they had their drinks and found an isolated corner away from prying ears, Paco turned to Richard. “Wow, your cover must be really deep if you’re drinking that.”
“I thought it was. How’d you recognize me?”
“Come on, man. You know me better than that. I never forget a face. But the new look almost threw me. And nothing turns me on more than when Black Technologies owes me a favor. A Halley’s Comet type of rare occurrence with you.”
Richard shook his head with an eye roll. “Fine. You’ve got me by the short hairs. Name your price.”
Paco plucked the lime from his glass to squeeze the wedge into the bubbly liquid before dropping the peel on top. “It’s sort of an adjustable rate. First, you’re going to tell me every detail of whatever scheme this is, because, bottom line, I like Jaclyn. If anything happens to her, something much worse will happen to you.”
Though Paco smiled, Richard sensed the serious undercurrent in his tone. “Jeez, the threats keep flying.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Paco chuckled. “Still making friends wherever you go these days despite the squeaky-clean getup, I see. Everett on your case too?”
“Nope. Jim.”
“Hey, if you’ve been threatened by Jim, consider your disguise a success. He regularly kisses up to Alex, but it took him years to figure out who I was. I’ve been threatened by him once or twice. But I think he’s learned his lesson.”
Paco pointed toward Jim and waved. They watched as Jim toppled backward against a few other guests before hurrying to the other side of the room.
Paco turned his attention back to Richard. “Now, back to business. No bullshit, man. Jaclyn’s someone I—”
He stopped himself in the midst of his warning, his face brightening with a revelation. He squinted at Richard for a second, then snatched the glasses right off his face.
“One of your little toys, I’m guessing. Let’s just see who’s behind the rims?” he said coyly as he popped them on. His eyes grew wide. “Margot! Well, well, well, this is a surprise. You look gorgeous. Still in Europe? When are you back in town?”
To most onlookers, it might have appeared Paco was carrying on a spirited chat with Richard. Or, at least, to those not within earshot.
“What a delicious piece of man-candy!” Though staring straight at Richard, Paco’s voice carried to another guest who approached.
Richard sighed, presuming it meant that Paco had spied a nude masterpiece of a man on Margot’s bed.
The startled newcomer paused, seeming cautious to intrude. “Sorry to, um, interrupt. Paco, just wanted to let you know I’ll be staying after all, and you can introduce me in the lineup as planned.”
Paco nodded, and Richard pasted on a perturbed smile.
“Excellent,” Paco said brightly. “I’ll introduce you in half an hour, Governor.”
The governor, seeming in a hurry to extricate himself from their discussion, excused himself with a nod and a simple, “Paco,” followed by another nod and an amused, “Man-Candy,” directed at Richard.
Richard pinched the bridge of his nose, grateful to be anonymous. His patience wore thin as Paco’s conversation with Margot carried on and on.
Paco chuckled. “You’re right. He does look annoyed. I’d better let you go.”
He returned the glasses to Richard, who ended the call with, “Talk to you later, Margot. Good night.” He clicked the rims.
Paco’s Cheshire grin grated on Richard, and the alcohol-free lowball wasn’t helping matters. He set down the drink and rolled his eyes, exasperated at the idea of another payoff unfolding. The three-month arrangement with the hotel would easily qualify as chump change compared to what Paco might conjure up.
“Look,” he told Paco. “I need to stay incognito a little longer. Let’s get this over with. Give me the Robles rate for keeping quiet.”
“I guess that depends on what you’re doing.” Paco polished off his drink and tightly crossed his arms to contain his excitement. With bright eyes and a devilish grin, he said, “Okay, spill.”
* * *
Making her rounds about the room, Jaclyn noticed an old acquaintance entering the ladies’ room, and suddenly had an urge to check out the amenities. She entered the elegant foyer of the restroom to find the fashionable blond vixen alone, taking time to refresh her lipstick.
Jaclyn strolled up to the mirror, catching the worldly woman’s eye.
“Jackie . . .” The woman stretched out the childhood nickname for annoying effect. “You’ve managed to pull off another great shoulder-rubbing event.”
For all the hateful times Evelyn Banks had used that name against her, today it didn’t matter. Too many people were retweeting and sharing their hearts out for #TeamJackie. For the first time in her life, Jaclyn took it as a compliment.
“Evie, your looks are definitely set to stun. I happened to notice you sporting quite the ring. New fiancé?”
Evelyn fidgeted with the platinum-encased golf ball of a diamond on prominent display. She held up her hand and admired it in the light. “Yes, as a matter of fact. Finally found a man worthy of having me.”
“Versus having a man worth having?”
When Evelyn scowled at her, Jaclyn shook her head and apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant . . . Look, despite our differences, or lifetime of adolescent jabbiness, there’s something I have to know.”
Evelyn scoffed, fluffing her hair in the mirror. “I don’t owe you anything.”
“Don’t you?”
Apparently, Jaclyn’s stare-down was too much. Her frenemy brought the lipstick back to her lips and finished her crimson outline.
“Fine.” Tossing the Chanel lipstick into her beaded clutch, Evelyn gave in. “How about this? No matter what you ask, I’ll tell you absolutely everything I know.”
Jaclyn wrangled her courage and quietly asked a single direct question. “Okay. Were you engaged last year?”
Evelyn’s laughter bounced off the marble walls of the small room. “Of all the questions you could ask me during our precious bonding time, that’s what you want to know?” She again eyed her ring. “Fine. As a matter of fact, no, I wasn’t.”
Jaclyn, thinking back to the conversation with the surprisingly honest Mr. Black, glanced away with a frown that set Evelyn off.
“Don’t you judge me, Jackie Long. Not all of us are made to be moguls. Some of us have to find other ways to secure our future and make our family proud.” Evelyn practically trembled with anger, her eyes glistening with what looked like unshed tears as she continued.
“I needed something, and he needed something too. I just wanted to make another man jealous. And . . .” She wiggled her fingers. “When we started pretending to date, it worked. But deep down, I imagined he’d come around while playing the fake boyfriend, warm up to the idea of me by his side. I thought it was what he wanted, if not for him, at least for his public image. I mean, we were doing well portraying the perfect couple doing the whole long-distance-dating thing. He came down to Dallas a few times, and I almost thought we were hitting it off. But his mind was set, and it sure as hell wasn’t on me. His focus never turned off.”
A single tear dared to slide down Evelyn’s cheek. “We never even kissed. So I rolled the dice and blasted the news of our engagement, leaking a photo of me wearing my mother’s ring, and I didn’t tell him. Even then, he held up his side of the bargain, so I held up mine. And no matter how badly the paparazzi pestered him, he never said anything to contradict my story. Not one word about the fake news.”
A few women entered from the party, but Jaclyn shooed them out, warning them about a backed-up toilet and telling them to use the other one across the way. She locked the door and turned back to Evelyn.
There stood the woman Jaclyn had hated for as long as she could recall. Cried herself to sleep on more than one heartbroken occasion over her. Lived most of her existence fighting the sadness and insecurities brought on by the life-sized Barbie doll, now blubbering before her. But she couldn’t hate her anymore.
Strangely, if it weren’t for Evelyn, Jaclyn wouldn’t be the woman she was today. Then she thought of Richard. And how good it felt when she’d bared her broken soul, and he’d accepted her, holding her in his welcoming arms.
Despite their past differences, Jaclyn sucked in a fortifying breath and reached out to hug Evelyn.
“What the hell, Jackie. Get off me.” Evelyn wriggled but was no match for the workout queen.
“Nope. Not until you hug me back.”
“Hug you back? Have you lost your goddamned mind? What’s come over you?”
“Just do it,” Jaclyn said gently.
With a deep inhale and a stuttering, weepy exhale, Evelyn did as she was told. Lightly at first, then full-on tightening the sisterly embrace. She took a few seconds, and sighed. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
“Mm-hmm.” Jaclyn nodded and eased back slightly for an eye-to-eye reassurance. “I forgive you.”
For starting the whole Fattie Jackie bit that haunted her for years. For ripping the necklace from her during their dance class duel, causing her to lose the precious gift from her mother. And for taking every high school boyfriend from her for no other reason than to lord it over her.
Because today, Jaclyn wasn’t that little girl anymore. She was Jaclyn #TeamJackie Long, a woman taking names and kicking ass, and chasing down every dream she’d ever had. And her hug was latched around the polar opposite. A woman shackled to her status, who’d long ago decided money would warm her bed at night.
But their special moment was quickly morphing into awkwardness. They both released their hold and backed away.
Smiling, Evelyn dabbed a tissue to her tears. “I must admit my surprise to find you so quickly sleeping with the enemy, to coin a phrase.”
Jaclyn couldn’t fathom how Evelyn knew about a conversation with Black Technologies, except that perhaps she’d heard about it from her fake ex-boyfriend. Still, the man hadn’t lied. He never was Evelyn’s fiancé.
Studying Evelyn, Jaclyn said, “You always seem to have your finger on the pulse of everything that goes down, don’t you?”
Evelyn shrugged. “I might have soon-to-be Stepford wife written all over me, but I catch on. Long Multinational and Black Technologies would make sense. Your company needs their tech edge and advancements, and they need your infrastructure. Just watch out for their CEO. He’s damn good at getting what he wants,” she said with a laugh.
Jaclyn smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not climbing into anyone’s corporate bed. I just asked a favor of their company. And, mark my words, if I have anything to do with it, Long Multinational Systems will never be a merger in the making.”