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“You’ve got no imagination.”

He empties the rest of his champagne before I can answer.

One employee pulls me into a conversation about the contract. Another wants a photograph. Someone else introduces their wife.

A project manager corners me long enough to pitch ideas for next quarter before another group waves me over to join a toast.

By the time I escape, Theo has another drink in his hand.

“I leave you alone for fifteen minutes.”

“I’ve been productive.”

I shake my head, and the smile slips out before I can stop it as movement near the lift catches my eye.

Emma steps onto the rooftop beside Lena, and the rest of the party slips into the background. The navy dress falls just below her knees, skimming her figure in a way that pulls my attention exactly where it shouldn’t.

Honey-blonde hair tumbles over one shoulder in loose waves, and her silver earrings catch the light every time she laughs at whatever Lena’s saying.

People glance her way as she crosses the rooftop, but she never seems to notice. She smiles, chats with Lena, completely unaware that I’ve stopped following every conversation around me.

Theo tracks my gaze until he finds her. “Well.”

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.”

“It means you’ve been staring at the entrance long enough for me to finish judging you.”

I roll my eyes. “I’ve been acknowledging arriving employees.”

“You acknowledged one.” He takes a sip. “I knew hiring Emma would wreck your professional composure.”

“I have professional composure.”

Theo looks back toward Emma, then at me. “Sure you do.”

Emma catches sight of us before I can answer Theo.

Her face brightens, and the smile she sends my way reaches her eyes so easily that it throws every thought out of my head.

She heads straight over. “Bane.”

“You made it.”

“Barely. Lena vetoed my wardrobe three times.”

Lena appears at her shoulder carrying two glasses of prosecco and nods without a hint of regret. “I was protecting the company’s reputation.”

Emma snorts. “My dresses were perfectly acceptable.”

“They were aggressively responsible.”

“I like responsible.”

“You looked like you were about to brief shareholders.”

Emma offers a one-shouldered shrug. “I work in project management.”

“You looked like project management.”