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“Calm down, Lawson.”
“No, Clay, let him get it out. Right now, he’s a firework about to explode. Let him explode at me.”
“Are you trying to start a fight? Don’t you think I have enough to worry about without the guilt of punching my dad or my brother?” I spit out, shrugging away from my brother’s touch.
Just as fast as it came, the annoyance and rage disappears and Dad’s face fills with sympathy and compassion.
“Let it out, son. Let it out. You can’t take this rage upstairs. Greer will take one look at you, and it’ll frighten the shit out of her. You’re not yourself; there are flames of fury rolling off of you. So, if you need to take a swing at Clay or me, do it. But get it out of your system, because when you see your young lady, you need to be one hundred percent in control. Right now, you are not.”
“I’m fine,” I lie, knowing he’s right but too stubborn to acknowledge it.
“You’re anything but fine. This is your last chance to get it together, because when you get upstairs, there is no room for fuck-ups. This isn’t only your heart on the line; it’s the company, the proposal, and most likely our careers. One false move and we all go down.”
He’s right, and I know it. No room for fucks-ups. One chance to make this right with Greer and not ruin the Morris reputation. So much is on the line; it’s time to unwind the fear and find the focus.
The rage inside deflates, and my adrenaline takes over. I look between him and Clay with sincerity. “I’m sorry for putting you in this position. It’s not your problem and I appreciate your help here. “
“You good?” Clay crooks an eyebrow at me skeptically.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
Dad assesses me closely and then nods. “Tell me where to go.”
I review the hotel building pl
ans on my phone. “According to this, you need to go down that delivery bay and take the elevator to the second floor. It will open up to a small hallway, and once you round the corner, you’ll be in the lobby on the far side. Follow the signs for the event.”
“I’ll contact you when I catch sight of her.” He gives me a half-wave and then stares at Clay.
They exchange a look that sets my nerves even further on edge. They’re expecting the worst outcome.
I grit my teeth, determined to prove them wrong.
Dad disappears, and Clay follows me to the last delivery area. We find the freight elevator easily and take it to the fourth-floor ballrooms. It opens to the far side of the food, beverage, and hospitality area, and we slip through unnoticed as most of the staff are bustling around the other end preparing for the evening.
The building and zoning plans have three ballrooms on this floor. Luckily, we hit the jackpot with the first room we come to. The space is filled with the design models. There are several large partitions set up for service that will shield us from view.
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I know it’s Dad. “Is she here?” I squat behind one partition that gives me a full peripheral view of the room.
“Jesus, Lawson, she’s fucking beautiful.”
I drop my chin to my chest and squeeze the bridge of my nose. “Focus, Dad. What’s happening?”
“Kevin Palmer is on the stage, surrounded by Greer and her friends. They are crouched over a laptop.”
“Can you get close enough to hear what they’re saying?”
“Not yet.”
There’s a loud undeniable screech of a microphone coming to life that sounds through the room and the phone line, followed by an announcement.
“Don’t let her out of your site. We’re in the display room, right next to you.”
“Stay sharp.” The line goes dead, and I listen through the wall as the announcer starts the evening by welcoming everyone.
People shuffle around and the chatter becomes louder, ending in an enormous applause when Kevin’s name is mentioned.
A text comes through as the noise grows louder.
