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Roni looked around the room and was surprised to see Chloe and Royce, but Royce was holding his daughter and nodded at her. She’d make her way over to see Willow soon. She didn’t know the woman next to Royce though.
The rest of the people were those that she’d met through the four partners in the building and was assuming some were spouses.
“Can we get you a drink or food?” Carolyn asked. “Sometimes it’s better to have that in hand when we introduce you around.”
“I’ll do it,” Megan said, moving forward. “The bell just went off, it’s probably someone else you want to gang up on.”
She was relieved that Megan gave her the breather but then nervous too, as this was the first time she’d be meeting Trent’s brother, who she easily picked out of the room.
“Thanks,” she said quietly.
“Don’t thank me yet. The fun is going to begin now.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“This is the time of year when they try to get you and Trent together,” Megan said quietly. “Next weekend for New Year’s Eve and both of you at the same event, oh yeah. If they could have figured out how to get Trent here today without it being obvious, they would have.”
Trent said as much to her earlier this morning. She almost wished he was invited but then realized it’d be even more nerve inducing.
Normally she didn’t have any problems at these events and if it wasn’t for the fact she knew there was some secret agenda, she wouldn’t have had them now.
“I’m only staying for an hour or so,” she said.
It was one now, and she wanted to get back to her place by two. Trent would be coming over around three, he’d said, they’d have a nice dinner and watch some movies. The perfect night in her eyes.
“Good move. Come meet Jonah.” She followed Megan to the other side of the room where Jonah was standing by Royce. “Jonah, this is Roni Hollister. I’ve told you about her. Roni, my fiancé.”
She shook hands with the huge man. He was even bigger in person. “Nice to meet you,” she said. She could see some resemblance to Trent but not a ton.
“You know Royce and Chloe,” Megan said.
“I do,” she said to both of them. “Willow is so cute. And so tiny. Or at least looks it in your arms, Royce.”
Royce grinned. “Chloe says I never put her down, but Willow settles down faster with me.”
“More room to move in your arms. I’m Elise Kennedy. We haven’t met yet. I’ve been to that building a few times, but I don’t think you were available for me to stop in and introduce myself.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said of Royce’s sister. “I’ve met all the players now as the owners.”
“Yes,” Elise said. “You won’t talk too much to me unless Royce has you call me to order something. It will be him or my father for our business.”
“I’m learning as I go,” she said. “But I do see Royce the most. He and Gabe it seems. Other than the Fierces.”
“Lucky you with Gabe,” Elise said and moved a few feet away.
“Did I miss something there?” Gabe McCarthy had always been nice to her.
Chloe laughed. “They rub each other the wrong way it seems.”
“Elise can be outspoken.” Roni turned to see Richard Kennedy moving over. She’d seen him talking to Jim McCarthy over by the food. “My daughter is the one that probably rubs people the wrong way more than anything.”
She looked at Elise who had shut one eye at her father. “You never had a problem with it, Dad. I believe you and Royce are the ones that taught me to stand up for myself. It’s a male-dominated field too.”
“We did,” Richard said. “And you can be respected and be a little softer too.”
Elise laughed and winked at her. “I’ve never been soft a day in my life and you know it. I’ll take my niece now and walk her over to bond with the other children.”
Elise snatched the baby out of her brother’s arms and left after that. “She seems soft with a baby in her arms.”
