As she placed her delicate palm in mine, my breath hitched. My heart began to race. It was…unsettling. She belonged with me. We were supposed to be touching. It was a disturbing pull toward her.
Holding her silky hand gently, I realized with a start that I was smiling widely.
“Lovely to meet you, Emily,” I said. “What do you think of our office so far?”
“It’s beautiful,” her light voice chimed sweetly. “You have a wonderful view from here.”
If the angel enjoys something, give her more, the back of my mind commanded.
“David, grab the presentation materials in the green folder from my desk and have Sandra bring me a fresh coffee while I show your daughter the view.”
Before I even realized I was doing it, my hand slipped around Emily’s shoulder as I guided her into the boardroom, to the corner where the giant glass panels met.
“Wow,” she breathed, looking straight across the downtown core.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from those fresh, dewy cheeks, or get over the way her eyes shone as she stared out at the city. When she turned to smile up at me, I saw her breath catch. Quickly taking a step back, I hoped that I hadn’t frightened her by standing too close.
“Your eyes,” she barely breathed.
“Yes, I know it’s a bit odd,” I said quickly, realizing that the strange discoloration was unnerving to some people. “I was born with it.”
“It’s incredible,” she said softly. “Green with a gold streak.” Her hand twitched against her purse, jangling a selection of animal charms from her tiny silver bracelets.
I had the distinct impression that something about my eyes excited her.
There was a murmur at the door. My clients were ushered in by my assistant, Sandra. She placed my coffee at the head of the table, just before David set down a thick folder of paperwork.
“Emily,” he said quietly, “we should go.”
Looking down at this precious young lady, I could feel myself smiling again.
Suddenly it came to me. If Emily were in the room, I’d be smiling naturally in front of everyone from Jordan and Smythe Pharmaceuticals. That would certainly help with my so-called “complete lack of likability.”
“Why don’t you stay?” I asked. “You and your father could sit at the back, and take notes.”
“Really?” she asked excitedly. “That would be amazing. Thanks.”
David looked puzzled, but led her immediately to a seat beside him at the far end of the long boardroom table.
Reluctantly tearing my focus away from Emily, I greeted all of the clients warmly. Oddly, it felt more natural. Now that I had a real spark of heat deep in my chest, it seemed much easier.
I even found their endless questions less annoying, since I could look up to Emily whenever I needed a split second of pure joy.
Although I always prepared well for presentations, I had no idea what I actually said through it this time. All I knew was that the clients eventually left, the latest drug research team looked impressed and grateful, and we made arrangements to prepare several new reports over the next few months.
All the while, my eyes could barely stray from Emily’s. Whatever this strange magnetic pull was between us, she was definitely feeling some of it as well.
Yet she was hard to read. She seemed to be studying me in a strange way.
At the end of the meeting, as I was smiling warmly and clapping people on the back, I saw David rush Emily from the room. No matter. I certainly knew where I could contact her. I just had to come up with some excuse that wouldn’t upset her father.
On my way back to my giant gray and steel office, I nodded to Sandra as I passed her desk. “The Indonesian espresso, and send in Timothy.”
“Yes, sir.”
Somehow I was going to find out everything there was to know about Emily Jameson. Even if I had to use my own company’s research department to do it.
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