Neck tattoo, forearm sleeves, scar on the left side of his forehead. Dark brown eyes with a buzzed head and calluses on his hands. Right leg was slightly shorter than the left, dominant limp that slumped his shoulder. He was a grotesque-looking man and didn’t belong in an event like this at all.
But for his size, he could move quickly.
After all the drinks on his tray were gone, he bolted through the crowd. I swallowed the urge to follow him and play into the possible distraction he could’ve been. He wasn’t brandishing a weapon anywhere on his person. That much was for certain with how tight his suit was, but he was certainly taking stock of me.
Which meant there was the possibility someone knew who I really was.
I was nervous about the whole thing and knew I’d made the right decision in coming over to the restrooms. For all I knew, that man was trying to make Derek his mark tonight. I had committed his face to memory, and I would have to hit up my sketch artist later. My research could help me with the tattoos to nail down who he was, but if I had a sketch I could run through the international databases, that would help me a great deal.
My attention turned back to Derek and Jacob as their conversation started to die down.
“Well, don’t let me keep you from your date tonight,” Jacob said. “Don’t let those long legs go to waste.”
“Those are my favorite part of the female anatomy, Jake. I most certainly won’t,” Derek said.
Fucking. Gross.
I heard footsteps approaching me, and I moved away a bit. I stuck to the shadows, watching as Jacob and Derek passed right by me. I kept my head down, allowing my body to blend in with the shadows as I listened to the distinct sound of Derek’s footsteps being muddled by the crowd. If they did see me, I didn’t want it to seem like I was sitting there and spying on them like some creepy girlfriend, since that was now the role I was really playing.
A girlfriend playing a fucking personal assistant.
I listened as their footsteps receded, and then I lifted my head. I scanned the room one last time as Derek approached the stage. It was time for him to receive whatever award he had come here to receive, and it was time for me to move back to the bar where he’d left me like the idiot he was.
Chapter 5
Derek
I WALKED ALONGSIDE Jacob as I made my way to the stage. I heard the announcer beginning his speech to settle the crowd. This was it. The moment I would collect an award for being an entrepreneur and helping out the city or whatever. I honestly didn’t care. I knew I should, but too much was going on in my mind. I had to update Sam on her change in position, and I needed to keep my eyes peeled. I stood at the edge of the stage, ready to accept my award as they called my name.
My eyes scanned the crowd, spotting Sam at the bar with a scowl on her face.
“Thank you, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot thank you enough for this award. Entrepreneurship is a vital part of any country’s economy. If it wasn’t for all the minds that created products to help us live our lives, none of the people around us would have jobs to work. Entrepreneurs are the true givers of every community, and I am honored to be recognized as one of them. But this award isn’t just for me. This award is for all the young ones in the crowd tonight. For those who have an idea but don’t think it’s good enough. For the children who will grow up and have an idea that will revolutionize the world. Encourage them like I had been encouraged because had it not been for the faith my parents had in me—”
The lights flickered, causing the audience to gasp. I looked around at the lights stabilized, my eyes connecting with Sam.
At least, they tried to.
She was no longer at the bar.
“Had it not been for the fai—”
The lights flickered again, and a spark of panic ignited in my chest. Something was happening. Something bad. Where the hell had Sam gone? Wasn’t she supposed to be near me for this kind of shit? Fuck, I should’ve taken her with me. I shouldn’t have left her at the damn bar.
There was a crash in a nearby room as the audience whipped their heads around. People were murmuring, and a few were screaming. I could see someone rushing the stage from the back as my heart began to slam in my chest.