Chapter Thirteen

The night of the launch, Jace dressed carefully. He grabbed his favorite white shirt and paired it with his dark gray suit. He pulled a navy tie around his neck.

This would be Sun Tech’s last launch as he knew it, and he wanted to look his best. The fact that he hadn’t seen Hailey for two days and she might be there had nothing to do with his careful dressing.

The tie knot was way off. Scowling, he redid it, flipping the ends of the tie around as he reknotted it.

The launch party was on the fifth floor of the Sun Tech building, which held the community and theater space on one side and a gym on the other. The floor had a decent view and allowed for easy access to the staged apartments.

People had been buzzing in and out of the building all morning. He hadn’t heard a word from Evan during the course of the setup, and the one time he went downstairs, Hailey wasn’t there. Not that he had expected her to show up.

Twenty minutes before they opened their doors, Jace took the elevator down to the common area. He stepped out onto the floor and stopped short.

The space had been transformed with low lights, tall cocktail tables, and a beautiful display of food and art. The music was on loud enough to hear but low enough for people to talk.

Jace wandered through the area, taking it all in. A virtual reality machine was set up in the theater space, tech demonstrations were in every corner, and he even spotted a couple drones out by the balcony. He walked past a table with a tasteful display of glossy brochures fanned around a 3-D printed model of their building. Sun Tech’s name was even etched on the glass souvenirs.

Hailey had outdone herself. His investors were going to be pleased. Beyond pleased.

He continued around the room, looking at the displays and Hailey’s genius. He wasn’t looking for her. That sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach was nerves, not misery.

He stopped short at the bar.

A drink was what the doctor ordered. He read through the little menu of specialty cocktails.

“Can I interest you in a Gin and Technology? It’s a decent cocktail,” the bartender asked with a smile.

“I’ll take a whiskey. Neat.” He set the menu down.

Behind him, he heard a sharp whistle.

“Damn,” Evan said, as he took in the setup. “Hailey outdid herself this time.”

Evan showed up. And truth be told, Jace didn’t know if he wanted to punch the man or hug him.

He studied his soon-to-be ex business partner, who stuffed his hands in his pants pockets and avoided eye contact.

Emotional repression was probably the best option in this case.

He grabbed his whiskey and took a sip. “She did despite the hell we both put her through.”

“She really is incredible.” Evan stepped back as a man in a white suit carried a heavy platter of delicious-looking appetizers past them. “I messed up, and I’d like to do something about it.”

Jace stretched his palm then curled his fingers. Evan decided now was the time to try to set things right? While he appreciated that Evan wanted to make amends, his timing was shit. This could have happened weeks ago.

“Amends for Sun Tech or with Hailey?” he found himself asking.

“At least with you and Hailey,” Evan said before he leaned over the bar to order a drink.

The hired staff efficiently worked, setting up the last few details. The room hummed with the clatter of platters and silverware, hurried footsteps, and last-minute directions. Even with the din, he didn’t miss the click of heels against the tiled floor.

His heart halted with a jerk before pulsing long, slow, heavy beats.

She was here.

Swallowing hard, he pivoted. He wanted to see her, to see if she missed him as much as he missed her.

Even in the dim lighting, she was gorgeous in a dark, form-fitting cocktail dress. Her hair was up in a tight knot and her bangs grazed her big eyes. A slim gold bangle circled one wrist, moving up and down her arm as she tucked a loose strand behind her ears.

Every nerve ending in his body was on fire.

Just like she’d promised, despite his doubts and Evan’s innate need to be an asshole, she hadn’t run. The smile on her face was pasted firmly in place as she approached them both. A little microphone sat in her ear, and she spoke quietly into it before she squared her shoulders.

“Okay, gentlemen. The party starts in five minutes. A few early guests have arrived, and they are heading up now.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He barely heard a word as she ran through her list of last-minute details. The second she finished, a couple of guests walked in.

Clapping her hands together, her lips pulled into a semblance of a smile. “Showtime. Enjoy yourselves. If you have any questions, come find me.”

He followed as she walked away. “Hail—”

“Let her go,” Evan interrupted. “We’ve got business to take care of.”

He followed Evan’s gaze to a short round man with a full beard who entered the room.

An investor. Someone he couldn’t blow off even if he wanted. He watched Hailey disappear around the corner.

“Since when you do care what happens with the business?” he muttered under his breath.

“Since I realized how much we could sell it for. This launch impacts the value of this company.”

Jace shifted his attention back to the investor and pasted a smile that he hoped didn’t look like a snarl on his face. He’d talk with the investor now and catch Hailey later.

However, the second he was done talking with the investor, more guests had arrived, vying for attention, asking questions, demanding his time.

This was what he wanted, he reminded himself again and again as he turned to each new guest with a smile. Hailey’s red hair caught the corner of his eye, and he couldn’t help but stare for a brief second before turning back to a prospective client.

More than anything he wanted to just walk away, wrap his arms around her, and hold her close. But as one client walked away, another filled their spot. And for each client, he bared his teeth in a smile.

He focused his attention on the woman who now stepped into his path.

Megan Sharp.

He blinked at her, taking in the bright green dress that showed off her dark skin and her friendly smile.

“Jace, thanks for the invite to this event. I really enjoyed the virtual reality machine.”

Hailey had added Megan to the invite list, and sure enough, Megan had shown up. This was the one bright note in the whole evening.

“Megan, I’m glad you could make it.” For the first time that evening, the words felt true. “Would you like a tour of a condo?”

“Of course I would.” Her smile flashed white, and she picked up a cocktail. “Lead the way.”

He caught a glimpse of Hailey as she orchestrated from the sidelines. She didn’t even look in his direction.

Jace led Megan to a unit on the twelfth floor, which offered a decent view and a great selection of the condo’s functions.

Megan turned around in the kitchen at the end of the tour. “I am seriously impressed.”

“Thanks,” he said, appreciating the compliment after all his hard work.

She leaned against the island and crossed one leg in front of the other. “After meeting you at the cocktail event the other evening, I couldn’t help but think that it would be a prime opportunity for my company to team up with yours. You provide the technology; we provide the homes. Everything high-end and seamless. A new experience to custom-built homes.”

Of course this was how it went down. Houston finally noticed Sun Tech right when he was in disarray.

“To be honest, I’m not sure how much longer Sun Tech will be around.” The words sounded flat to his ears. “My business partner is thinking of selling.”

Megan nodded, thinking his words over. “Would you consider consulting for us? We think teaming technology with high-end single-family homes will be a great service to offer. We can become a one-stop shop to outfit and upgrade new and existing residences.”

Jace tipped his head to the side. “Single family?”

“Yes. And we are interested in your consulting services.”

He rolled the words over in his head. Consult for home technology. Why not? He had plenty of experience. There was a lot less pressure from investors. It was more mobile. And he could start over with just him.

He clinked his glass against hers. “You know what? I’ll think about it. Let’s talk next week.”

The entire evening was driving Hailey up the wall. She’d known tonight wasn’t going to be easy, but after the rush of setting up and making sure clients and potential buyers found their way to the event, she started counting down the minutes.

Over the course of the evening, she could feel his eyes on her. She knew it with the confidence of a lover who knew her man.

Only Jace wasn’t her man, and she wasn’t his lover anymore.

But if there was one thing she was leaving with tonight, it was her dignity. She’d followed through with her word and contract, even if it wore her down to the very marrow of her bones. Having Jace within reach the entire night was pure torture.

When the last minutes finally ticked by, she, Evan, and Jace artfully maneuvered the last of the guests out and locked the door with a satisfying click.

It was the first time the three of them were together since that nightmare in Evan’s office.

“Well, that was a success. We have a few weeks’ worth of appointments and showings booked,” Evan said as they headed back up to the fifth floor. “We’ll have these condos sold in no time.”

“Great.” And it was. Truly. Her work was done.

It wasn’t her problem what happened with Sun Tech, and at this point, all she wanted was to go back to her hotel and pass out. Unfortunately, her job wasn’t done until everything was cleared out. “I had better go oversee the cleanup.”

“Hailey?” Evan followed her to the elevators.

“Hmm?” She pushed the up button.

“I was wondering if we could talk for a minute.”

The past few weeks had taken a toll on Evan. Dark circles were visible under his eyes, and his normally flushed skin was pale.

“We can talk upstairs,” she relented. “I need to make sure the staff has everything under control.”

Jace followed them onto the elevator. No one spoke a word during the tense ride to the fifth floor. When the doors finally slid open, Hailey bolted off the car.

Evan followed her into the main event space. “I just wanted to apologize.”

She gave him a tight smile. Even after their conversation the other morning, she was still wary. Until she saw his wide blue eyes.

“I messed up.” He ran his hand through his hair and gave a short, bitter laugh. “I thought about what you said, about how appearances had become so important that I stopped seeing you.”

“I—”

“Please, let me finish. I just wanted to say that you were right. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry about what happened, and I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you.”

The sharp needle-point stabs in her ribs that she’d been holding since her wedding day ebbed. “Thanks, Evan. I apologize too. I should have spoken up.”

Evan shook his head. “No, I messed up. I was so caught up in appearances, in trying to please my family, that I stopped seeing you and thinking about you. I did love you. You are special. I just was doing a shitty job of showing it.”

She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Honestly, I think it worked out for both of us. We were never meant to be together.”

And she was glad to finally have this chapter closed.

Evan opened his arms and she stepped into them.

“Thanks for dealing with me,” he said against her shoulder. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, suddenly feeling a whole lot better. She could feel Jace’s eyes on her as she pulled away from her ex, and it took all her self-control to not look over.

Evan said goodbye, and minutes later, she was alone with Jace. She busied herself gathering up brochures, keeping her back carefully toward him.

“You didn’t have to do this,” he said.

“I did.” She pulled a box from under the table to place the brochures and remaining glasses in.

She sensed rather than heard him move closer.

“Hailey.” He reached around her and pushed the box away.

“What?” Placing her hands on her hips, she turned toward him.

Big mistake. The man was gorgeous up close. Breathtaking. His eyes drank her in like he had been thirsting for her for years.

It was too much.

“Is there anything else you need? I did my job. The launch is over.” She pressed her shaking fingers against her belly.

“I’ve missed you.” Jace pressed his lips together, but his eyes never left hers.

The three little words stuck like barbs in her chest. “You’ve missed me?”

He nodded.

“Why?”

That one simple question must have caught him off guard. He took a single step back and cleared his throat. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

It was time to face what she needed. After her years with Evan, she wasn’t going to wait for another man to finally see her as well. No matter how much she wanted more from Jace, she knew he couldn’t give it.

She gathered leftover glasses from the table and placed them in the box. “It’s only been a few days. I’m sure you’ll move on soon enough.”

“I—”

“Go home, Jace. I think this has played out long enough.”

She wanted him to deny her words, to fight back, to say something. Anything.

“Hailey, I know you want more, and I wish I could give it to you. But I can’t.”

She closed her eyes and nodded. It was time to accept the truth. If she wanted to be happy, she would have to find her happiness somewhere else.