Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(22)

“Meet and greet?”

“Yeah,” Jasmine replied, looking at Krista steadily. “No work for the rest of the day. There is a cocktail hour.”

“To meet Sean.”

Everyone stared solemnly.

“Oh, that’s good news. I already know him, so I guess that means I can take the rest of the day off. Kate, cover for me.”

Krista walked away briskly.

~*~*~*~

Kate, Jasmine and Ben watched her go.

“She’s upset,” Ben said.

Kate punched him and started walking, Jasmine with her.

“What was that for?” Ben whined as he caught up.

“Obviously she’s upset you twerp!” Kate hollered. “The guy she has lost her mind over just crashed back into her life and took away her giant personal achievement.”

“Krista still made it where she is now on her own,” Ben replied, wounded.

“She did, but now that is overshadowed by Sean getting a better job,” Jasmine explained.

“Much better. Without telling her. Why did he come here, though?” Kate wondered, walking into the large foyer where the meet and greet was being held. “He must have had a million offers.”

“Tory probably had his eye on him,” Jasmine surmised, getting a glass of wine.

“Yeah, but why L.A.? Sean lives in San Francisco. Why not the region up there?”

“He wants to keep us together,” Ben said. “It’s why he got Marcus and me down here. Krista had to come, so Tory moved everyone else down, as well. He wanted to keep us together. Sean is the last of the team.”

“Well, I don’t care. It’s a dick move,” Kate stated crossly.

~*~*~*~

It was then that Sean spotted them. He was surrounded by welcoming, smiling faces but he could feel the sudden chill. He didn’t see Krista among them, which was a bad sign. Deciding to get it over with, he crossed the crowd, smile in place, and landed next to the three friends.

“Hi Kate, Jasmine, Ben—Ben I saw the latest painting Emily bought. Butterflies in Honey—it was something. Conveyed a profound sense of deep love. Hats off to you! Brilliant.”

Jasmine groaned.

Ben, suddenly red, looked at his shoes. “Thanks. Good to see you Sean. Excuse me.” Ben walked away shyly.

Sean stared after him.

“She broke up with him,” Jasmine said as she looked after Ben and took a sip of her wine. “A month ago.”

Sean winced. “I didn’t know.”

“Obviously.” Jasmine rolled her eyes as she continued to look away.

“I couldn’t help but notice that Krista isn’t with you. Do you know if she’ll be stopping by later?”

Kate turned to him directly, stepped closer, angled her head up without any embarrassment doing so, crossed her arms and scowled. “My professional answer, because when I am addressing a superior—that’s what you are now, right? Our boss?”

Kate waited for Sean to nod with an expectant look.

“Well, when I am addressing upper management, or implicating Krista in any way, I am to speak professionally. Krista’s rules. Professionally I say that she wasn’t feeling very well, nearly threw up on my shoes, and had to leave early. She sends her deepest regrets to the new VP of the World.”

“And unprofessionally—in your inside voice, please.”

“Just what do you think you’re doing, Sean? Back to hurt her again? She doesn’t have enough experience with hurtful men following her around the country?”

“I know I asked for it, but this isn’t really a work conversation, Kate.”

“Then you better get used to nothing but work conversations, Sean, because you can’t reject a girl twice, then show up to shove it in her face. With Jasmine’s and my help, Krista is going to bury you before this is all over. And that, sir, is my professional response.” Suddenly Kate’s face beamed as she looked slightly to the right. “Tory! So great to see you! How are you? We haven’t seen you in Krista’s office cracking the whip lately?”

Tory laughed, aware he’d just missed something. “Hello Kate, Jasmine. How are you doing?”

“Really good, Tory,” Jasmine said. “Thanks.”

“Yes,” Kate said, stepping to the side so she wasn’t so close to Sean, but so that she was now including Tory. “I was just telling Sean, actually, that with Krista’s lead, we are rocking the numbers. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but we are consistently under budget and over-performing. And Krista is just starting to get her stride. She’s got a long way to go!”

Tory smiled indulgently. “Yes, I have seen the numbers. Your department is doing quite well.”

“Best in the country, yes.” Kate said, nodding. “Well, I’ll leave you two to it.”

Sean and Tory watched the two girls walk away and mingle into the crowd.

Sean turned to Tory, his heart in his throat. “I don’t think Krista is all that thrilled to see me here. It’s been a long time.”

Tory nodded, escorting Sean toward the Managers. “Yes, as Emily said, you probably should have called. I agree. Women love surprises, but some things are not meant to come out of the blue.”

“We’re not all as courageous as Emily,” Sean said quietly as they joined the Management circle.