Lost and Found (Growing Pains #1)(96)

John looked at Sean as though seeing him for the first time, “Dare I ask about research on sapphires?”

“Also done, for jewelry in general and sapphires in particular. We have data on region, demographic, market, everything. You name it, it’s there. Also organized, categorized and equipped with footnotes. Graphs and other multimedia are presentation ready.”

John just blinked for a minute. Utterly still. Then: “You really do make my job easier.” He smiled and walked away.

~*~*~*~

“I do my best,” Sean said to the retreating figure before he looked back at Krista. Unlike the smoldering look he’d fallen into mere minutes ago, this time her eyes held retribution. Frankly, it scared him a little. He had a feeling that when she was pushed to it, she had a mean temper.

Regret welled up in his chest at what he was about to do. She wouldn’t understand the necessity of the act. To her, it would smack as betrayal. He hated how often Ray was right lately.

Sean took a step closer to Monica.

“Your party made it all possible. Excellent work,” he purred into her ear.

“Naturally,” she laughed, shooting Krista a look of triumph.

I’ll go to hell for this. Sean thought. In fact, if Monica kept taunting her, Krista might just put him there.

With a smug expression, Monica turned Sean by the elbow, leading him away from Krista, “You did excellently tonight.”

Sean ignored her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Krista still facing them, a look of astonished defeat on her face. He’d just set himself way back. Possibly to a place he couldn’t come back from. But if he’d chosen Krista over Monica, Monica would’ve ruined the other girl. Krista would’ve become another Joanna, another side effect to the gossip he created within their company. That fate wasn’t fair to Krista. Better the sting now than the ache later.

He felt like he’d been punched in the gut.

Monica stopped him just outside the perimeter of the event, sheltered and secluded. Sean didn’t have to guess what came next.

“Why don’t we head to my place,” Monica said quietly, leaning against his body. Her hands slid up his chest.

Sean looked down on her. Uninterested. He didn’t bother to hide it, “Let’s get back to the limo. We need to head.”

Monica laughed silkily, her hands now at his belt line. They slid down to his hips. She ground herself against him. “Playing hard to get, huh? I’d suck your c**k right here if this wasn’t a work thing.”

Not in his current state, she wouldn’t. He felt so sick about what he did to Krista, his balls would probably curl up inside his body.

“Let’s go,” he said gruffly.

She laughed at him again.

“I’m so glad we got the only kid in Research!” Judy exclaimed drunkenly as Sean opened the door to the limo for Monica. To Krista she said, “Did you know that Tommy has a huge crush on you?”

Sean nearly turned and walked away. He did not want to hear this conversation, and he did not like the look on Krista’s face as he helped Monica in.

“He asked her out,” Marcus said, pouring a glass of wine for Ray, who had his hand out.

“Caught me by surprise,” Krista said as she relaxed. “Didn’t see it coming. I acted like a complete bitch about it.”

“I heard you stomped on the poor guy,” Judy responded.

“I didn’t mean to, though,” Krista whined with a hand over her eyes. “Seriously, you guys. He just blurted it out in front of a million people! I blinked and stared and looked like an ass, but really, I was taken aback.”

“You seem to be completely dense about that sort of thing,” Marcus stated. “But, good news, it has kept at least five others from asking you.”

“Are you serious?” Krista asked, aghast.

“Oh yeah. But Jacob wasn’t deterred,” Marcus went on with a smirk.

“Until he read my email.”

“Oh yeah, I heard about that!” Judy exclaimed delightedly. “That is disgusting. Sean, how is getting him fired going?”

Sean watched the dark shadows outside the car speed by, not bothering to bring his gaze back into the car as he said, “Top secret, I’m afraid.”

“Well, I hope you do. He spies on everyone.”

“I need proof, though,” Sean said seriously. “I have someone collecting data, so we’ll see what he comes up with.”

“Who’s collecting data?” Judy asked Marcus.

“Me, obviously. Do you think he would trust some reject with this kind of thing? You’d be shocked what I’m finding. Thank God I’m not a chick or he’s not g*y. I’m surprised he gets anything done!”

“Can we talk about something else?” Krista said uncomfortably.

Sean’s eyes swung to her, unable to help himself. Unable to read her face in the dark, he let his eyes rest for a second, but then darted away again.

“Like how you stole my limelight tonight?” Marcus asked with a mock pleasantness to his voice.

“Why, because I look better than you?”

“Fat chance, gorgeous.”

“Oh, then because I’m more fashionable?”

“Girl, you don’t even want to go there!”

“Is it because I am, dare I say, the ‘y’ word?”