which meant my chest was a bit more on display than I would have preferred. Thanks a lot for the boobs, Mom. I pulled up the strapless bodice and tried in vain to hide a bit of my cleavage. Yeah. Nope. Not happening. They had minds of their own.
I blew out a puff of air, checked that I didn’t have any red lipstick staining my teeth, and then finally exited the restroom.
After a few minutes of searching, I finally spotted Julian in the middle of a discussion with a group of men near the bar. They were older, with thick beards and hard lines across their foreheads. They looked like a stock photo of investment firm big wigs, but I couldn’t let that stop me. I just needed a moment to speak with Julian.
I subdued my nerves and waltzed up to the group. I inhaled his cologne as I stepped close; it was just as captivating as the first time. He was in the middle of a conversation, but I didn’t want to take the chance that I’d lose him again. I ignored the curious stares from the other men in his group and cleared my throat.
“Mr. Lefray, do you have a moment to speak with me?” I asked, reaching up to tap his shoulder.
One of the men stepped forward, sloshing his drink over the brim of his glass.
“I’m available to speak sweetheart, if Julian here is too busy,” he said with a leering smile and a roaming gaze that never quite met my eyes.
Chapter Three
Julian
My eyes flicked from Patrick to the younger woman I’d met earlier in the night. She looked stunning in her red gown—a fact I knew the men nearby were all too quick to pick up on as well.
“That won’t be necessary, Patrick,” I replied.
She shot me a thankful smile.
I nodded and stepped away from the group, gripping her arm just above her elbow. Her arm was slim and toned, and I found it far too easy to lead her away from the group of investors. A moment alone with her would far outweigh another five minutes of suffering the company of old men with older money. I led Josephine toward a private corner of the ballroom, consumed by the subtle scent of gardenia that followed in her wake.
“This won’t take long,” she promised, her bright green stare meeting mine. A blind man wouldn’t have missed the hope poorly hidden behind her faltering smile. My alarm bells rang loud and clear, but I tried to quell them. Not every girl wants to fuck you, asshole.
“It’s fine. You saved me from another ten minutes of a boring pitch,” I replied, slipping my hands into my pockets and doing my best to stare anywhere but her chest. I’m no saint, and she had an unbelievable body. Nothing like the fashion girls I usually saw around Lorena’s office. Emaciated seemed to be the desired look as of late, but Josephine had curves.
“Oh crap. You were doing a pitch?” Her eyes widened and then she covered her mouth. “Ignore the fact that I just said crap.”
I smiled.
“Twice,” she said, uncovering her mouth and seeming to regroup. She rolled her shoulders back and stared up into my eyes. She looked so young, much too young for me.
I laughed. “It’s fine.”
“This whole event is making me a little nervous to be honest,” she offered, glancing up at me from beneath her long lashes. She blushed, a rosy tinge dotting her cheeks—the same blush I’d appreciated outside earlier.
“Is this your first big event?” I asked, tilting my head to the side with a curious smile.
“Is it obvious?” she asked, touching her curled hair self-consciously.
I shook my head. “No. The event coordinators tend to memorize faces after a while, so their guest lists are more of a formality.”
She laughed, interpreting my subtle reference to her delayed entrance earlier.
“Well, my face is far from being memorable.”
I resisted the urge to insist otherwise.
“Should I get us a drink?” I offered, trying to figure what her game was. Most women were a little more forward, but Josephine seemed to be working up the nerve to ask me something. I thought perhaps I could make it a little easier on her.
She held up her hands to stop me. “No thank you. No drink.”
Her gaze drifted to the party as she took a deep breath and then she met my eye with newfound conviction.
“I wanted to speak with you because I’d like a job at Lorena Lefray Designs. I