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Henry was still working hard when I saw Sarai return, but she took one glance at the waiting area and how few people were ready for the tour thanks to Henry’s strategy and went in a different direction instead. After her followed a lot of people I didn’t recognize, and then Kit, talking to them before a journalist came up to her to take photos.
“I’m going to mingle,” I told Henry. “I’ll send Sarai over when it looks like you’ve gathered a good group.” I didn’t know if I was truly going to talk to lots of people, but I knew I didn’t want tobe standing here when Kit and her friends returned. Letting the press talk to me as well might be the best alternative option.
As I walked away a group of men in suits turned toward me, one noticing I was no longer acting as a host and waving me over to them. At this point I would have taken any alternative option to leaving myself open to Kit’s friends or Kit herself.
I joined the group of men and shook hands as the people who had been with Kit came this way. They looked my way and I saw them all change their behavior, whispering and talking to each other as they came past me. It appeared they had just figured out who I was.
It threw me off the conversation in front of me for a moment as I wondered what Kit must have said, but I didn’t let it get to me beyond that and shook hands with everyone else.
Although Sarai had mentioned she had a group of investors, I hadn’t met them. Until now. I talked to them and assured them this had been a very successful project, and they asked me a few questions about what made me so confident. All in all, it was a positive conversation and I was grateful that I could help Sarai keep them happy. They’d effectively paid for me to be on the project.
Despite wanting to give them my attention, I was well aware of Kit nearby. She looked happy enough, and in some ways, that hurt even more. I didn’t think she had seen me, but as the investors went to take the tour, I was left to watch her.
I knew I should be looking for Sarai to get her to go and show them around, but I couldn’t stop looking at Kit. She was wearing a new dress I hadn’t seen before, and the curves it accentuated reminded me of the attraction I’d first felt for her. An ache grew in my chest, and I hastily tore my eyes away.
Thankfully, Sarai was finally nearby, a glass in one hand and a group of women with her. She looked over at Henry and sent one of the women to him as I made my way to her.
“I was about to suggest someone should run another tour.” I smiled as the other two women agreed to go help Henry and be there, ready for the next tours.
“Thank you. My team should be on it from here, leaving us to mingle and talk to the press.” Sarai glanced toward Kit and I couldn’t help but do the same.
“The dreaded press.”
“Kit doesn’t seem to be minding them, but I know she was nervous. I’m sure she’ll want to hide after.” As Sarai spoke she studied me, and I knew she was trying to gauge my reaction to hearing Kit’s name. I didn’t know how I felt.
“She is bound to be offered a lot of jobs because of this. I imagine she’s very happy.”
“You really think that?”
The indignation in Sarai’s voice took me by surprise and I opened and closed my mouth in response.
“She’s done nothing but hide from other project managers and anyone wanting her for a job, and she is heading back to the UK. She’s heartbroken. She’s not even agreeing to any projects closer to home. It is a miracle she even saw this project to completion. If her friends weren’t here to support her, I’m sure she’d have left already, no matter how much I’m paying her to finish the job.”
I gulped, aware I was being reprimanded without being reprimanded outright. “Are you sure she’s not accepting anything?”
“Not a damn thing. She’s asked me to head anyone off for her. Wouldn’t even let me lie to them and say she has a better offer in the UK. She just wants to go home.”
“Did she say why?” I asked, although I began to suspect the answer.
“No, but she doesn’t really need to. She cries whenever none of us are looking. I know you well enough to know you wouldn’thave wanted to hurt her, but you have.” Sarai softened her tone, but I couldn’t meet her gaze anyway.
“I thought Peter, that guy we met with James, offered her something.”
“If he did, she turned him down along with everyone else. He turned down his invite for this. She must have already blown him off. And during the game too. Richard said he left in a huff before you brought the players up to us.”
Everything sank inside me, and for a second I couldn’t see straight. Kit had told me the truth.
“Anyway, I have to get back to talking to people. If you could, I think the press want to interview you as well, and some of them are bound to print whatever you say. Please help us get customers.”
“Always,” I replied and gave her a nod. No sooner had she left me alone than the press invaded.
All I wanted to do was go to Kit and sweep her into my arms and apologize, but I had no idea how. And I doubted she wanted that at all. She probably hated my guts.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Kit
Finally, I saw Lukas and for a moment I stopped. I couldn’t believe he had been so close to me, and I didn’t notice him at all. He was also talking to the press, all the journalists who were finishing with me moving on to him. I tried not to let it get to me and found more of my friends.
