It was almost too good to be true, Elijah thought as he dug into his meal. His father had forbidden him from bringing a woman to tonight’s event, and now a woman had shown up as if summoned and sat down right in his father’s chair.
She was eating out of the palm of his hand, he could tell already. Not to mention the fact that she was eating his steak. That had been a masterful play on his part, offering to share the two meals. He’d seen the disappointment on her face when that piece of fish had landed, and he didn’t blame her a bit. The salmon was good, tender and flaky, but why would anyone choose that meal when steak was available? He’d definitely won points with her by offering to share.
Now the winners of the various awards were being announced. Elijah had been right to think that his father wouldn’t be returning from table one. He watched the man ascend to the stage to accept his award. As Oliver Norcross looked out over the room, his eyes lit upon his son, and the ghost of a frown crossed his face. He was seeing Stephanie there, Elijah knew, and no doubt he was putting two and two together about what Elijahwas doing with her. But what could he do about it? He might not like the idea of Elijah associating with a woman at the party, but he couldn’t control everything. Honestly, it would make more of a scene to ignore one of his tablemates than it would to socialize with her.
Which didn’t mean that socializing was all Elijah meant to do. Not by a long shot. He’d been watching Stephanie out of the corner of his eye since the awards ceremony had started, and he was really enjoying the sight of her.
She was a gorgeous woman, and in this room full of women who were so careful with their looks, she stood out. Most of them didn’t have a hair out of place. Stephanie had the kind of hair that couldn’t help being out of place, thick and curly, an auburn color that enchanted him. He wanted to bury his hands in it.
And that dress was really something. The way the sequins sparkled made it impossible to look away from, and that was a lucky thing, because if anyone asked he would be able to lie and say he was staring at the sparkles instead of at her figure. Whether she’d believe that was anyone’s guess, but it was at least plausible.
I knew I would figure out a way to have a good time tonight.
The last of the awards was being given out now, and Elijah leaned over to Stephanie. “After this, there’ll be dancing,” he murmured. “Are you into that?”
“I could be.” She eyed him. “Are you asking me?”
He smirked. “I could be.”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“Want to get out there and get things started? No point in waiting around for these people, they’ll drag their feet all night about it.”
She downed the rest of her drink and stood up.
Oh, she was a lot of fun. He’d wondered if he would have to persuade her to get up and dance, but it seemed she was just as eager for the prospect of enjoying herself as he was. She made her way over to the dance floor and he followed, and by the time the musicians struck up their first notes, she was stepping out there.
He took her hand, spun her, dipped her, and then settled into an easy pattern of steps so that the two of them could talk. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
She hesitated. “More than I expected to,” she said at last. “I didn’t think this party was going to be that much fun.”
“Neither did I,” he agreed. “But I came because I had to. You don’t seem like you’re here for anyone else. You didn’t know anyone who accepted an award tonight, did you?”
“No,” she agreed. “I didn’t. But I’d like to win one of these awards someday.”
He couldn’t help it—a laugh escaped.
She drew back a little. “Why is that funny?”
“I’m sorry,” he managed. “I’m not laughing at you. I’m sure you could win one of these awards, if that’s what you want to do. I’m just laughing because I can’t imagine wanting such a thing. To me it all seems like an awful bore. I mean, could you imagine having to come to this ceremony year after year? You saw how it is. The past winners have to present the awards to the newrecipients. If you win one you’re going to have to keep coming back here again and again to give out the awards every year, and you’ll never be free of it.”
She laughed. “You make it sound like being in prison,” she said. “I don’t think it would be so bad to have that task. It might be kind of nice, actually, to get to give awards to people. I think I would enjoy it.”
“Well, you and I are different,” he said firmly. “These people all think they’re so important.”
“And you don’t think so?”
“They’re nothing great,” he told her. “They’ve figured out ways to make money, that’s all. That isn’t so hard. Anyone can do it with a little effort and a little luck.”
Stephanie snorted. “You really think it’s that easy? Anyone in the world can succeed, as long as they make the effort? It’s a wonder we don’t have more wealthy people if it’s like that.”
“I’m not surprised by it,” he said. “People don’t want to work.”
“Oh, no, you’re not one ofthose,” she said, drawing back from him. “Of course people want to work.”
“They really don’t. I’m not saying it out of judgment,” he hastened to add. “I hate those people who say poor people are only poor because they’re lazy. That isn’t what I’m getting at. I’m saying people who are getting by but aren’t wealthy don’t want to workharderthan they need to. I mean, look at me. I’d rather do just about anything other than work.”
“Well, I wouldn’t,” Stephanie said fiercely. “I want my company to succeed, and I want to work to make it happen.”
