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There was no way they were going to let her in for free, especially when they found out why she was there. So she slowly and casually circumvented the room, glancing purposefully at the architecture and glancing at the clock as if she were waiting for a friend. When the registration table was distracted by a newcomer, she slipped past and into the crowd, grinning at her good luck.
It didn’t take her long to join a few conversations and hand out her cards. Small groups made up mostly of men in professional garb were gathered all over the center, discussing the latest tech news and innovations. Emily didn’t understand a word of it, but she nodded along as if she did and laughed when appropriate.
Her stack of cards was dwindling fast when she decided to hit the refreshment table for a bottle of water. That’s when a tap on the shoulder and the deep clearing of a throat made her jump.
They’d caught her.
“Excuse me, Miss,” a man’s tenor voice said behind her.
She turned slowly, the uncapped water in her trembling hand. “Yes?”
“I couldn’t help noticing you from across the room,” the man said, regarding her with a cocky smirk.
He was in his early fifties with a clean-shaven face, salt and pepper hair, and a weak chin. Emily had to take a small step back into the refreshment table, he was standing so close to her. He stood only two inches higher than her, but it was easy to see that his ego made up for any lack in heigh
t.
“You’re not a participant in the conference, are you?” he asked, closing the small distance she’d put between them. “I could tell. You can always tell.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” she said, swallowing nervously. “I’m here for the tech convention.”
“No, unlike many of my colleagues, I actually know how to read people.” He ran the back of his hand up the side of her arm and smiled seductively. “There are women like you at every conference, looking for a man to treat them right. Let me take you out tonight. I’ve got a dinner reservation at this exclusive joint. We can end the evening with a bottle of Armand de Brignac back at my hotel room.”
A vice squeezed around Emily’s throat. She watched with paralyzing disgust as the man’s hand traveled down to her waist.
“No, thank you,” she eeked out, scooting along the edge of the table. “I really must be going now.”
“No, you really should stay.” His hand wrapped around her wrist in a painful hold that made her eyes water. He moved closer to her until his cold blue eyes were level with her own. “I made you a generous offer. I could’ve chosen anyone, but I chose you. You should at least consider it.”
As fear morphed into anger inside Emily’s head, she scowled at the man standing in front of her. He was exactly the kind of guy she seemed to attract. The kind that thought he owned the world and everyone in it.
“Let go of me,” she hissed through her teeth.
Her tone didn’t seem to faze him. He cocked his head and grinned, victory flashing in his eyes. “Come on, sweetie. I was just paying you a compliment. No need to be rude.”
She wasn’t sure how the idea came into her head, but her free hand moved on its own volition, emptying the open water bottle on the man’s head. He gasped and sputtered, releasing her wrist. A string of low curses poured from his mouth as he wiped his eyes and glared at her.
“You’re going to pay for this,” he growled. With an abrupt turn, he started walking down the hall, no doubt on his way to find security.
Emily leaned against the table for a moment, her heart pounding. That had been a close one. When she finally caught her breath, she hurried back toward the crowded hallways, eager to find an easy exit.
The last thing she wanted right now was to be escorted out by security like a criminal. That wouldn’t be good for business. She was just about to the exit when a large hand landed on her shoulder. Her breath caught in her lungs and she whipped around, ready to fight off the creep again.
“Emily, what are you doing here?” Michael Knight stood before her in a luxurious gray suit, his dark brown eyes scanning her over. She’d never seen a more beautiful sight. “And why were you running?”
“Thank goodness it’s you.” She flung her arms around his torso, trembling as the adrenaline in her system began to subside. “I thought you were that awful man.”
“What awful man?” Michael’s arms enclosed around her back and he looked down at her with concern. “Did someone do something to you? Tell me, Emily.”
She laughed against his vest, suddenly feeling very silly. She wasn’t the kind of woman to throw herself into the arms of a man. What Michael must think of her now. Disentangling her arms from around his muscular torso, she stood back and smoothed out her dress.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a bad encounter. I took your advice and came to the conference to hand out business cards. I think I made some good headway. Found a few people who might be interested in Sevenson Selective.”
He gave her a skeptical frown. “Just a bad encounter, huh? Why don’t I believe that?”
“Just another jerk.” She laughed nervously. “I told you I attract them, didn’t I? Seems you’re the only exception to the rule.”
Again, he frowned, but he didn’t say anything.
