“All right. Please tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”
“He asked that you use his private elevator. Do you know where that entrance is?” Annette, her assistant asked.
Abby nodded. “I do.” The butterflies attacked her stomach. She didn’t know if she could walk. This was it. The moment of truth was about to hit her.
It was a different experience riding in the elevator without being slung over someone’s shoulder. She watched as the numbers rose higher about the doors. The carriage finally arrived at the top floor and the doors retracted.
Deacon leaned against the front of his desk, his arms crossed. She almost lost her breath. He shouldn’t look so edible.
She cleared her throat and took her first step into his office.
“I heard you’ve made a decision.”
He nodded. “I have.”
She didn’t know how much longer she could wait. She bit her lip. “Well?”
Deacon’s broad chest rose. “It’s you, Abby. Only you.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? I won?”
He bowed her head in her direction. “Your design was impressive. Unique. Inspired. It was the only one I even considered.”
Her palm flattened over her heart. She tried to stop it from beating out of control. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
Deacon broke his stance and walked toward her. “Why don’t you take a seat? We have to discuss your obligations to the project at this point.”
“Obligations?” She sat on the leather sofa across from him. There was a coffee table in between them.
“You have heard Cole and I discuss the Vegas trip this weekend. Launching the foundation is the pinnacle of our careers. It has to be flawless. The creator of the brand needs to be at the announcement. You are the vision, Abby. You can’t miss being on an international stage with something so critical for the foundation.”
“We agreed if I won, I could go.”
“Yes. We did. You won. You can go. I’m asking you to do this for the foundation. I’m asking you as the artist who created something beautiful, to see your vison shared the way it is supposed to be.”
Her chest prickled. Her blood rushed with heat. “You’re asking me to stay on?”
“I’m asking you to travel with Cole and me. Represent your art.”
“You’re going back on your deal, Deacon,” she fired.
He shook his head. “No. I’m not. You can get up and walk out of here if you want. I won’t stop you. I swear.”
She looked at the set of double doors over her should and the elevator to her side.
“But, now that you’re free, I’d like you to stay because you want to see the project finished. At least through the weekend, Abby.” He smiled devilishly. “I promise Cole and I can make Vegas fun.”
She felt more heat rush through her. It spread between her legs and rushed to her nipples. Shit. What kind of effect did this man have on her? Was this even legal what he could do to her body without even touching her?
“Vegas for the weekend?” she whispered.
He raked his teeth against his lip and she thought
she might melt off the couch. Was it crazy she wanted to go? She could see it. Having drinks with Cole and Deacon. Dinner at a five-star restaurant.
“You won’t regret it,” he urged. “We do everything first-class. It will be a trip of a lifetime. By the time we leave everyone will want you to design for them. You can’t get exposure like this any other way, Abby. Think about your career.”
She laughed. “My career or you and Cole?”