Venture Forward Read Free Page B

“I need to run to the office for a file. It’s on our way to the boutique. Do you mind? I need to review it before a meeting this afternoon.”
    Oh, Lord. “Um, why don’t I just wait down in the lobby? I, uh, have a few calls I can make and then—” No way was she willingly walking into the lions’ den. Her pulse raced at the prospect of a second chance meeting with Paul Emerson, and it wasn’t in the good way. Forget about the piercing blue eyes that made her heart darn near stop beating, and the way his muscular body felt flush against hers. He was the enemy, dammit!
    “Relax, Paul’s not up there. He’s across town at a meeting with Chris and James.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Do I really need to answer that?”
    “No.” Avery bit her lip while her mind screamed “Yes!”
    “Jeez, I know you’re pissed at him for not funding CrowdRok, but he’s not a bad guy. Your paths may cross again, so it wouldn’t be horrible to leave the past in the past. He might even be able to help you out one day. Don’t burn bridges, love.”
    Unfortunately, their paths had crossed one too many times recently. She chewed her thumbnail as they walked back to the Blue Coat offices . Mia was right, but the rejection still stung. It was never just business; it was always personal, especially where Tara was involved. Paul, on the other hand, was cold, calculating and ruthless — all business, all the time. Partnering with him would be a mistake of epic proportions. They’d never see eye to eye because their values were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Well, maybe that wasn’t a completely accurate assessment. To be on the spectrum, he’d at least have to have values, which was questionable.
    Avery’s pulse quickened with each passing second. The elevator crept toward the Blue Coat offices, her nails clicking against the brass rail. He hadn’t recognized her on the beach, and she wasn’t eager for him to make the connection. Things were complicated enough that he was Mia’s boss and Avery’s archenemy. It was better all-around for her to be the anonymous girl he’d dragged out of the surf.
    They entered the airy reception area, her first time visiting the Blue Coat domain. Jesus, the guy may be a colossal asshole, but he had impeccable taste. Mia had mentioned he’d spent hundreds of thousands on décor to give the space a distinctive look, definitely money well spent. Strong accent colors had been selected to represent Blue Coat Capital’s reputation for bold risk-taking in disruptive startup concepts. Fine, straight-grained white oak finishes gave the space an aura of sophistication and warmth, a sharp contrast to the man ruling the Blue Coat empire.
    A pretty, brunette girl popped out of her chair and flashed a toothy grin at Mia. “Here’s the file. The messenger said to get it to you immediately. It was a good thing you were close by. Otherwise, Paul would have had me combing the city to find you.”
    “Thanks, I’ll take a look.” Mia waved at Avery. “Alison, this is my friend, Avery Hunter.”
    “Oh, CrowdRok! I just love your site. I watch all the competitions. It’s great to meet you!”
    “Thanks so much. That’s really nice of you to say, and we definitely appreciate the support.” Avery flashed a quick smile, her eyes scanning the lobby. An unsettling feeling made her skin crawl. “Mia, um, I’m going to run to the ladies’—”
    A sharp voice from the hallway sliced into her words. “Ali! Do you have the documents from Xcelsior Capital? We need them for the meeting with Ken. He’d better get his ass up here in the next ten minutes. I’m not waiting around all afternoon.”
    No fucking way. Avery’s heart thumped so wildly her ribcage ached from the force. Her mind begged her to flee before he appeared, yet her feet were firmly rooted to their spot on the Spanish-tiled floor.
    Paul stormed into the lobby, sifting through papers. He shook his head and let out an impatient sigh. “The