lamming against her ribs so hard she was

erself and the door. Her hands were shaking so badly that the c

. Just

l surrounded, nodding at something a gray-haired man

job to do. She couldn't let him ruin

arget investors. She took a sip of champagne to st

'm Cassidy Fox with GreenTec

out even looking at her. He turned

riation of the same: a polite dismissal, a condescending smile, or outright ignoring her existence. They look

n she felt it. That prickling sensation on the

t to him. His gaze had drifted across the sea of heads, lan

redatory focus replacing the disinterest. He recognized her. The woman who had knelt f

riend's sudden tension. He followed Jaret's line

n his lips. "Isn't that your little trophy fro

s eyes never leaving Cassidy. "Looks l

k. An older man in a rumpled suit seemed interested in sustainable ener

ocket. "You've got five minutes of my

t was a lifeline. "Thank you

assistant, murmuring a few words. The assistant

ant, then at Jaret, and practically bowed before scurrying away, leavin

e interaction, but she felt the shift. The door that ha

on settling over him. He loved watching her str

giving a slight nod

ater on her face and figure out a new plan. She set her empty glass

the corner when she col

oice said. Hands caught h

The man was handsome, with slicked-back ha

" she stammered

offering his hand. "Pa

was one of the biggest VC firms in the city

id, shaking his hand.

eyes glinting. "I've been hearing some buzz

ungry to care. "We're looking for our Series A

eading up to a private suite on the second floor. A few other partners are up th

er, but the image of her empty bank account was louder

said. "Lea

elevator. She didn't look back toward the ballroom. If she had, she would have seen Ja