Chapter 18:
Jake's Pov
The volume of the music was high. The champagne was good. The business conversation? As usual, boring.
I gave the men around me a courteous nod. They talked endlessly about expansion, mergers, and contracts. I had heard the same speech at twelve different gatherings.
Then I noticed Kayla in the corner as my gaze strayed. She had a drink.
She drank one glass, then another. Her hand was moving too fast.
She c****d her head too far back. She wasn't drinking. She was attempting to forget.
I stopped paying attention to the discussion. I was already distracted when one of the men spoke to me. "Pardon me," I muttered, "I'll be right back." Just a moment.
After placing my glass on the table, I turned to leave. Even though I was walking steadily, I had an odd pull in
