Good Girl

Chapter One.

Chapter One.

The opulent ballroom drew Emily Sander’s eye like a bee to a daisy, her mouth agape as she continued to stare at her surroundings. She was technically in Melbourne, Australia, but if she used her imagination, she could easily see herself standing in an ancient castle.

“I can’t believe how beautiful it all is.”

The white silk draped over tall windows that reached up to the twenty-foot ceilings reminded her of gauze curtains and a four-poster Arabian Nights bed. The romantic lighting made the parquet floor positively gleam and she let a long sigh escape as her eyes feasted on the colors and textures of the fundraiser. It made her heart soar and her usually busy mind clear.

“I know. You never quite get used to the money they spend on these events.”

Emily snapped out of her daze and turned to her companion for the evening, her supervisor and friend of several years. Why did she have to be so negative all the time? “What do you mean?”

Kristy rolled her heavily made up eyes and reached for a champagne flute which had swallowed a strawberry, as it travelled by on a tray carried by an attractive young waiter. He stopped and raised an eyebrow to Emily, but she smiled and shook her head. She had to work in the morning and her head was already spinning.

“I mean, look at it all.” Kristy made a sweeping gesture with her hand that encompassed the free-flowing alcohol, five-piece band and hundreds of guests dressed in designer gowns and suits. “If they put all that money directly into the charity instead of wasting half of it on food and alcohol...”

Emily cringed as her eyes took another, more jaded glance around the gorgeous room. Kristy did have a point, but she was having such a great time she didn’t really want her friend to ruin it.

“Not to mention the hair, makeup and shoes.” Emily said under her breath.

“Exactly.” Kristy pointed at her, taking another sip of her champagne.

Emily glanced around the room once again, the smiles and laughter all around her tugging a smile to her own lips. “But if they just donated the money, we couldn’t hold the silent auction, which raises even more money, or meet any of the people who make all of this possible.”

Kristy rolled her eyes at Emily once again, but a reluctant smile graced her lips.

“You are far too naïve for this world, Em. You aren’t going to cope.”

Emily shrugged and smoothed down her fitted bodice, which was a little tight for her normal level of comfort.

You’re wrong, my friend.

Life had taught her early on that people could be cruel and unfair, but she hoped to be changing that, one person at a time. Her parents’ failed marriage had left a scar or two that her past boyfriends had probably felt on occasion, but she tried not to let it overly affect her future.

She gave Kristy a cheeky wink as she allowed the butterflies to flutter in her stomach once more. This was her first big fundraiser for the women’s shelter she’d been working with for over a year now. Her way of giving back to her community. She considered it her karma, although at times she was so tired she could barely speak. Which was why tonight gave her such a buzz. She worked more than ninety hours a week. This rare social outing thrilled her to her fingertips.

“Kristy, you know I’m a people person. Why wouldn’t I be able to handle a few rich people?” She fluttered her eyelashes for effect at Kristy, who now stood in front of her coughing over the champagne which had obviously gone down the wrong way.

Kristy dabbed carefully at her nose and mouth with a white napkin. “Ah... because you seem to be more comfortable at Eleanor’s House with the homeless, than anywhere else.”

Emily straightened her shoulders and tossed her tresses. The pins holding part of her long hair up on top of her head were a little painful, but the beautiful glide of her blow-dried hair over her bare shoulders reminded her just how dressed up she really was.

“So true. But I’m going to do it anyway.”

Another solid laugh came out of her friend’s mouth.

Emily turned around and looked back at the room, twinkling crystal and mood lighting making the horn players on the stage seem otherworldly. A shiver coursed down her spine and a grin settled on her mouth. She didn’t care what Kristy said about how excessive this night was, it was still pretty awesome.

A man she didn’t recognize moved near and snared Kristy’s attention while a pressure in Emily’s body reminded her she’d drunk far too much water and champagne in the past hour.

She made her excuses and moved through the ballroom and into the bathroom, swaying her hips to the music and singing a little as she went. The ladies’ room, which had a mirrored powder room with a central seat and then another door that led into the actual toilet, was as grand as the ballroom. She stared up at the carved ceiling and a sigh left her that would have made any fifties movie star proud.

No one had powder rooms anymore. The extravagance made her feel like she’d stepped back in time and as she wandered into the other room, she giggled to herself, happy and relaxed for once.

Her hands smoothed her dress down once more and she pushed open the heavy wooden door to re-enter the party. As she walked out of the ladies’ toilet, someone exited the men’s room at the same time. They crossed paths and suddenly she was lurching backwards as the black silk of her long dress was pulled down her body.

“Ow. My dress!” Emily bent forward and clasped her boned bodice to her chest. The shoestring strap on her right shoulder had snapped with the impact and had now fallen over her breast.

Oh, crap!

“Are you all right?”

Emily groaned as anger flowed through her. She lifted her eyes to the suited man standing over her, his hand on her arm burning into bare skin while his bright blue eyes narrowed with concern.

Her pulse quickened in her throat as her anger quickly drained away.

Oh, wow.

“Ah... yeah... you stepped on my dress.”

“I’m very sorry. I didn’t see you.”

She stood up straighter, holding tightly to her bodice with one hand. Her generous breasts swelled against the silk and her belly tightened. Her eyes met his directly and her breath caught in her chest.

The man before her was simply beautiful, like James Dean had been back in his day. An angel in a bad boy suit. The epitome of every woman’s desire and fear. She swallowed hard as her long-held prejudices about men warred with the lustful woman inside her. So few women ever tamed a man like this and she was the last woman who’d want to try.

His brow furrowed as he stared at her chest and she stepped back from his scrutiny. She brought her other hand up to her dress and lifted the broken strap.

“Is the strap completely snapped?” He stepped closer once again and inspected the damage, taking the fabric from her fingers and moving to her side to drape it back over her shoulder.

Emily couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded in her ears and her chest constricted. His touch on her sensitive skin made tingles skate over her, followed by a wave of heat. It had been way too long since she’d felt this.

“Ah, um, yeah, I think so. And it doesn’t stay up so well without them.” She pressed her hand to her stomach, swallowing hard as the man ran his fingers over her skin.

“I might be able to help you.”

She glanced down as he pulled out a silver safety pin from his pocket.

A grin rose as she let some of the tension relax out of her body. Maybe this guy was more human than she’d originally thought? “No way. Are you a Boy Scout or something?”

He chuckled, his eyes sliding away as though the compliment made him bashful.

Oh, how gorgeous!

“This should fix it.”

She held her breath and forced herself to stand still as his fingers pulled the dress away from her skin near her shoulder blades and pinned the strap back into place. The man’s dexterity and speed with the pin quite impressive.

Emily sucked in her stomach and stared at the ornate ceiling, the heat from his fingers nearly burning her skin. This was a too much like a movie.

When he was finished, he stepped back and bowed to her as a chivalrous gentleman of old would. “My lady, my work here is done.”

Emily clapped her hands and grinned at him, her excitement bubbling up for everyone to see. This guy was so different from the norm. Who was he?

“Oh, thank you so much. I’m Emily by the way.”

She stuck out her hand and waited. The man who had just helped her out of a fashion faux pas stared at her for a minute with that look of surprise she often saw on people’s faces when they met her. It was as though they’d never seen a happy person before. Well, she was no fake, so she continued to smile at him until he finally held out his own tanned, strong hand and shook hers firmly.

“I’m Nate.”

“Nice to meet you, Nate.”

Someone’s approach cut into their exchange and Emily regretfully let go of his hand. She let her arm fall back to the side of her body as a woman rushed up to them, her red stilettos clicking on the polished floor.

“Nathan, we need you for some schmoozing.” She reached for his tie and tugged it so that it was skewed further to the right and then back to the center.

It looked fine to begin with.

Nate grimaced but didn’t pull away from the woman in red’s polished fingers, his blue eyes straying to Emily’s once again.

Emily jumped to get his attention for one more second before the blonde in red hauled him away. “Thank you so much again for your help.”

He shrugged and opened his mouth as though he was going to respond, but the blonde slid her hand into the crook of his elbow and tugged. “Come on, you’ve been away from the room too long.”

They walked away and Emily finally let her shoulders drop. Thanks to her father, she had a natural propensity to distrust men, so the fact that she’d met one that she’d liked, who didn’t set off her internal alarm made her want to go after him. It would be such a waste not to talk to him a little bit more.

You’re here to meet the people who give those women a home. This is business!

“Okay, okay.”

She took a deep breath and calmed herself, her fingers tingling as she shook out her hands in front of her. She hadn’t felt that instant attraction to someone in–well―ever.

Blowing out another long breath, she lifted her chin and walked back into the room. Her eyes scanned the crowd not for Kristy, but for the man in the black suit, patterned black tie and oh, so delicious blue eyes.

“Where’d you go?” Kristy sidled up beside her and handed her another glass of champagne.

She took it and lifted her other hand, running her nails softly over her lips, savoring the sensation of attraction that poured through her. It had been so long since she’d slept with anyone and although a one-night stand was the last thing she craved, it was so nice to feel that again. The awareness of her femininity, her n*****s tingling beneath her dress. She craved that man’s hands on her skin once again and part of her brain was working out how she could do both her job and manage to talk to Nate once more.

“Who are you looking at?”

Her eyes found him and her tummy jumped. “The guy in the suit over there.”

Kristy chuckled. “Ah, which one of the hundred black suits before us?”

She lifted her chin a notch, her eyes pinned on “Nate.” He moved around the room with the blonde, speaking to almost everyone he passed. He must be someone of some importance.

Hmm...

She frowned as he air-kissed the women he spoke to and shook hands with all the men. The fake smile he plastered onto his face did not reach his eyes. Even she could see it—all the way across the room. “Him. The one who’s walking around the room with the woman in the red dress.”

A gasp beside her and a snorting laugh made her pull her eyes away from him. A cold sickness was worming itself into her belly that she didn’t appreciate at all. “What are you laughing at?”

Kristy’s eyes practically bulged out of her head. “Don’t you realize who that is?”

“No.”

“That’s Nathan Johnson. The billionaire. The man who built Eleanor’s House and the reason you’re here tonight.”

What? No way.

“But... Huh?”

Heat flushed over Emily’s body like a tidal wave. Starting at her neck, it spread up over her face and scalp. A storm of prickling, hot embarrassment. Nathan Johnson had always been a fantasy to her. A dream inside her head of what a man could be. And thus she’d acted like an excited child in front of him.

Obviously, he was successful and had an incredible philanthropic side. He was also so handsome he made her body throb, but that was secondary to his character. She’d found her perfect hero, but he was also her boss, sort of. Or was he? She couldn’t work it out, but that might cause a huge issue if the attraction was reciprocated.

An older man stepped up and began engaging Kristy in conversation and Emily turned towards them, trying to concentrate on the man in front of her when all of her senses were trained on Nathan Johnson, who was heading her way. She shivered and clasped her hands in front of her, her heart beating a steady and increasingly hard tattoo against her ribs.

“And you work at Eleanor’s House also?” The gentleman in front of her asked.

The hairs on the back of her neck prickled and she gulped before answering. He was close. “Yes, I’m a solicitor. I offer my services pro bono to the women at the shelter.”

“Oh, and why is that?” A familiar, deep male voice asked from behind her.

Emily swallowed her moan as she shifted and they all stepped back to allow Nate and his handler to enter the circle.

She turned towards him, her belly tightening much lower than her navel. He’d asked her a question hadn’t he? Oh yeah, that’s right. “Because I believe that all women have the right to good legal counsel, irrespective of their financial situation.”

She smiled at him with warmth, but he didn’t smile back.

“And with all your experience, you believe you’re the one to give that to them?”

Blood rushed to her cheeks as his dull eyes stared at her. What was with his tone? Was he being sarcastic? She couldn’t work it out.

“Pardon?”

“The solicitors at Eleanor’s House are meant to be either extremely experienced or have had their own history of domestic violence. I don’t believe you’ve had either.”

Her mouth fell open as his words hit her like a slap to the face. Had he just said she didn’t suit the job that she loved? That she sacrificed every spare minute for?

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Silence rained around them as more people joined their group, breaths baited as they waited for her response. She bit the inside of her cheek and inhaled through her nose as she weighed her words carefully. All preconceived notions about Nathan Johnson were mentally picked up and thrown out the window.

He was no longer her crush, nor her hero. He was the one with the power to take away the job she loved so much and gave her life purpose. In short, he was now the most important person in the world.

“No, you’re correct. I’m neither.”

Emily tilted up her chin and watched a coldness creep over Nate’s beautiful blue eyes as that fake smile lifted up his lips. She didn’t know who she’d met in the foyer, but this was not him.

“Well that’s great for you, but I don’t understand why you are working at the center. Perhaps I need to speak to the staff there about their hiring protocols since the standards seem to be slipping.”

Oh no, no, no!

Emily froze, the bottom falling out of her life.

Kristy jumped to her defense. “Mr. Johnson, my associate graduated at the very top of her class and is one of the best solicitors they have at Coote and Douglas.”

Nate’s eyes travelled over to Kristy, his spine straightening to his full height of over six feet two or three. The simple, dominant move made his presence even more hugely felt.

“Then I am honored she is volunteering her time in the center, but I still don’t think she is right for the women there.”

He tipped his pretend hat in mock thanks to her and her jaw clenched, her belly tight. Cold rippled over her body until there was a sour taste in her mouth.

What was this s**t?

Fuck not being personal.

How had he gone from being a beautiful gentleman to her one minute, and then this ruthless businessman?

“Nate, why are you being so rude all of a sudden?”

His eyes narrowed and the people around her continued to stare, their eyes boring into her with the weight of heavy fists. She didn’t look away from his flint gaze, her anger giving her a strength that was foolhardy.

“Rude? I’m here to raise money and for no other reason. I’ve thanked you for your paltry contribution, what else do you want, Emily?”

What else do I want? You’re f*****g kidding me!

“Have you two met before?” Kristy’s voice rose high around them and they broke off their visual battle to stare at Kristy.

Nate c****d his head. “Pardon?”

“You called her Emily and no one introduced her. Plus, she called you Nate.”

Emily crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips together, a shiver wracking her once overheated frame. She wasn’t answering that question.

“We met out in the foyer for a moment.”

You mean I met Dr. Jekyll. You must be his evil twin.

“Oh.”

Kristy nodded and stepped closer to her, sliding her hand into the crook of Emily’s elbow. Kristy tugged at her so Emily let her arms drop, her friend pressing herself against Emily in a beautiful show of support.

Emily’s jaw clenched into place as anger pooled in her gut like a lead weight.

“We both love working at the center, Mr. Johnson and admire what you’ve done to give women who are in dire straits a place they can call home for a short amount of time.”

Emily nodded to agree with her friend, tugging up her lips in a semblance of a smile. She may be so confused she could barely speak, but that didn’t change the fact that no matter what sort of guy Nathan Johnson was in real life, his work with Eleanor’s House was incredible. Her mind whirled with all sorts of questions. What had happened to the man she’d seen out in the foyer? The gentleman who’d been kind and thoughtful and genuine? Why was he suddenly attacking her? Her lack of experience couldn’t possibly be such a concern in a volunteer environment? She had to speak up.

“I love it too, Mr. Johnson, and hope you will rethink your position on me working there. There is nowhere I’d rather volunteer my time and would do anything for the women who stay there.”

Was this all just an act? Even the kindness he showed the women she cared for? Pain rolled in her belly, clenching down.

I’m going to be sick!

“We better keep moving, Nathan. Lots more handshaking to do.”

The blonde, who Emily had barely noticed standing there, spoke directly to Nate and he nodded, heading off to the next group without even a glance back in her direction.

Emily turned away and swallowed hard, putting a hand to her mouth to keep herself from screaming out loud.

“You look like you’re about to internally combust. Let’s go stand over there.”

Emily allowed herself to be dragged to the corner where the food was. She picked up a cream puff and stuffed it into her mouth. She chomped on it and swallowed it down.

“What happened, Em?”

She pointed to Nathan Johnson, a man that up until five minutes ago, she’d admired with everything she had inside of her. How wrong could she be about a person? She should have known better than to be swayed by a handsome face and pretty manners. Ugh, she was disgusted with herself, too.

“Do you see him? Just look at him.”

Kristy glanced that way and shrugged. “Yeah, so?”

Her stomach rolled but she forced herself to take some steadying breaths. She couldn’t seem to get control of her breathing. He was only one man, but he had the power to take away something she held so dear to her heart. She couldn’t let that happen.

“I thought Nathan Johnson was a philanthropist. A good man who believed in doing the right thing, for the right reason. But he practically told me I wasn’t good enough to work at his charity and now he’s schmoozing all those rich people for their money when they’ve never even set foot in the place before! If the reason he set up Eleanor’s House was for the power, then I think I better find a new charity to start supporting.”

She was properly panting now and she could barely stop herself from screaming aloud. Kristy gasped and poked her in the ribs, the sharp pain making Emily step back and glare at her friend.

“Hey!”

“You don’t mean that! Pro bono work is your life.”

Emily frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “No, it’s not.” She had lots more in her life than that, especially her responsibilities to her mum. That was the number one priority and as long as she kept that going well, she’d be fine.

“Yes it is, and you know it. You do seventy-hour weeks at your job and then volunteer all weekend. I haven’t seen you do anything else in two years and even before then you were bugging me to volunteer. Just because the guy who pays the bills is a jackass,” Kristy waved her hand in the direction where Nate was still kissing people who had too much money, “does not mean you stop doing what you love.”

Hot tears stung the backs of her eyes and Emily blinked rapidly. Nausea roiled in her belly and she grabbed a chocolate dipped strawberry, biting into it to stem the tide of tears. She was livid.

“I... but...” she took a deep breath, the air shuddering through her chest as she exhaled once again. No words would do justice to the emotions rolling through her at this moment, and Kristy didn’t need to know her long sob story. “You’re right. I love my work there and I can’t let a prick like him stop me from doing what makes me happy.” And it did. Volunteering at Eleanor’s House lessened the guilt she felt about not being able to help her mother when she was younger, and it paved the way to a better future. She slept well at night knowing the world was a better place because of her.

“So if that means kissing his a*s to keep your position, you’ll do it?”

Emily huffed and let a soft laugh escape her. She wasn’t sure she’d go that far, but she’d definitely fight for what she needed.

“Maybe a little.”

Kristy threw her head back and laughed, then grabbed a pretty looking hors d'oeuvre. “That’s the spirit. Now, who shall we meet next?”