by Jill Snow
“I’m sorry but I don’t have time.” It could probably take a whole lifetime to re-educate the owner of Sunny Studios. “These events are always extremely busy. I’m sure you and your date will have a lovely time.” Why had she mentioned a date?
“I came alone.”
At the appraising look in his eyes, Emily ran. She made some excuse about checking on something or other and ran, leaving Carrie to deal with their unwanted guest. Because he was unwanted. Wasn’t he?
Chapter 4
Carrie seemed to disappear as soon as Emily did, but it wasn’t Carrie he was interested in. Boy had the rumor mill got it wrong about the elusive Emily Williams. She wasn’t some old, frumpy looking woman with cat hair stuck to her clothes. Instead, she was an attractive redhead.
Conor declined the glass of champagne the hostess offered. He needed to be in full possession of his wits. He was determined to find a way to speak to Emily Williams. He had read a lot about her, but had always assumed she was older. He’d read she guarded her privacy zealously. Jude had suggested it was because she was old, fat and ugly. Boy, was he wrong. But then, why was she so shy of the limelight?
He moved through the crowd, greeting those faces he recognized with a smile but not stopping to speak to anyone. He was soon standing close to the stage where Ms. Williams was going to address the crowd.
“Didn’t expect to see you here, Dunne. Not your usual thing, is it?”
Conor turned as he recognized the voice. John Baker had been a friend of his father. A man he genuinely liked and respected.
“Nice to see you again, John. How are Ellen and the family?”
“All fine. Thank you, son.”
“So, are you one of the backers of the foundation?” Conor asked.
“Yes, have been since the start. Emily Williams is a force to be reckoned with. I bet she’ll soon have the entire industry listening to her. Gone are the days when women were seen as sexualized objects, and about time, too.”
Conor didn’t know how to respond. He’d never really given the matter much thought.
“I’m very surprised to see you here, especially with your recent acquisition.”
“Sunny Studios? I bought it as an investment. Pure and simple.” Conor wondered why he felt the need to distance himself from the company he had so recently acquired. He didn’t usually care about what people thought of him. All he cared about was making money.
John laughed, his loud hearty chuckle attracting attention from the crowd. “The words pure and simple should never be used in the same sentence as Sunny Studios.” The grin vanished from the older man’s face. He looked at Conor sternly, making him feel like he was five years old and had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Frankly, young man, I thought better of you. That outfit is responsible for some of the worst games available on the market.”
Taken aback by the venom in the man’s tone Conor wanted to excuse himself. But how? He hadn’t played the games. He didn’t know the products. It was the truth, but how could he admit he’d bought a company without knowing what they produced? That was like admitting he’d bought a coffee company that used slave laborers or a clothing store that paid its workers pennies. He had always been careful not to invest in any of those companies. But he didn’t understand how a video game company could be just as bad. He shook the dark thoughts away. He was an adult. He didn’t need to explain himself to anyone.
“Mr. Baker, I have listened to your concerns and will look into them.”
“Don’t come off all business-like with me, son. I knew you when you were a kid. It’s a good thing your father is dead, he would be ashamed of you.”
“Sure about that, are you? Look how he made his money.” Conor shot back at him.
The surprise on John Baker’s face was genuine. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Conor Dunne. Your father was a gentleman.”
“Rather depends on your definition of that word. Good evening, Mr. Baker.”
Conor walked away from the older man, his shoulders slumping. All defensiveness aside, John Baker wasn’t a liar or prone to exaggeration. It seemed like what Emily Williams had been saying about their products was true. Why hadn’t he done more research before he bought Sunny Studios? He had taken his eye off the ball, trusted his adviser, and was now up to his neck in trouble.
Chapter 5
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for coming to our fundraiser this evening. Please let me introduce to you our host and CEO of the DC Williams Foundation, Miss Emily Williams.”
Conor stared as she walked onto the stage, the applause ringing for a long time. She didn’t seem to like being the center of attention, unlike most women of his acquaintance. In fact, she seemed rather shy. And then she started speaking.
A hush came over the floor; it was so quiet he could hear the person next to him breathing. Everyone was glued to her words. She outlined her plan for the foundation, the trouble she was facing, and the attitudes in the gaming industry. Then she suggested they all watch a short snippet of some of the games available to children.
“I apologize if what you saw was upsetting, but I cannot apologize for showing you the contents of the games. This is what is being marketed to our children.”
“Surely, Miss Williams, they have an eighteen-year-old rating on these games?” a young man asked.
“They do, sir, but do you have children?”
The man shook his head.
“Neither do I, but I have a fourteen-year-old nephew. His father, my eldest brother, found my nephew playing these games and, naturally, was horrified. Despite the age limit, they are easily accessible in all stores. What’s worse is that most young kids are playing these games. When my nephew admitted to his friends he wasn’t allowed to play them anymore, he got bullied so badly my brother and his wife had to switch school districts.”
“Bullying happens.” The same young man shrugged off her answer. Conor wondered if he played these same games.
“Yes, it does. But that doesn’t excuse the makers of these games. Why do we need to portray such senseless violence in games or movies? What are we trying to do? Educate these young people to respect others? That’s not the message I see coming across. I see them promoting gun violence as a sport. War as a game. Those of you who have served your country, know that real war isn’t like these images. It is just as violent, but even more brutal. The side effects of seeing action in a war zone last for years. Yet we are led to believe that these games are harmless.”
“What about freedom of speech?” another young man asked rather belligerently.
“I do not think our forefathers were considering violent video games when they drew up our constitution.” The laugher died away before Emily turned serious. “I believe passionately in the power of free speech. I use my entitlement to that freedom every day. By making this speech and by what I say online. Not everyone believes I should be allowed to say what I feel. I have been threatened, I have been verbally abused. I believe these threats originate from those who make a fortune making these games. But I will not stop.”
His head jerked up at that. Who had threatened her? Certainly it wasn’t anyone in his company, was it?
Chapter 6
Emily caught his stare as she mentioned the threats. He seemed surprised, but how could that be? She would bet every cent she didn’t have on the threats originating from Sunny Studios. She’d had hate email before, but these latest were different. They were more personal. As if the person behind them knew her. She hadn’t shown anyone the latest text. She had no idea how they had gotten her cell phone number. The tweets were public, so there was little she could do about those.
Carrie had insisted on going to the police, but there wasn’t much they could do either. The tweets, although some were disgusting, weren’t bad enough to warrant a full-scale investigation. The bored police officer had told her they had probably originated outside the US anyway.
She continued her speech, her eyes
constantly finding his in the sea of faces. She reddened, hoping the audience would blame her heated cheeks on the spotlights. Flustered, she coughed and returned to her speech.
“Emily, that was wonderful. The team has had loads of sign-ups. The donations will be through the roof,” Carrie gushed as Emily walked off stage.
“Fantastic. Hopefully we’ll make enough to cover the next six months’ rent. The landlord is getting antsy.”
“Things aren’t that difficult, are they?’
Emily looked at Carrie sadly. Her friend was a marketing magician, a true socialite with the ability to part any scrooge from his wallet. But when it came to math, she was clueless. She couldn’t balance a checkbook, never mind a balance sheet. Emily was always the more mathematically inclined, but even she found all the business figures confusing. She was so glad they had found Mr. Epstein. He was a master accountant and had ways of stretching budgets so tightly, it was a wonder the whole thing didn’t snap.
“Mr. Epstein is concerned.”
Carrie laughed. “He’s always worried. I bet he wakes up every morning with a frown on his face. The poor man.”
Emily smiled at the image. Mr. Epstein rarely, if ever, cracked a smile but he had a heart of gold. She was about to comment when she sensed Mr. Dunne behind her.
She half turned as he said, “Ms. Williams, that was some speech.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dunne.” She smiled sweetly. “I hope you intend to go home and shut down Sunny Studios at once and recall all the games.” She almost laughed out loud at how his eyes widened.
“That is not possible.”
“Anything is possible, Mr. Dunne. But some things are not probable. Good night.”
She moved to walk away, but he stopped her by putting a hand lightly on her arm. The electricity between them sent a bolt from her head to her toes. She stared at his arm and then looked at his face. He had the grace to look embarrassed.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to put my hand on you. I just…well, I was hoping we could speak. Properly, I mean. In private. I only recently acquired Sunny Studios and maybe…”
She didn’t like the way he made her feel. She should be furiously arguing with this man who owned the company that made the very games she had shown tonight, yet she was inclined to believe he may not be 100% guilty. Her irritation at herself came out in her tone.
“You want me to believe that you didn’t know what you were buying? That a man who has made billions from investing in companies would buy something without knowing everything about it? I may be a woman, Mr. Dunne, but I do have a brain.”
“You indeed have a brain, Ms. Williams, but at the moment you are not utilizing it,” he responded in an amused voice. His words were enough to stop her in her tracks. “Sorry, that was a little harsh. What I meant is you appear to be letting your emotions rule your decision making. That is never a good idea.”
He smiled before he walked away, leaving her staring after him. How dare he? But then he had a point. Always fair-minded, she had to concede she had been rude. His teasing response made her admit that. If he had been just as rude, she could justify herself. She didn’t know anything about him, really, apart from some stuff Jason had read to her from the gossip pages.
She knew better than to believe everything she read in the papers. If they were true, then she was a lonely old man-hater who wanted to rule Hollywood.
Well, they did get the description partly true. She was lonely. Surrounded by all these people, most of whom wished her and the foundation well, yet she had nobody to share her life with. She had plenty of friends from college, but they were spread all over the country. She had never met the One. Her Rick.
Casablanca. That’s what she would do when she got home. Have a glass of chilled sauvignon blanc and watch her favorite movie. But first she had to wrap up this party. She plastered a smile on her face, forcing Conor Dunne’s deep blue eyes from her memory. She had a job to do, one that was vital to the success of her dream.
Chapter 7
Emily, there you are. The auction is about to start. You have to get back up on the stage,” Jason said.
Emily nodded. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the front of the hall and climbed the steps to where Carrie was waiting. She thanked everyone for their attendance once again, told them she hoped they had enjoyed the drinks and canapés and then introduced their latest fundraising idea.
“Jason has just come back from a trip to England. He got this idea there and he thought it would be fun to introduce it here. The first dance will be opened by the couple with the highest bids. It doesn’t matter who bids—we will take money from either ladies or gentlemen. We aren’t fussy.” Laughter rocked the room. “Who will be first?”
“I bid a hundred dollars for a dance with Jason.”
Emily smiled at Daisy, their sweet PA who didn’t hide her interest in Jason. He’d admitted that he quite liked her too, but he wasn’t looking for anything serious at the moment. Carrie had said she doubted Daisy wanted more than a night either, since she was pretty flighty. But looking at Daisy now, Emily wasn’t too sure. The girl was so innocent-looking as she gazed up at Jason with wide, love-struck eyes.
“Five hundred for a dance with my beautiful wife.”
John Baker’s wife answered quite loudly. “But dear, you get that and more for free.”
The room burst into laughter again. The bids rolled in as everyone wanted to get involved in the fun.
“Ten thousand dollars for a dance with Miss Williams.”
She nearly collapsed. He couldn’t be serious, could he?
“Emily would be delighted to accept, wouldn’t you Emily?” Carrie answered for her, seeing as she was incapable of opening her mouth. She just stared across the room, her eyes caught with his. Conor was challenging her and how could she turn him down? Everyone there knew how much the foundation needed the money. She wanted to refuse, but he had her cornered. So she nodded in agreement.
Soon the bids were done and Emily made her way to the steps leading down from the stage. He was waiting and held out his hand to assist her. Why did he want to dance with her especially after she had been rude to him. She barely touched his fingers, she’d rather take a swim with sharks. But her dream, her vision depended on the success of this night and if dancing with him was the price to pay, she’d do it. She couldn’t afford to turn down $10,000. Even Nana must have had to deal up close and personal with those who didn’t believe in equal rights for women. She took a deep breath and held her head high. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes. He seemed to be highly amused as if he could read her thoughts.
He drew her closer as they took to the dance floor. She hoped it would be a fast song, but the band played a slow song. She raised her eyes in question at Carrie, but her friend looked as astonished as she was.
“I asked for my favorite song.”
“As Time Goes By?” she asked him in disbelief.
“What does that look mean? I happen to love old movies.”
She looked into his eyes. Was she being weird by thinking it was a bit creepy he picked the main song from her favorite movie? If it was his favorite, she should change hers. She didn’t want to have anything in common with this man.
“It is the perfect song to dance to with a beautiful woman.”
“Mr. Dunne, you may think you’re flattering me but I am not one of your airheads.”
“My what?”
“I assume you like your women to behave like dolls, look pretty on the outside and empty on the inside.”
“Wow, Ms. Williams, you need to put away those claws. I will have you know I am very choosy about whom I go out with. I admire brains over beauty.”
She wanted to believe him, but someone who made those types of games couldn’t hold those opinions.
“So tell me why?” he asked.
“Why what?”
“What set you out on this particular path? There are easier ways to make a name for yourself. I get that y
ou’re trying to get your games visibility, but is all this necessary?”
“By all this, I take it you mean the foundation and the fundraising?”
He nodded, his gaze making her stomach twist with feelings she didn’t want to acknowledge.
“It is not a form of advertising, Mr. Dunne. Yes, I want my game and those of my developers to be successful. But more than that, I happen to believe some of the current offerings of games are harming the next generation and I want to do something to fix it.”
“Hence the Kickstarter funding campaign?”
She stiffened in his arms. Was he laughing at her?
“I admire your guts.”
What did he say? She couldn’t concentrate, he seemed to be nice but he was her enemy. What exactly did he hope to achieve by coming to the fundraiser? She kicked herself, realizing he was waiting for an answer.
“Thank you. I think.”
“Are you always this prickly, Emily Williams?”
She wanted to say no, but she didn’t like lying. Boys had always accused her of being standoffish. She didn’t believe in sleeping around. She felt it was important to share intimacy like that with your husband, not a series of casual strangers. Her views had been mocked more often than admired. People even accused her of belonging to a cult. But, of course, she didn’t. She just was a little old fashioned. Okay, a lot old fashioned.
As the song went on, the silence between them was less uncomfortable. In fact, she was relaxed while dancing with him even though she loathed everything he stood for. Playing her part as a genial hostess was easier than she thought. But that scared her.
“A kiss is just a—”
She glanced up at him.
“Sorry, I love to sing but I am tone deaf.”
“Well, I won’t argue with you. Let’s just say it’s good you’re not dependent on your singing for your career.”
