Chasing Happy (Texas Desires #1)

by Rylie Roberts

  The back doors to the conference room opened, cluing Reed in that he hadn’t been paying attention. The voice in his ear was on a slight delay. He stuck a fingertip into his ear to help better hear what he’d missed from the single remaining earbud. The presentation had come to an end. He looked down at his watch to see the time, thankful they were done for the day.

  Since Reed was the most hated man in the room, the attendees ignored him as they slowly rose and filtered out of the room. The old Reed would have had his fill with their attitude by now, but this new Reed didn’t care. As the room cleaned out, he stood, leaving the file folder discarded on the table. He went straight to Cooper and Lara to congratulate them on a job well done.

  ~~~

  No less than fifteen times over the last week, Lara had listened to Reed explain the importance of keeping their relationship at a professional distance during this trip. After every single discussion, she agreed and, technically, still did. The boundaries of work and personal life didn’t need to complicate this hotbed of activity in Beijing.

  However, making the plan and following through with the decision seemed two distinctly different concepts for Reed Prescott. Almost from the moment of their arrival, the shared door separating their two rooms seemed to create too much barrier for Reed. He made a show of moving her luggage from her room into his room. Once all her things were collected in his room, that door was then locked shut, never to be opened again.

  That same attitude surfaced while they worked. Lara managed to keep a professional distance during their meetings, but by the end of that first day, Reed had apparently been so pleased with her performance, he’d kissed her right on the lips in front of the entire corporate office of Jiang Technologies. Word spread like wildfire after that. Since then, there was no more hiding their relationship. She also took on the role of his personal translator.

  “The driver’s here,” Reed called out from the bedroom. Lara clipped the earring in her ear and gave herself one last look in the mirror before packing her small purse with a few cosmetics.

  “You look stunning,” Reed said from the bathroom doorway. He was always so good at the compliments. From Lara’s perspective, he was actually the looker between the two of them, and he looked exceptional tonight in his brand new, perfectly tailored Armani suit. He’d also gotten a haircut before they left. The style was perfect. She’d never understand how he so easily achieved that glamourous jet-setting look without even trying.

  “Your swoosh looks perfect,” she teased, sliding past him to switch her belongings from one purse to the other. He followed, laughing, as he tucked his wallet inside the suit’s pocket.

  “You know I won’t ever change this hairstyle since your confession,” he said with a chuckle.

  “You got me at the worst moment.” She reached for her cellphone, dropped it in, and looked over the items she’d packed inside the purse, making sure she had everything she needed.

  “And when was that?” he asked. Oh, she didn’t doubt he knew exactly when that was, and she felt her face warm at the implication. She’d confessed her love of his hair when his head was tucked between her thighs while she lay sprawled across his desk. So not a topic to help aid in getting them out of the room in a timely manner tonight.

  “I’ll remind you when we get back. Come on, Romeo,” Lara said, heading toward the hotel room door.

  “Remind me about this party tonight and why we have to go,” Reed said, a distinct whine coming through.

  “It’s respectful for you to pay homage to the patriarch of the family.” Over the last few days, she had gotten to know the family pretty well. They were a large clan with most of the current senior staff still employed, and they were very loyal to one another. That being the key reason they diligently fought to keep the running of the company the way their father had established years ago. When they extended this invitation, she had agreed to come without even consulting Reed first.

  “I’m not sure old man Jiang will like having me there. He didn’t want to sell. It was either sell or take the whole family down with him. I remind him of his failures.” Reed didn’t sound excited at all by the prospect of the party. Lara walked several feet in front of Reed, pulling him along behind her.

  “Not the point, Reed. You need to eat a little crow to continue this fragile balance we created.” Everything she’d heard about the family legacy of this business, she had conveyed to Reed. In the beginning, he’d been defensive about the buyout, but she could tell she had finally penetrated that tough exterior. Reed had guilt in ripping the family apart.

  “I don’t like crow.” As they rounded to the lobby, Reed finally took the lead, walking straight to the car parked out front of the double doors. “You’re turning bossy.”

  She didn’t acknowledge his comment at all. Reed never asked if this car was for them. For all either knew, they could be getting inside a car destined for the airport, but the driver held the door open, Reed extended an arm, and she slid in. He followed her inside and settled beside her. “Kiss me. I feel cheated. You’re being nice to everyone but me.”

  She rolled her eyes. He was being impossible now. She had to remember this side of him when he was forced to do things he didn’t want to do. “It’s red lipstick. It won’t be easy to get off.”

  “I don’t care.” He hooked a finger under her chin, drawing her head up. Clearly, he did care because he kissed her in the lightest possible way. They drove a whole one hundred feet to the back of the hotel, coming to a stop again. She looked around to see Reed’s senior staff members waiting by a curb.

  “What are we doing?” she asked.

  “They’re going to dinner. We’re dropping them on the way.” Reed scooted over, drawing Lara with him. She gave an inward groan while plastering a fake smile on her lips. One of the men, Reed’s financial officer, seemed to leer at her every single chance he got. It was creepy and made her feel dirty. She hated that, and of course, he got in last, sitting right next to her. Ugh.

  ~~~

  Minus the chopsticks, a Chinese family gathering wasn’t that much different than an American family celebration. Lots of people, lots of children, lots of alcohol. The food served might be a little off, but the restaurant, the decorations, and the clothing were very close to the same as home. So much for the authentic old-world charm he’d heard so much about before arriving.

  The event was definitely homage to the senior Mr. Jiang. Reed put himself in the back of the room to watch the night unfold. That might be the biggest difference between the East and the West. In the East, family heritage mattered. They all took that shit very seriously.

  Although Lara was an honored guest of the party, animosity rolled in waves straight in Reed’s direction. Any other time, he may have abandoned this event, but Lara appeared to be enjoying herself, and he didn’t want to remove her. He’d never quite seen her having such a good time. She looked at home with this family. He was seeing a new side to her personality.

  Clearly, Lara put up a brave front at home. His hurt little angel didn’t blend well with her peers. She always seemed resigned to her place in life, even accepting the flaws in people that caused them to act so catty. But there was a little twist in his heart over seeing her more comfortable here in the lions’ den than at any event they’d attended back home. He needed to figure that out. She deserved better than what she got.

  Strategically, he’d clearly attached his name to her. That should give her more acceptance if for nothing more than just his money. Instead, it brought out the vultures. So many of his so-called friends seemed to be waiting for her to be dumped at the curb. His past women were cheap, fast, and loose. They easily jumped from one bed to another, making his depraved set of acquaintances salivate for their chance at Lara. Reed scowled, thinking over his pain in the ass CFO, Jasperson. That motherfucker needed a lesson in appropriate behavior. His tongue wagged anytime Lara was within twenty feet. Cooper let him know this morning that the douche bag had grown a little st
alkerish over his girlfriend. He scowled into his drink, before raising it and draining the glass.

  She’d made the rounds around the party, now talking with the third eldest Jiang son and a woman who Reed assumed was his wife. A little one skipped past and got caught up in the small train of Lara’s dress. Lara bent low to help the child who’d tripped at her feet. She stayed on the child’s level, putting the girl back on her feet and using her thumb to wipe across her little face, probably wiping a tear away.

  Reed smiled, shaking some ice into his mouth, crunching as he watched the scene unfold. His Lara was so genuine, much like the people in this room. They were loyal to a fault—to their own detriment because, without question, he’d have fired them all if it weren’t for Lara’s insistence that he not.

  Loyal to a fault…

  Reed looked closer at the people scattered around the room. There were four generations of Jiang in this room. He figured fifty percent of them now worked for him. That was a lot of people in positions of authority. Too many to run a company effectively, much less efficiently. That was the problem he was having. The insolence was too far-reaching. He’d focused on their assumption he was a villain. Technically, they were right, but not in the way they believed. He’d swooped in at the last minute and stolen this purchase from his grandfather, but Jiang had the business up for sale. If not him, then someone was going to buy this company.

  Lara patted the little girl on the head and rose. Her sweet smile turned his way. She’d made sure to keep an eye on him all evening long. She made him a better man. He wanted to be a man worthy of standing beside her. He wasn’t lying when he told those close to him that he’d dated up with her. Guilt was a new emotion for him, but it fully set in. His single-minded life approach based on the need to destroy his father’s biological family had no place in families such as this one.

  A plan formed. Could he do it? Possibly. Better question, would he do it? There was no way to know. He lifted a hand to gain the waiter’s attention and pointed to his drink. He’d have to have a lot more alcohol before the answer to that question turned into a solid yes.

  He almost drained the drink put in front of him and signaled for another. The idea needling in the back of his mind seemed to ease his stress, not increase it. What the hell was that about?

  ~~~

  Exhausted, Lara lifted a hand, trying hard to stifle the yawn forming. Her days and nights were mixed up. She apparently didn’t do so well with such large time differences. The air of sadness blanketing the celebration had her sticking around much longer than she’d anticipated. She didn’t like how badly this family despised Reed and Press International. They had blinders on, blaming the wrong parties for their mismanagement. They were really very good people. A family she wished was her own, but she needed to do anything in her power to help alleviate this frustration they held, because one thing she knew for certain, Reed was a lion that only got poked so many times before he struck back with a deadly blow. In this deal, he held all the power.

  In getting to know the family, only recently had they fallen on difficult times. It was a great legacy sacrificed to have the elder of this massive family no longer head of the century-old business. Lara tried to say simple things like—at least everyone else was still employed. That, in all practicality, they still ran this company and could leave a mark on the world with success, but no one was interested in listening to her words. So in return, she did the best she could at humanizing Reed and the company he’d built from scratch.

  She glanced back at Reed. He was staring at her and she lifted a hand. He wouldn’t come into the party out of consideration for the family. It was enough that he came once she’d been invited.

  “You look tired.”

  Lara looked over, surprised to see the eldest Mr. Jiang standing next to her.. She hadn’t been aware of his fairly solid grasp of English. She’d missed that the first time they’d spoken.

  “Walk with me?” The words came with a slightly thick accent. He extended an arm and she linked hers through. She was much taller than him and she wasn’t quite sure what to do to lessen that problem. They walked several feet on the outer edge of his party before he spoke in English mixed with a little Mandarin when his words became uncertain.

  “You have brought improvement with you.”

  She narrowed her eyes, trying to understand his statement. When he didn’t say more she carefully probed the sentence.

  “Your sons are feeling better about the future?” she questioned cautiously.

  “Somewhat. He is puzzling to them.” She followed the way his head cocked toward Reed still sitting alone.

  “He’s a very good man,” she whispered, eyes on Reed, nodding her head in agreement.

  “He has picked well.” He patted her arm, but there was doubt in his eyes.

  “Let’s go talk to him. He hasn’t wanted to intrude tonight. He knows what everyone thinks of him.”

  They continued walking several steps in silence. They hadn’t changed their direction nor had he shown any signs he’d understood what she’d said. In Mandarin, she added. “You have to know he’s not a bad man. You wouldn’t have sold to him otherwise.”

  “Some things take time.”

  She nodded. As they got closer, she looked up, making eye contact with Reed, hoping she expressed enough meaning in her stare. He could change the course of everything if he’d just be the sincere man she’d grown to love. Her heart slammed in her chest, and she stumbled on her feet. Mr. Jiang caught her and helped her stay upright.

  She meant know. If he would be the man she had come to know.

  Oh damn.

  ~~~

  Reed saw Lara’s slight trip, but it was the look on her face that had him standing. Their eyes collided, and she shook her head, holding him in place. Something wasn’t right. Against everything running through him, he stayed where he was and watched her walk toward him. Slowly, her face cleared, but remained flushed.

  “Are you all right?’ he asked when she got within hearing range.

  “I’m fine. It’s these heels.” He narrowed his eyes and pulled out the chair closest to his. Lara was steady in her shoes. He’d never seen her falter. She didn’t take the seat held out for her; instead, she stood between him and Mr. Jiang. “I wanted you two to talk. Perhaps have a new beginning.”

  Lara was hesitant toward him and they were beyond that in their relationship—way beyond that stage. What did that mean? He ran a hand down her arm, took a good look in her eyes that still carried a hint of uncertainty, but nothing else. She was masking. Her face was always too expressive to be so blank. His calculating gaze turned to Mr. Jiang. What happened between them to have her putting up barriers where he was concerned? Fear gripped him. What had she learned?

  “I saw your stumble, please have a seat,” Reed finally said.

  “I think the carpet jumped out in front of me.” She wouldn’t look at him. He panicked. Had she finally learned something so despicable that she couldn’t look at him the same again? Surely Jiang had enough dirt on him to taint Lara’s perception. He took his seat. Anger abandoned him as despair came on strong. He reached up, taking Lara’s hand in his, drawing her closer to his side.

  “Reed, I brought Mr. Jiang over to re-meet you.”

  Reed mechanically greeted Jiang. He maneuvered her handhold until their fingers were twined together. He wasn’t certain what she wanted from him, but his entire focus centered on making this right for Lara.

  “I’ve been thinking,” he started but she interrupted him.

  “Mr. Jiang speaks English, but I can interpret when he can’t get the word out.” She smiled her genuine smile at the other man—the one she usually reserved just for him. “He’ll mix English and Mandarin.”

  “She is a smart young woman,” Mr. Jiang said before Reed had a chance to respond.

  “She is. I’m a lucky man.” He meant those words.

  “That you are.” There was silence between them as Mr. Jiang l
ooked away toward his large family. Lots of those eyes were staring back at them. “They have not been easy on you.” Lara repeated the quietly said words he’d spoken in Mandarin.

  “No, they haven’t.” Reed didn’t elaborate. He wanted to add that as he sat here tonight, he realized if they had been easy, he would never have had to hire Lara. She was worth all the aggravation they gave. Instead of saying that, he went to the topic that had garnered most of his attention over the last hour. “Mr. Jiang, I have a proposal for you. I think I misread some things where your company’s concerned.”

  Lara repeated his words in Mandarin. He’d said them too fast or too Southern or something. Mr. Jiang hadn’t followed.

  “Lara, tell him I’d like to sell his company back to him.” Lara’s eyes darted up to Reed and he waited, then finally nodded toward Mr. Jiang. “Tell him, babe.”

  Now there were two driving forces pushing him in this direction. Whatever Lara heard needed to be stamped out. This could be the way to do that. She spoke quietly. The man kept that same confused look even after Lara’s translation, so Reed figured he’d heard him the first time. “Ask him if we can go somewhere private to talk.”

  “I understood. Come with me,” Mr. Jiang said, immediately rising.

  “Do you want me to come or the translator?” she asked Reed. He’d had one assigned to him who stood by the door. He’d completely forgotten about the guy.

  “No, you come with us. You’re the one who gives me these crazy notions of kindness. You should be there to see them at work.” He kissed her temple when she stood. Mr. Jiang went toward the exit. He followed along with Lara by his side. He’d set the wheels in motion, and he’d have a lot to explain. He’d also probably be financing part of this sale. With a deep sigh, he resigned himself. This was the right thing to do.