Page 27 of Titus

“If that is what it takes to secure your services on a retainer basis to oversee the planning of all my events starting next weekend,” he stated directly.

“Forgive me for being completely confused by this proposal, Mr. Hawk. Would you care to share with me why you now believe a simple event planner is worth five hundred thousand dollars?”

I heard him chuckle over the phone. “Well, let’s just say that after attending Jameston’s event last evening and comparing it to how you organized mine, I’d prefer you to be officially in charge of all future events for Hawk Enterprise.”

How the hell could I turn this offer down? This was what I had worked my entire life for. But there had to be more to it than that, and it wasn’t because I was a piece of ass he wanted. Men in these circles didn’t play that way.

“I’ll need to think about it,” I finally responded.

“Take your time,” he answered.

The second the line went dead, I stayed exactly where I was—hand braced against the edge of my desk, eyes still on the glass, as if I hadn’t just been pulled into Titus Hawk’s orbit before I’d even had a chance to unpack my office.

I’ll think about it… Because of course I would.

I pushed off the desk and stepped back out into the controlled disaster that was now my office. Nothing had caught fire. No one was crying. We were doing great.

“How is it going?” I called out to my team.

“Lighting is now emotionally stable,” Marcus said without looking up.

“Good. I don’t have the capacity to manage lighting with abandonment issues today.”

“I heard that,” Aria snapped from across the room. “And for the record, the west wall still feels like it’s judging me.”

“It’s probably judging all of us,” I replied.

Jules crossed in front of me, tablet in hand. “Half the vendors are asking if the new loading entrance is permanent.”

“Seriously?” I looked at him as if to ask why this is even a question from them. “Tell them it is until I decide it isn’t,” I said with a teasing laugh.

He nodded. “You can be so… confusing. They’re all going to love us here,” he said with a roll of his eyes.

I chuckled. “Good.”

I walked into my office, sat at my desk, and opened my laptop.

A quiet voice cut through the noise again.

“Excuse me, Cat?”

I didn’t even look up, “If it’s another vendor asking where to unload, tell them to figure it out or go home.”

Dani chuckled, knowing all morning had been like this. “It’s not a vendor this time.”

I sighed, glancing up from my laptop.

“Then who?”

“Titus Hawk.”

I leaned back slowly in my chair, staring at the ceiling for half a second before dragging my gaze back to her.

“Did he discover the concept of persistence in the last hour, or is this just who he is?”

Dani smiled. “He says it won’t take long.”

“These men always say that.” I sighed, having no clue why the man needed to call me back five seconds after we hung up. “Patch him through.”