Page 43 of Titus

“Well, if it means anything,” Avery Mitchell said after taking a sip of her champagne, “Jim hates these things, and my husband is actually smiling.”

“That’s because I don’t have to cater to pointless requests,” Jim added, sitting regally in his chair. “Truly, you are a godsend, and we appreciate how quickly and well you’ve pulled all of this together.”

“Well, enjoy her while you’ve got her,” Collin Brooks said, exchanging smiles with Jake Mitchell.

“Excuse me?” I asked with confusion, knowing that Jake and Collin were not only world-renowned surgeons, but also partners-in-crime known for constantly pranking people.

Jake took a sip of his scotch. “Word on the street is that Hawk is hiring you to be his sole planner for these circuses?”

“Is that so?” I arched a challenging eyebrow at the two doctors’ amused expressions.

“And Hawk usually gets what he wants,” Spencer added.

“Well, that may be the word, but I’m not a fool when it comes to my business,” I said confidently. “I know not to cut my clients off because one billionaire wants to hoard talent when he discovers it.”

“How did that even come about, Titus hiring Cat exclusively?” Nat said, studying all the men’s knowing expressions. She looked directly at her husband, “In fact, you’re the one who told me Titus was an asshole to my girl on his yacht.”

“Right,” I added. “Now, suddenly, he feels the need to secure me as his own?”

“I guess that’s the billion-dollar question,” Jake said with a laugh.

“No,” Nat added. “Cat is not only a goddess who could tempt even a priest to cross that line, but she’s also extremely talented. I believe,” she sat back and eyed me, “Titus has just met the first person in his life to challenge him.”

“This is true,” I answered, eyes scanning the area to ensure everything was functioning well. “He’s also met the first woman to tell him no after he demanded that I clear my schedule for a date with him next weekend.”

Jim practically choked on his bourbon, while the two doctors laughed into their drinks.

“He is really trying to date you?” Jim asked, with more humor in the man’s expression than I’d ever seen.

“So it would seem,” I answered, knowing that once I was done talking to my friends, I would, in fact, decline Titus’s request to meet me again.

“God help that man,” Nat said with a laugh. “Karma always eventually hunts down and quietly returns the many, many favors we give to others, and I know that Titus Hawk has accrued quite a debt in the broken hearts department he’s left behind.”

“I say you date him just to break the bastard’s heart,” Collin said with a laugh.

“Oh, gentlemen, have another scotch and enjoy the evening,” I said. “There’s no need to worry about Mr. Hawk and me, because I can assure you, I don’t date my clients. From what you’re all sharing, it seems he might be hoping to become the exception to that rule.”

“Oh, how I wish you did,” Jim said with a laugh.

“I’m sure you do,” I bantered back. “Now, all of you, please enjoy the evening. I won’t be far if you need anything else.”

I’d have loved to sit and chat nonsense with that lively group at their table, but my work and managing these events required me to stay focused. Anything could go wrong at any moment, and I couldn’t let that happen. Honestly, I’d rather date Titus Hawk than let him be the reason I got distracted and had something go wrong at my event.

Rather than dwelling on him—on how Titus had mentioned my name, and how my friends knew he wanted me as his personal planner—I redirected my attention to work. Thankfully, I did because the ice sculpture was melting under the wrong lighting. I swear, Aria was a gem, but she often overcorrected, and that habit tended to create more issues than it did perfection.

And that’s why I wasn’t going to remain focused on Titus’s nonsense and gossip about the man’s agenda. I would not have a disaster on my hands tonight.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I’d stared at Cat’s response to my request to clear her schedule for far longer than I’d ever care to admit. No one treated me like this. Not in business, and certainly not in pleasure. So why the hell was this woman lingering in my mind and taking up space there?

I told myself it was because I needed a way to get to Jameston and protect my company through insider knowledge. And Cat was the most efficient way in.

But after our subtle exchange of texts, I found it harder than expected to refocus on a business mindset and deal with her that way.

“You look like you’ve been run over by a truck,” my brother Wyatt said as he walked into my office.

I looked up from the numbers on the screen that I hadn’t been paying attention to since I first pulled them up.