Jensen

Jack looked back at the crowd and saw Emily again. She looked uncomfortable talking to a guest. The man's hand hung on her arm, and his words were too pushy. Emily pulled away, trying to hide her discomfort with fake smiles.

She stepped back, not wanting to cause a scene. But just as she was struggling, she saw Jack.

"Is something wrong?" Jack's voice was bold, cutting through the thick tension of the moment. The man froze, immediately recognizing Jack and the power his presence commanded. His charm giving way to his quiet dominance. Jack's grip on the man's shoulder made him stumble, clearly intimidated.

Emily's shoulders relaxed as the man mumbled an apology and quickly left. Jack noticed the relief in her eyes when she looked at him. She noticed she was still holding his hand and quickly pulled away, feeling her cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"Thank you," she said softly. Her expression showed she was still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Jack nodded, still smiling. "No problem," he said casually. But beneath his calm tone was a quiet confidence that made his words feel reassuring. "You're safe now."

Emily cleared her throat and stepped back. "I should check on things." she said, her voice slightly shaky. She needed space to process her emotions. She quickly walked away, leaving Jack. His eyes followed her as she disappeared into the crowd again.

Emily's doubts about Jack slowly faded, replaced by a mix of admiration and curiosity. His calm and genuine concern had shattered her former assumptions about him.

Earlier that night, Emily stood in the grand hall, surveying the event she'd spent weeks planning. The chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elegant guests, with classical music adding a refined ambiance.

Emily had worked tirelessly to organize this high-profile event for Patricia Smith, a renowned businesswoman. Tonight's success meant everything to Emily, a chance to prove herself. She looked calm, but she was nervous inside.

Patricia moved confidently through the crowd, her presence commanding attention. She had seen potential in Emily and been supportive, but she was also clear about her high expectations-business was business.

"Emily, darling!" Patricia's voice rang through the crowd as she approached with her usual poised smile. "You've outdone yourself tonight. I'm very impressed."

"Thank you, Patricia. That means a lot to me," Emily replied, still feeling a bit nervous despite the compliment. "I just want everything to go well."

"You've made it happen," Patricia said, looking around the room, as her eyes spotted him. "Oh, Jack's here."

Jack stood across the room, drink in hand, barely acknowledging the conversations around him. His eyes wandered, but his mind was elsewhere. The alcohol didn't help. The crowd only intensified his unease.

When Patricia called, everything else faded. He took another sip of his drink, hoping it would settle his nerves.

As he walked toward her, his gaze fell on Emily standing beside her. Calm, composed, and confident in a way that stood out. Something about her caught his attention, and for the first time that night, he felt a spark of interest.

Patricia smiled, her voice warm and friendly. "Emily, this is Jack Harrington. Jack, meet Emily, the brilliant mind behind tonight's event." Jack looked at Emily a bit longer than he expected and held out his hand with a relaxed smile. "Nice to meet you, Emily. Please call me Jack."

Emily hesitated before shaking his hand, but with a loose grip. "Nice to meet you, Jack," she said, being polite but distant.

He held her hand a bit too long. Emily's heart beat faster, but she reminded herself who he was: wealthy, famous, and probably used to getting attention from women. His drink was almost empty, and he didn't seem very interested in the event. Emily found his charm a bit suspicious.

Jack's smile widened as he took a step closer, the faint smell of alcohol lingering on his breath. "The event's impressive, but I'm more intrigued by the woman behind it."

Emily became even more cautious, her guard rising higher. She'd heard this kind of flattery many times before. To her, billionaires like Jack were all the same, She wasn't falling for it. Not tonight, and not with someone like him.

"Well," she replied, forcing a smile, "I'm just making sure everything goes as planned."

Before Jack could respond, Patricia gave her a playful wink. "I'll let you two talk."

Emily didn't wait for Patricia to leave before excusing herself. "That won't be necessary. I have to check on something. I'll see you around, Jack. Excuse me, Patricia," she said, nodding at Patricia before walking away.

As she walked away, she heard Jack's voice behind her, but she didn't turn back. She knew that look in his eyes. She had a job to do - no distractions.