Page 6 of Hard Rock Heat

"This party is a bore," he said. "Who decided to throw an event for medical whateverstuff?"

I clenched my jaw. "That would beme."

"That explains it," hesaid.

"And what does that mean?" Iasked.

"You wouldn't know a good time if it hit you in the face." He smirked. "You should come to another of Cam's parties. I'll show you arealgood time,sweetness."

I ignored his last comment, taking a few seconds to calm myself. Dealing with Damon brought my inner rage monster closer and closer to thesurface.

"This is a corporate networking event," I said. "It's not supposed to befun."

"Missionaccomplished."

"Faith is an amazing event planner." Hope jumped in before I could smash my fist into Damon's face. "She executes the client's needsperfectly."

"Exactly," I said. "As long as the client is happy, I'mhappy."

"You're happy hobnobbing with stuck-up suits?" heasked.

I almost smiled despite myself. That was exactly how I described the usual attendees in my head. I wasn't going to let Damon score apoint.

"This is my job, and I'm damned good at it," Isaid.

"I'm not saying you aren't good at it," he replied. "I'm saying it's a boring thing to be goodat."

I screamedinternally.

"Why did you decide to throw this event?" Ian asked, making polite conversation to keep us from engaging in an inevitablebloodbath.

I swallowed down the scream and turned tohim.

"It's purely a public relations move," I said, purposely not looking at Damon. "We used to stick with media companies, non-profits and consumer packaged goods. My boss wants us to start expanding the industries we're involved with. That's why we're working with a data and insight productscompany."

Hope and Ian nodded politely with confused expressions on their faces. Damon's attention was already elsewhere, eyeing one of the several openbars.

"Anyway," I said, wanting to change the subject to something less boring. Damon was infuriating but he was also right. And I hated him for being right. "These events are pretty much just an excuse for people to get up on stage and talk about how special and amazing their current research is, and to present awards to people who've done nothing of note except bribe the judges. The whole arrangement is prettyfake."

"I didn't realize you were so jaded," Hopesaid.

"I'm no longer the bright-eyed intern full of hopes and dreams," Ireplied.

A mole-faced man in a three piece suit appeared out of the corner of my eye. I stood up from my table just in time to greethim.

"Gerald! How wonderful to see you again. How are the kids? Is Jamie still in medschool?"

He flashed a smarmy smile and shook my outstretched hand. He was a regular at these types of events, always managing to score an invitation even when it wasn't in his field. I always assumed he did it for the freedrinks.

"Faith, you still working these events? I thought you'd be running the placealready."

"I've just been promoted to senior event logistics specialist." I aimed for a demursmile.

"Humph. I assumed you'd be higher up in your career bynow."

I bit my tongue and kept the polite smile on myface.

"And yes, Jamie's still in med school," he continued. "Last semester. She's already been accepted into aresidency."