“Go ahead please, Stark said. “The escalators to the mezzanine are
directly to your right.
Cam hesitated for just a second, then moved through with Blair by
her side.
“Youre just my date, remember? Blair
murmured.
“Sorry,
Cam
mut ered.
“Dont
be.
Blair and Cam joined the crowd on the mezzanine and a moment later, a
smal , compact brunet e in a black evening dress approached. Even in
heels, she was of average height, but her dynamic expression and
confident carriage made her presence seem larger.
“Ms. Powel . She extended her hand. “Im so honored that you could
come this evening. Im Emory Constantine.
“Dr. Constantine, Blair said, taking the researchers hand. “Thank
you. My partner, Cameron Roberts, and my good friends Diane
Bleeker and Renée Savard.
“Agent Roberts, a pleasure. Emory Constantine shook hands with Cam,
then indicated the open doors to the banquet hal behind her. “Please,
wont al of you join me at my table.
“Thank you, Blair said. “Wed love
to.
“You should burn in hel , a male voice shouted from across the
foyer. “The
Bible says you are an
abomination.
Cam instinctively stepped between Blair and the direction of the voice
just as
Stark did the same. Stark slid a hand under her
jacket.
“Wozinski has him, she murmured just loud enough for Cam
to hear.
“Good. Keeping between Blair and that side of the hal way, Cam took
Blairs hand and said, “Were clear. Lets go inside.
Blair met Emory Constantines concerned gaze. “Im sorry for the
disruption.
Emory smiled faintly. “I was about to say the same thing to you, Ms.
Powel . I
have a number of fairly vocal
opponents.
“Then we have quite a bit in common, Blair
said.
Emorys gaze flickered briefly to Cam and then to Diane and Renée.
Then she grinned, her dark eyes sparkling. “It seems that we do.
Chapter Seventeen
I m sorry, Emory Constantine murmured, bending over Blair, who sat
at the head table with Cam, Diane, Renée, and a number of notables
from the scientific and financial world, “but would you mind posing for
one more round of photos? The president of the Institute
“No, I dont mind, Blair said with a smile, even though shed been
photographed with and without her permission more times than she
cared to count in the last three hours. She was used to the press and had
expected more than her usual share of at ention after al the events of
the last few months and the recent announcement of her personal
plans. Emory it seemed, also garnered a fair amount of media notice,
so with the two of them sit ing together, the questions and photos had
been non-stop al evening. “Il be right there.
As she rose, Cam did also. Out of the corner of her eye, Blair saw
Paula wending her way through the tables toward her. When Blair fol
owed Emory onto the stage and joined the smal group waiting there,
Cam and Paula took up positions of to each side. Randolph Sumter,
the current president of the Johnson Institute, was middle-aged,
handsome, and wore his power with subtle arrogance. He didnt try to
hide his non-philanthropic interest as his gaze swept over Blair during
their introduction.
“Ms. Powel , he said in a smooth baritone, “wed love to have you
tour the
Institute. I think youl find we are doing some remarkable
work.
“Yes, Blair replied with polite reserve. “Ive fol owed Dr. Constantines
research with interest. You must be very pleased to have her and her
team on board.
To his credit, his smile never wavered. “Without a doubt. Please
remember me to your father. The board was a staunch supporter during
his last campaign.
“I certainly wil . Blair took Cams hand. “I dont believe youve met my
partner, Cameron Roberts.
Sumter acknowledged Cam perfunctorily, signaled to the
photographers, and positioned himself between Blair and Emory with a
hand on each of their backs. Once the obligatory photo shoot was over,
Blair drew Emory aside.
“I hope you dont mind, but Im going to slip out a lit le
early.
Emory shook her head. “Please, you dont need to explain. She
glanced at a woman who pointed a camera in their direction. “Theyre
hungry tonight, arent they?
“Tonight? Blair laughed. “Im real y glad we got to meet. I thought your
speech was dynamite. If theres ever anything I can do, just give me a cal
.
“Thank you. Emory walked Blair to the far side of the stage where the
crowd on the floor was thinner. “I might just take you up on that
someday.
Blair smiled. “Good. Im
serious.
“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, too, Emory said,
waiting until
Cam was close enough to
hear.
“Thank you, Cam and Blair said
together.
“Il walk out with you, Emory said, “and we can trade phone
numbers. She looked over the several hundred people in the banquet
room and sighed. “Ive stil got another hours networking to go, and I
