CHAPTER 168: BIGGEST SPONSOR

Callan’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes settled on Emily. When their gaze met, he forgot to breathe for a brief second.

He just stood at the entrance, hands casually in his pockets, but his gaze was locked on her.

Was that the dress she had picked at the boutique on their way from the airport? Emily never wore such clothes.

He had only seen her dressed in something like that once, and that was in her prom picture which she had sent to him because he had been away at the time.

His eyes traveled down the length of her bare back, exposed by the deep cut of her dress, and for a moment, his grip in his pocket curled into a fist.

She looked nothing like the Emily he knew. She looked like trouble — an expensive kind of trouble.

She looked too beautiful.

He wasn’t surprised or disappointed when she looked away from him and focused on Dan. He had expected that reaction from her. He preferred her being cold to being so friendly as she had been earlier.

Looking away from him didn’t make him look away from her.

His jaw tightened as he watched her laugh at something Dan said. She was hanging on Dan’s arm like she belonged there and leaning against him in carefree manner.

Something inside him stirred an impulse to walk over and pull her aside and cover her up so that no one else would see her this way.

He started to take a step forward but then someone called his name, pulling him back.

"Mr. Quinn!"

Three middle-aged men and a woman approached him with smiles and badges clipped to their chest.

"Mr. Quinn, welcome! We’re so honored to have you here tonight."

Callan blinked and tore his gaze away from Emily. His expression returned to neutral, cool as steel, as he nodded to the event organizers. "Thank you for the invitation."

Emily watched from the corner of her eye as they led him away toward the front. The seats reserved for VIP.

Her smile faltered just a little and she swallowed past a lump in her throat. For a moment she had thought he was there because of her and would come over to say hello to her.

Dan noticed the change in her demeanor. "You okay?"

Emily blinked and turned to him quickly. "What? Yeah. Of course."

Dan gave her a sideways glance. "You sure? Your smile seems to have dimmed a little."

She laughed lightly. "I’m alright."

Dan tilted his head, still watching her. "Do you hate him that much?"

"Hate who?"

"Your guardian," Dan said simply, jerking his head towards Callan. "Your mood changed when he walked in... I’m guessing he’s not your favorite person."

Emily leaned in a little and whispered, "Please, don’t tell anyone he’s connected to me in anyway. Keep it our little secret."

Dan raised his brows, surprised. "Why not?" He asked, not understanding why she would want to hide her connection to someone as wealthy as Callan Quinn.

"Because I don’t want them to know," she said simply.

"Why though?" he asked. "I mean, it should be a flex. You’re related to Callan Quinn. That’s major. He’s, like... the biggest sponsor this year, you know?"

Emily’s brows furrowed. "Wait... what?"

Dan frowned. "You didn’t know he’s the biggest sponsor of this year’s residency program?"

"No." Her voice was quiet. "How do you know that?"

Dan reached into the inner pocket of his blazer and pulled out his phone then opened the brochure. He scrolled through and pointed. "Here. Sponsors. See? Quinn Pharmaceuticals. I saw that and figured... you know. Maybe that’s why you’re part of the program," he added with an apologetic smile.

Emily stared at the page, her pulse rising. "That’s not why," she muttered. "I earned my spot. I did," she lied even though she knew she didn’t.

She knew her father had pulled the string for her to be there not Callan. There was no way Callan would have arranged for her to be part of the program when he knew that would mean crossing paths with her.

This explained how he knew about the dinner party. It also explained why the ladies had been whispering when he walked in. They all knew who he was.

Why hadn’t he told her he was sponsoring the program? What was he up to? She wondered.

"I didn’t say you didn’t. It was just a guess."

But Emily’s eyes were already back on Callan — watching him from across the room.

He was seated now, laughing politely at something one of the organizers said. A group of young female doctors hovered nearby, smiling too much and leaning in too close as they waited to be introduced to him.

Men hovered too, wanting to be acquainted with him.

Emily felt her stomach twist when one of the ladies touched his arm and he smiled at her.

It wasn’t jealousy. No, of course not. She wasn’t jealous. Callan was her past. She didn’t care about him.

Except... maybe she did.

As though he could sense her gaze, Callan turned a little, and their eyes met.

Emily looked away quickly— heart racing and cheeks flushed in embarrassment at being caught staring.

What would he think? That she still cared? She took a deep breath and sipped her wine.

As the event progressed, Emily began to doubt the wisdom behind wearing a strapless dress. She was beginning to feel cold. This was the exact reason she didn’t wear such dresses.

She looked up when a man in a velvet tuxedo stepped onto the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said into the mic. "We hope you’re enjoying yourselves. Soon we will be bringing the event to a close so that you can all get a good night rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. In the next couple of minutes we’d like to invite our sponsors to say a few words. Please remain seated and enjoy your drinks."

Emily’s heart skipped a beat and she turned her head slowly toward Callan, who was leaning back in his chair, relaxed as ever.

Callan was going to give a speech. What if he mentions her? What if he tells everyone?

She quickly took out her phone from her purse and unlocked it. Her fingers moved quickly as she pulled up his number, and typed.

[Let’s talk outside. It’s important.]