It was not friendly.
“She has had a long night.”
Victoria tried pulling her arm free.
“I need…”
Her words faded.
Taylor’s stomach tightened.
“What did you drink?”
Gregory answered.
“Enough.”
Taylor ignored him.
“Ms. Hawthorne, can you tell me what you had?”
Victoria stared at him as if translating.
“Wine.”
“How much?”
“I don’t…”
Gregory stepped between them.
“This isn’t your concern.”
Taylor looked around.
The corridor behind the ballroom was mostly empty.
Guests were leaving through the main lobby.
Music still played beyond the doors.
Hotel employees moved far enough away not to hear clearly.
Taylor returned his gaze to Victoria.
“Do you want me to call medical?”
Gregory laughed softly.
“She’s drunk.”
Victoria whispered:
“No.”
Taylor looked at her.
She was staring at Gregory now.
Fear had appeared beneath the confusion.
“No what?”
Victoria’s lips moved.
“Don’t…”
Gregory leaned closer.
“Victoria.”
Her eyes found Taylor’s.
“Don’t let him…”
The rest disappeared.
Gregory grabbed her upper arm.
“Enough.”
Taylor stepped forward.
“Take your hand off her.”
Gregory stared.
Taylor was not an imposing man in the way movie heroes were imposing.
He stood six feet tall, broad enough from years of working around equipment but not huge.
His tuxedo was rented.
His shoes hurt.
He had a nine-year-old waiting at home and a career that depended partly on not starting fights with billionaires’ executives.
But there was something in Gregory’s face that reminded Taylor of a hospital room seven years earlier.
The night Megan disappeared.
A detective telling him to stay calm.
A company lawyer standing nearby.
People insisting there was probably an explanation.
Everyone wanting Taylor to wait.
Wait for evidence.
Wait for phone records.
Wait for the missing-person unit.
Wait for somebody else to decide whether the woman he loved had vanished voluntarily.
He had waited.
For seven years.
Taylor reached for Victoria.
Gregory blocked him.
“Walk away.”
Taylor’s voice lowered.
“She just told me not to let you take her.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
“That isn’t helping your argument.”
Gregory’s expression hardened.
“You are an employee.”
“Yes.”
“I can end your career before you reach the elevator.”
Taylor thought of Sophie.
Mortgage.
School.
Insurance.
Everything Gregory could destroy with one phone call.
Then Victoria’s hand found Taylor’s sleeve.
Her fingers closed weakly around the fabric.
“Please.”
That was enough.
Taylor moved.
He slipped one arm behind Victoria’s back and the other beneath her knees.
Gregory grabbed his shoulder.
“Put her down.”
Taylor turned sharply.
“Do not touch me.”
Gregory stared.
Taylor lifted Victoria.
She was lighter than he expected.
Her head dropped against his shoulder.
Gregory stepped in front of him.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
Taylor looked directly at him.
“Then explain why she can barely stand.”
“She drank too much.”
“She doesn’t smell drunk.”
Gregory froze for half a second.
Tiny.
But Taylor saw it.
Victoria’s breathing became shallow.
Taylor tightened his hold.
“Call security,” Gregory said.
Taylor almost laughed.
“For what?”
“Kidnapping.”
That word landed hard.
Hotel staff at the far end turned.
Taylor knew how the scene looked.
A mid-level employee carrying the billionaire CEO away from her chief strategy officer.
Gregory only needed to raise his voice.
Security would come.
Police.