“That’s great,” Mr. Kirk said, with much less enthusiasm and started walking away. I had never quite taken someone plain to a public event like this. Sure, I fucked all the young women that worked for me, but that was usually confined to the walls of my own house; I never dared take a teller out to a coveted event like this one.
These things were boring beyond belief though, and her company, with her snarky humor and challenging attitude, would provide a lot of entertainment. I enjoyed having her around.
“I think you’re being judged pretty hardcore right now,” Aria looked at me with amusement.
“You aren’t… offended?”
She laughed. “Why should I be? I am sure he’s used to seeing you with supermodels. Everyone is. It is quite amusing watching people’s reaction. I never quite realized this before, but messing with rich people is fun.”
“Fucking rich people is even better,” I winked.
“Okay I practically led you to that one,” she shrugged. “What does a girl have to do to get a drink around here?”
“I’ll grab one for you,” I said and started walking but remembered something. “You’re not twenty-one.”
“Meh, it’s just a matter of a few months, nobody will care.”
“I hear it’s impossible to get a comfortable king-sized bed in jail,” I retorted.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, if it’s such a big deal-”
“I’m teasing you. Champagne okay?”
“Grab me a beer,” she grinned. “Let’s see how your acquaintances will react to a working-class girl who also shamelessly drinks beer at a classy event.”
I chuckled. “You are crazy. I don’t think they even have beers at this thing. I can ask Ned to-“
“It’s okay, you don’t have to make everything happen at the snap of your fingertips. Get me anything you want.” She put her hand on my shoulder again and smiled. Her touches were distracting.
I returned with two glasses of red wine and handed her one. “So I have to make a speech in like five minutes, you think you’re going to be okay on your own for a little bit?”
“Of course not. Oh wait, I’m not a five-year-old that needs constant adult supervision,” she pulled out her tongue. “Break a leg.”
“Don’t interrupt my speech if you need anything. You’re on your own. We can always screw later.”
She covered her face with both her hands. “Zayden, go make your big important speech.”
CHAPTER 9
ARIA
I took a huge gulp of my wine as Zayden proceeded to the mini-stage that had been crafted in the middle of the room. It was a very interesting taste; bitter, but rich enough to make my whole mouth feel like velvet. I was already starting to get a bit buzzed from a few sips. I looked at Zayden adjusting the mic and took a deep breath. The plain black suit fit his lean body immaculately, and the dark blue shirt made his eyes pop. Hi
s skinny black tie was slightly loose and I wondered how it would feel to undo it. And then his shirt. Aria, focus. I slapped my own forehead and frowned, trying hard to pay attention to the words now coming out of his mouth, rather than his mouth itself and just how succulent his lips looked.
“As many of you know, I lost my grandfather to cancer,” Zayden was saying. The room was utterly silent, every pair of eyes concentrating on him, as though he was reciting the next set of global constitution. What must it feel like, commanding any room you walk into? Someday, I would find out. I may never make it to Zayden’s status – I wasn’t born with the right set of luck in order to get there – but someday I would become successful enough to have a room full of people care about what I am saying.
“It was my complete honor to sponsor this gala, and I want to thank you all so much for your generous contributions to this truly wonderful cause.” It was obvious that this truly meant something to him, that he actually cared. There was a rumor around the office that he turned down an offer to speak at a local TED talk, so the fact that he was willing to come over here and take the time to address these people for the sake of cancer research was oddly heartwarming. He was definitely a much better person that he led himself and everyone else to believe. As he spoke with passion and intensity, I began to feel a very uncomfortable knot in my chest. It was a knot of feelings beginning to develop. I always thought he was attractive, but that’s simply an objective fact; he was attractive like the sky is blue, and I was also certainly very grateful for all that he did for me. But somehow, it was beginning to feel like there was more, like I appreciated him for who he was outside of who he was with me.
I was in trouble.
When he finished his speech there was an applause that lasted for minutes. People were cheering him on and screaming his name.
“Now let me invite Ms. Cameron Elizabeth, the head organizer of tonight’s grand event, to begin the auction,” Zayden said and stepped aside to speak with an older blonde women on the stage. I was surprised to feel a tap on my shoulder, since I didn’t really know anyone else at the party. I turned around to find Mr. Kirk smiling at me.
“That speech was quite something, huh?” He asked.
“Absolutely! Zayden is passionate and a wonderful speaker.”