With that, I begin moving through the crowd while searching for Emma, the fruit punch in my hand. My heels are very high and I stumble a little, but then right myself. Unfortunately, trying to push through the dancing crowd is like trying to move through bumper cars and I keep getting jostled every which way as shafts of colored light pass over us.
Finally, I give up. My toes are crushed thanks to all the people who have stomped on my feet and I’m drenched in sweat. My dress, which was already scandalous to begin with, now sticks to my curves like a second skin. Honestly, I wish I could take it off just to cool down a bit.
What should I do? Confused, I shake my head. Emma’s probably making out with Server somewhere and has completely forgotten about me. I’m just going to have to find a ride home by myself.
Pulling up the Uber app, I request a car at my location, but then my heart sinks. Damn, it says it will be ninety minutes before a driver can get out here to pick me up. Silently, I curse this remote area of Brooklyn. What the hell? I knew I shouldn’t have let Emma drag me all the way out to this godforsaken neighborhood.
What do I do? I stare helplessly at my phone. No one I know has a car, and it’s definitely not safe to take public transportation at this hour. I’m not even sure how to get to the subway from this place, much less the nearest bus stop, and there’s no way I’m wandering the streets of a dark neighborhood alone this late at night anyways. That’s practically inviting bad shit to happen.
Suddenly, inspiration strikes. Pulling up the contacts on my phone I stop at Brad’s name. Should I? He’s been my dad’s chief of staff for ages, and the handsome man is quite the fixer. He pretty much ignores me when I flirt with him, but what if I called him right now? Of course, it’s past midnight already, but I also know he’d definitely answer because he’s just that kind of guy. Brad is solid and reliable, and also my best hope.
Throwing caution to the wind, I tap Brad’s name and hold my breath as the cell rings. He picks up immediately.
“Katy, is something wrong?” that deep voice sounds in my ear.
I smile as relief rushes through me. Just hearing his voice sets my emotions at ease, and reassures me that everything is going to be fine.
“I’m okay Brad,” I say quickly. “But um, do you have some time?”
“What is it?” he asks in a short voice.
“Well,” I say. “I kind of came to a party with my friend out in Brooklyn, and she’s disappeared and I don’t know anyone, and I know that you work for my dad …”
“What do you need?” he interrupts in a curt voice.
My voice turns pleading.
“I need you to come pick me up in Brooklyn, Brad. Is that okay?”
There’s silence on his end of the phone that seems to go on forever.
“What the hell are you doing in Brooklyn this late at night?”
I stammer again.
“Well, my friend talked me into coming to a party out here and I had no idea it’d be so far! Then she ditched me for this guy, and I have no idea where they’ve disappeared to. Plus, I wanted to get an Uber but there isn’t one available for ninety minutes, and I had one drink. Only one drink but it was this weird pink thing that tasted like dragon fruit and Kool-Aid mixed together. I need you, Brad,” I finish plaintively.
He’s silent for a moment.
“Katy,” is his warning growl.
“Please,” I say in a tearful tone. “I don’t know anyone here and some of the guys are starting to scare me.”
With that, Brad barks out, “Fine. Where do I pick you up?”
The older man sounds none too happy, but I let out a happy sigh of relief.
“I don’t know the address, but I’ll send my location to your phone, okay?”
He doesn’t even reply. Instead, my dad’s handsome aide hangs up without a goodbye, and I drop my phone from my ear as well. But inside my heart’s going double-time because Brad Landon is coming to save me, and I can’t wait to see the gorgeous older man.
3
Brad
“Is something wrong?” a flirtatious voice interrupts my thoughts.
I look up at Jessica, my date, and smile wanly.
“No, everything’s fine. I just need to call it a night, that’s all.”
The pretty redhead pouts sulkily and trails a red nail over the back of my hand.
“Really? So soon? But Brad, I got some new lingerie that I’ve been dying to show you.”
I smile and try to feign interest, but it’s difficult. She’s a beautiful woman, but I don’t feel much towards her. We’ve been dating unofficially for a few months, but honestly, we’re more friends with benefits than anything else. Or not even friends, to be honest. Jessica is a high-powered corporate lawyer and tends to drone on and on about her work doing governmental investigations. I know I should be interested, but I’m just not. Too much work and no play makes Brad a boring dinner companion.