You never know. However, he’s saved me from plenty of bad dates already, even going as far as pretending to be my pissed-off fiancé once. Needless to say, I’m still holding a small grudge that he had to go with that scenario of all things.
When I walk in, a receptionist asks my name, checks it off a list, and welcomes me in with a bright smile.
Past the entrance, I find a big room with dim lighting, servers waiting with trays of champagne and sweet wine, lining the entrance and making me feel like I’m at some fancy event that’s a bit out of my league.
I mean, I’ve been to plenty of big business events, but this feels different somehow, like the air itself is charged with excitement, and my skin suddenly prickles and I get the feeling that no, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be—this can be it: a day to remember.
It is indeed a bit magical, as in the middle of the room, there’s a sort of huge chandelier, a girl hanging in its middle with a small sparkly suit, hanging from her legs, then waving at the crowd and crawling back up. I’m transfixed, watching her, when I almost knock into someone, elbowing their side.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I say, barely registering the man in a suit I just almost crashed into as I move to the food table. If there’s a trick I learned at real estate events, it’s to have some kind of snack on hand, so if someone says something really silly, or that you don’t know how to reply to, you can take a bite, and think about your answer meanwhile.
Or fake a coughing fit to redirect the conversation, which is one of Alex’s tricks.
Smiling to myself at the memories, I scan the table.
It’s amazing—there’s little cookies in the shape of ghosts, hugging pecan nuts to their chests. Little snacks of ham and cheese that resemble eyes, olives in the middle that make up the pupils. But my favorite has to be the huge spider in the middle, which looks like some kind of cheese bread with its whole belly filled up with tomato sauce.
It’s the most elaborate Halloween table I’ve ever seen. In the end, I settle for pumpkin-shaped bread, which is easier to walk around with. As I break off one bit, I see that it’s also filled with cheese, and it tastes like spices and turmeric which are always delicious.
Really, whoever planned this event outdid themselves.
I start walking around, striking conversation with a few people, and even seeing some neighbors I barely know from running into them at the shops. Occasionally, I return to the table, grab something else, and do another round. No one strikes me as very interesting, a few snobby people, others that seem like we don’t have much in common. However I also meet a woman, dressed as a mummy that's into sustainable clothing, who I end up exchanging cards with, and a man that specializes in carpeting—dressed like Bob the builder.
It’s always good to have contacts like that on real estate, so I save his card too.
However, through it all, I feel watched. It’s an odd feeling, as whenever I turn, I don’t see anyone in particular looking at me, but I have this sensation, just like a prickle on my skin, like there’s something I’m missing out on.
Each time that I turned, I can’t seem to find the person and I shake my head.
Maybe it’s just the magic of the room.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Alastair
After solving the problem with my co-organizer Calvin—a misunderstanding with the DJ—I went along to try and enjoy the party, meet some new people. However it seems like Calvin has something on me tonight, because he keeps coming back to me all the time.
Even when that lovely woman knocked into me, too entertained by the exotic dancer, I couldn’t even say hello. Calvin was by my side straight away, asking me if we should get more food, change to a different style of music, etcetera, etcetera.
Finally, when he comes to me for the thousandth time, I’ve had enough.
“Look, Cal. I know we’ve been friends for a long time, and this is why I have the confidence to tell you this and know that you’re not going to be upset,” I say before leaving pause, waiting for his whole attention. “Everything’s perfectly fine. People are having fun. Now, go to the drinks table, grab a whiskey, and relax. Did I mention the relaxing part should be on the top of your list?”
He presses his lips together, shifting from one side to the other. “But what about—”
“Cal,” I interrupt, my hand on his shoulder this time. “The idea of this party was tonetwork. To meet new people in the industry, to help Wyoming grow. I need you to stop worrying about food, and music, and whatever else, and concentrate on that. Okay? Everything is going to work out because you planned it, buddy. Now relax or I swear I will ignore you the rest of the year.
“Okay,” he finally says, running a hand through his hair. He tugs at the end, his shoulders sagging as he takes a deep breath. “It’s just that we put so much effort into this, I want it to be perfect for tonight, you know?”
“And it already is. Thanks to the months of planning that you’ve done. So now, you can enjoy the success of your hard work. That’s why we work so hard after all, isn’t it?” I ask, waiting for him to nod before continuing. “You need to rejoice in what we get in return. To live a better life and make memories.”
“You’re right, Alastair,” he sighs and gives me a small smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Lose your head,” I joke before Calvin goes to the drink table, grabs a glass, and then I see him go over to the food section, grabbing a snack as well. I take a sip of my red wine, careful not to stain the white shirt, and then my eyes scan the crowd, taking everything in.
Since running into that woman from a while ago, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.
She zapped me when she elbowed me and her hand lightly brushed mine, something I don’t even think she noticed. It’s like she was carrying such an electricity within her, something that I can’t stop thinking about for some odd reason. I spotted her once more between the people a while back, but when I tried to make my way to her, she was gone—probably off to the bathroom or something.