“I’ll catch up with you in a bit. Please let Collins escort you out into the main hall.”
My mind fogs with the hot-cold personality of Graham. One second he is kind and accommodating. The next he is icy and calculated.
I humor him enough to stay next to Collins’s side while I walk down the corridor of shame. Maybe it’s for the best that he stopped the scene. The last thing I need is to get emotionally involved with another man who is incapable of giving me what I need. While my lower half says “yes,” the more rational upper half says “hell no.”
“Ma’am, there’s drinks and snacks in the limo,” he offers, talking at a higher volume to be heard over the buzz of the crowd mingling. “The event is coming to an end, and I will see that you get home safely.”
“I’d rather stay and be with my friends,” I counter.
“Mr. Hoffman woul—”
“Damn good thing I do not answer to Mr. Hoffman.” I turn and move to go back to my friends, ignoring him. I feel Collins’s presence behind me, patrolling me. Seriously? The man has a fatherly aura to him, although he isn't in the same age range. I find my thoughts ironic, considering I haven’t had a real father figure in my life for quite a while now.
I see Claire and Ethan dancing together, but no sign of Zander. Ugh, why did I leave him alone? My eyes scan the room until I spot him sitting at the reserved table, drinking some type of dark liquid. Making my way over to him, I plan out my apology.
“Hey you.” I give him a lopsided smile. “Sorry if it seems like I ditched you.”
Zander holds up a hand to stop me. “It’s fine, Angie. No need to apologize.”
“Well, it was not my intention.”
“I know.”
I find my handbag that I hid under the table with all my essentials tucked inside. “Do you want to go look out at the water? I think the back doors lead out onto a viewing platform. Then we can get out of here.”
“Sure. Sounds great.”
As we walk toward the rear exit, Collins addresses me from the corner with his eagle eyes, making me halt.
“Go ahead, Z. I’ll meet you out there in a minute. I need to use the restroom,” I lie. He accepts this, and I watch his retreating form.
“Ma’am, Mr. Hoffman is not going to like this.”
I turn to look at Collins, who seems on edge. “Okay,” I say matter-of-factly. “Mr. Hoffman pretty much disapproves of most things I decide to do. He’ll eventually figure out how to get over it.” I shrug. “My life, my rules.”
“He would rather take you home himself after his conference call. If you would rather go home now, I can drive you myself.”
“Tell your Mr. Hoffman that I had fun today. I’m sure that he will make it a point to find me and make things more complicated. Until then, I’m going to enjoy my freedom.”
As I turn to walk away, I feel powerful. Damn straight. I walk confidently through the doors and brace myself for the cold air that bites at my exposed skin. The lady bits sure are feeling the repercussions of forfeiting my panties over to Graham, making me wish I had the foresight to pack an extra pair in my handbag.
“Nice evening,” I say to Zander, as we gaze out at the reflection of the moon on the river.
“It is.” Removing his suit coat, he wraps it around my arms.
“Thank you,” I say, as a shiver runs through me.
“So, I was thinking,” he starts, “that if you are free sometime this week that maybe you can come by my place and we can do a video game tournament with the guys?”
I giggle. “Only if we don’t play any type of racing game. I suck at those.”
“Okay.”
“And no time limit games,” I groan.
“Deal. Any other stipulations?”
“And only games I’m good at.”