Banquet

I needed a drink. I was desperate for a drink. I needed anything that could calm down my frantic brain cells and force me to think before I act. Aiden was my boss. Aiden most likely had a girlfriend, and the fact that he had no problem casually embracing me should turn on all kinds of alarms inside me. And yet, I just let it happen. I allowed myself to feel the tingling feeling in my stomach and the pleasant shivers washing over my body over and over again. Perhaps I missed that kind of attention for so long that I welcomed it, even knowing it was just for the sake of "pretending."

A lot of people wanted to talk with Aiden, and I was always by his side. Strangely, I didn't feel as awkward as I initially assumed. The people talking to Aiden were polite and effortlessly engaged me in their small talk. It made me feel more relaxed before the actual dinner began…

We were seated at a round table with six other people. Mr. and Mrs. Kameda and Mr. Blaxhall, one of Aiden's potential clients,