Chapter 2

It was Halloween, and everyone at Dark Moon Industries was filled with anticipation. Not only was there to be a massive celebration that night paid for by the company, but it was also the launch of new collaborative technology with Emery Technologies that would revolutionize green energy. Rumor had it that Tyson Emery, CEO of Emery Technologies, would be making an appearance at the party that night. 

Olivia was in her office reviewing her photos. She had lost count of how many people had come in to ask if she would take a picture of them with Mr. Emery. Of course, she understood the appeal of being seen with someone of Mr. Emery’s caliber. Still, it was beyond her to comprehend the lengths some would go just to be seen with him or appear to know him. She had known and worked closely with Nicholas for several months. While she would admit he was handsome, she did not understand the jealousy she received from some simply for being around him. Nothing was romantic between them, and that was how it would stay.

She was going over the last of the photos she needed to review when a knock on her open door pulled her away from her computer screen. She looked up to see Nicholas standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Olivia asked him with a smile.

“I was just wondering if you are ready for tonight,” he inquired. 

Olivia’s reply dripped with sarcasm. “Let’s see…a Halloween party that is going to involve a large group of mostly werewolves, being supplied with enough alcohol to get them all drunk three times over, along with rumors of a very important guest, and I get to run around in a ridiculous costume and take pictures of it all. So why wouldn’t I be ready for that?”

“And what exactly is this ridiculous costume that you will be wearing?” Nicholas asked her as he came in, dropping into the chair in front of her desk.

Olivia looked at him seriously. “I will tell you only if you promise not to laugh or make fun of me.”

“I swear on my honor not to make fun of you.”

“I know you. You have no honor.” Olivia sighed and said, “I am going to be a fairy.”

Nicholas’ face lit up at the idea. “Why would I make fun of that? You will be a stunning fairy. Tell me what it looks like. Pleeeeease!”

“There isn’t much to tell you about it. It is a little dress that looks all woodsy and naturey, with detachable wings and a blue wig to hide my boring hair. I brought sandals to wear, but to be honest, I might go barefoot for comfort since I will be running around with a camera all night.”

“Naturey?”

“Yes, I know it is not a word. I am an artist, not an English teacher,” Olivia told him as she threw a paperclip at him. “What about you? What will you be tonight?”

“Well, I was going to go dressed as the Big Bad Wolf, but I thought that might be a bit too on the nose. So, I will be dressed as Prince Charming.”

“I think that was a wise decision,” she laughed. “Now, tell me, my prince, are the rumors true that Tyson Emery will also be in attendance tonight?”

“If the weather clears and he can get here, Tyson Emery will be at the party tonight.”

Olivia sighed and slouched in her chair. “Awesome, that means more work for me tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because if you haven’t noticed, most of your female employees and a decent portion of your male ones have already asked me to get pictures of them with Mr. Emery.”

Nicholas laughed, “I should have known that was coming. Don’t worry about them. Do your thing tonight and use your own judgment about which photos you take. I want you to enjoy yourself tonight.”

“I would enjoy being on my couch, eating my weight in candy, and watching horror movies, but I will do my best.”

“Tyson and I have been friends for a long time. However, I’m hoping he can’t make it tonight for some reason.”

“Why is that?”

“Because if he is here, I might have to share you with him, and I don’t like to share.”

Nicholas didn’t wait for Olivia to reply to what he had said. Instead, he smiled at her as he stood and walked out of her office. Her heart was pounding at his words. She recognized that she and Nicholas were friends, but that was all it was as far as she knew. Her chest tightened, and her stomach twisted into knots as she contemplated him wanting their relationship to be more. The weight of what he said made her dread that night even more than she had been. Large crowds had always made her uncomfortable. This gave her another reason for it.

Olivia stood in her private bathroom that was attached to her office. She kept looking at herself in the mirror and picking apart everything she felt was wrong with her costume. She had loved it when she bought it, but now she had doubts. Now, as she looked at it, everything from the color to the length, to the fabric, to the wing size was wrong. On her five-foot-four-inch, one-hundred-pound frame, she felt like it made her look like a child. She tilted her head to the side as she debated whether to wear the blue wig or leave her natural long, wavy, dark-blonde hair down. It didn’t matter. It would still look wrong. Even her big gray eyes looked different as she continued to stare into the mirror. 

“You look stunning,” Nicholas said as he leaned against the door frame of her bathroom.

Olivia jumped and let out a yip. She had been so focused on her reflection that she had not noticed Nicholas was nearly in the room with her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Nicholas said as he put his hand on her shoulder. “I knocked a couple of times, and you didn’t answer. So I was worried that you might have snuck out to avoid the impending fiasco.”

“No. No sneaking out, no matter how much I would love to. I have a job to do tonight.” She sighed and turned back to the mirror. “I was just trying to figure out a way to make this stupid costume look half decent. I loved it when I got it, and now I hate it. I should have tried it on before I got it and then gotten something different. I look like a child in this.”

“You do not look like a child. It shows off those gorgeous curves of yours. I think you look beautiful. The colors of your costume make your gray eyes more intense. I would also suggest not wearing the wig. You look far more fairy-like with your natural hair. As for the wings, I love them. I will be able to spot you from across the room with ease. That will help me keep an eye on you.”

“Then, I guess, as soon as I grab my camera from my desk, I am ready to make my not-so-grand entrance.”

“What are you talking about?” Nicholas smirked. “You will be walking in with me. Everyone will stop and stare.”

Olivia sighed deeply and said, “Don’t remind me.”