Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ALEX POV

The second I got inside, the noise hit me. The music, the laughter and Glasses clinking.It all blurred together. A few minutes ago, it was just a regular party. Now, it felt like I was walking into a room full of strangers.

Ellis was a few steps ahead of me. He straightened his jacket as he walked and nodded at someone who called his name across the room. My fingers drifted to my jaw,It was already starting to ache.I headed for the bar.

“Whiskey please"I ordered.The bartender poured it without a word and slid the glass across.I picked it up, turned away from the crowd, and took a slow sip from the drink.The whiskey burned on the way down.

"What happened to your face?"My mother appeared beside me before I could set the glass down.Her eyes went straight to my jaw.

“I hit a door"

"A door?" she repeated.

“Yeah It was dark"

She held my gaze.I'd seen that look before. It was the same one she used whenever she knew I wasn't telling the truth."Alex."

"Mom it's nothing I'm fine”

My father walked over and his eyes drifted to my jaw before settling on my face. He took a slow sip of his drink."He said he's fine, Catherine."

She let out a sigh and set her champagne glass on a passing tray."We'll talk later."She didn't wait for an answer as she crossed the room toward Margaret Valmont, a polite smile already back on her face.

My father stayed beside me for another moment. "Good whiskey?" he asked.

I looked into the glass."Not particularly”

The corner of his mouth twitched.He gave my shoulder a light pat before walking away while I stayed to finish the rest of my drink.

The evening carried on.The quartet switched to a livelier music after dinner. Speeches were made as Waiters moved through the crowd with trays of food I had no interest in while the MC announced a raffle for a charity donation .

Dad introduced me to business partners, investors, and people whose names I forgot almost as soon as they walked away.

Across the room, my eyes kept finding Ellis.At some point,Victoria Chen joined him.She leaned in a few times to say something and Ellis turned to listen each time.My grip tightened around my glass as I watched the whole exchange which lasted a few minutes before she finally walked away.

A second later, Ellis looked across the room.

Our eyes met and he looked away first.The quartet eased into a slower song, and a few couples drifted onto the dance floor while I ordered for another whiskey.

Across the room,my mother smiled at Margaret like they had known each other forever. She had no idea who she was really talking to.

Mr Beau, one of dad's partners, stopped beside me and started talking about the Hawthorne Group's latest numbers.I answered without really listening. My eyes kept drifting to the exits.

Theo was nowhere in sight.I couldn't tell if he had left or if he was waiting somewhere and neither thought sat well with me.

About forty minutes later, Margaret crossed the room and stopped in front of Ellis.I was too far away to hear them.

She spoke first and Ellis answered.Then she said something else.His shoulders stiffened for a second.He gave one short nod and walked away.

As he passed me, I spoke quietly.“Leaving?"

"Just getting some air."he answered

I followed him with my eyes until he slipped through the entrance doors.I finished my whiskey, set the empty glass down and I went after him.

The cold air was a relief after the heat of the ballroom.Ellis was already at the bottom of the steps, his hands buried in his coat pockets. He stood with his back to the building, staring across the parking lot.

I walked over and stopped beside him.For a while, neither of us spoke.A car drove past and someone laughed as they entered the hall,the sound fading as the doors closed behind them.

"What did she say to you?" I asked.

"She asked what happened to your face and I told her it was an accident."

"And?"

"She told me not to embarrass the family.”He let out a slow breath.

"Tonight my mother introduced me to someone.”He dropped his head for a second, then looked back at the street and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Victoria..."

He glanced at me."She only asked if I was okay."

"That's all?"

"That's all."he replied

A few guests came down the steps behind us, pulling on coats while they waited for their cars.

"Theo left," I said.

“I know," he breathed.

"We need to talk about what happened.”

"Can we not do this tonight?”he looked away

A valet walked over.Ellis handed him the ticket from his pocket and tucked his hands back into his coat while we waited.

Silence settled between us again.I wanted to say something,anything but nothing felt big enough.

A car pulled up to the curb.Ellis stepped forward and opened the door.He paused with one hand resting on the roof."You should go back inside."

He got in and the door closed.I stayed where I was until the red glow faded as the car turned the corner, leaving the street completely dark.

I stayed where I was for another minute.Out here, the night felt quieter. The music from the ballroom was muffled now replaced by laughter when the doors opened. A few guests stood near the side entrance smoking while other cars pulled up to collect those going.

I turned toward the entrance.Something moved near the side of the building.Someone stood near the staff entrance, hands in his pockets.

Theo.

He was facing the other side staring at someone.I followed his gaze.Victoria Chen.She stood only a couple of feet away, her evening bag hanging from one hand. Her head was slightly bowed as she spoke.

I couldn't hear what they were saying. They weren't touching, but they stood far too close for two people who had only met tonight.

Victoria spoke quietly. Theo listened without interrupting. When she finished, he gave a slow nod.Victoria smoothed the front of her gown,then she turned and walked back toward the ballroom.

I looked back toward the staff entrance.Theo was already walking away.He disappeared into the darkness of the car park until I couldn't see him anymore.

I stood there staring at the empty space they had been just moments ago.