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I had done a good job of avoiding her for the past week. We hadn’t crossed paths at all, and the one time I had glimpsed her had been fleeting, and she hadn’t even noticed me. After our little confrontation in the hallway, I had stopped going to Albero’s for dinner. I just jumped between the other three restaurants, knowing I wasn’t likely to run into Molly there.
I wasn’t exactly sure why I was avoiding her so studiously. Was I embarrassed about my behavior, or did I simply wish to avoid temptation? I had thrown myself into work in the hopes that it would keep my mind off her, but unfortunately, there was nothing pressing enough that distracted me for long. Each night, at dinner, I would sit alone at my table and wonder what Molly was wearing that night and who she was sitting with. I had even stopped inquiring after her from my wait staff because a part of me was scared of hearing who she was with and flying into another rage.
I had a quick shower and then put on my navy-blue tux with the silver cufflinks. I ran my fingers through my hair and stared at my reflection in the mirror for a moment. I looked sharp, and on any other night, I would have felt confident and calm.
But tonight, I was anything but composed. I knew Molly would be at the party, and I knew she would look stunning. I would need to play host, but at the same time, I
would need to stay far away from her.
I left my suite and headed into the ballroom where the party was being held. The ballroom was a large circular room with a domed ceiling painted in styles reminiscent of the ancient Italian painters. The roof alone contributed to the hall’s grand and luxurious feel.
When I stepped inside, I felt a surge of approval. The massive natural Christmas tree that I’d had flown in especially for the party was standing in the center of the hall. It was decked out in grand fashion and looked exceptionally beautiful. The decorations were classy and had been artfully placed around the space to create the feel of Christmas, without going overboard. There were Christmas wreaths everywhere, and mistletoe hung from the natural creepers that had been draped over and around pillars, lights, and chandeliers.
The hall was already half full when I entered. I started mingling with the crowd, welcoming guests and stopping to talk to a few of my investors. The buffet had been set up in the back of the hall, and the Christmas feast on display looked positively regal. The choice was elaborate, but if there was one holiday that demanded extravagance, it was this one.
I was walking over to the bar when Gregory blocked my path. “Hey, stranger,” he said. “Haven’t seen you around much.”
I felt more than a little ashamed of my behavior towards Gregory, but it had never been easy for me to say I was sorry. “I’ve been busy,” I said, employing an apologetic tone.
“Planning this shindig couldn’t have been easy,” he said, looking around. “I must say, this is spectacular.”
“Then mission accomplished.”
“I had dinner at Albero a few times over the last week,” he continued. “I noticed you weren’t at your usual table.”
I paused slightly. “Uh… Yeah. Well… I guess I was avoiding the restaurant.”
“I thought you might be…”
“Listen, Gregory,” I said, deciding that I needed to be a man and cop to my mistake. “About what happened last week…”
“It’s okay, Tristan,” Gregory said graciously. “I know. You don’t have to apologize. If I were that in love with a woman, I might have done way worse.”
I frowned. “I’m not in love with her, Gregory.”
“You’re sticking with that story?” he seemed surprised. “Still?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
He sighed. “If you say so. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to work my way down that buffet line.”
I stared after him, caught up in the conflict raging in my mind. Frustrated, I headed straight for the bar and helped myself to a large glass of eggnog that was heavy on the rum. I continued to circulate through the hall, refilling my eggnog each time I emptied another glass. I had well past my sixth drink when I caught sight of her.
She was standing near the Christmas tree, bathed in the light that twinkled down from its branches. She looked like some ethereal creature from another world. She was wearing a sparkling beaded red gown that hugged her chest, stomach, and hips before billowing out at the bottom half of the skirt. The beads glittered magnificently underneath the light, and I could see the faint outline of her legs through the thin fabric.
Her golden hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless elegance. Unable to turn away from her, I stood there like some hopeless idiot and stared until desire won over common sense, and I started walking towards her, through the gathering of people.
She didn’t see me until I was standing right beside her. When she glanced my way, she looked startled and slightly nervous.
“Tristan,” she said.
“You look beautiful,” I told her.
I could feel the alcohol buzz through my system. It was giving me the courage I needed to see this through. I wondered if I would consider it courage tomorrow morning, but decided not to think too hard about that. Instead, I focused on Molly and her dazzling blue eyes.
“Thank you,” she replied. I noticed her tone was slightly wary.
I knew Molly was waiting for me to say something as we stared at each other. When the silence drew on and on, her body seemed to tense suddenly. I saw a flash of something in her blue eyes, and then she had turned her back on me, and she was walking away.
