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“He’s been pretty nice lately. I think he just feels bad about us getting off on the wrong foot,” I said with a faint shrug.
“Just get to know him tonight. Maybe he’ll keep surprising you,” Hannah told me with an encouraging smile.
She had a point. I didn’t need to go into tonight with any big expectations. I needed to go with the flow and see what happened. We could possibly have a good time tonight, or he could ignore me and send me off on my own to make my own connections. I would have to wait and see how things went.
“I should go. I don’t want to be late,” I sighed. I hadn’t exactly been the timeliest person lately, which bothered me. I was better than this. I had to handle the pressure of everything better, and I had to make tonight my bitch.
After saying goodbye to Hannah and Nick, I got in my car and drove into the city, finding the hotel where the gala was being held. Luckily, the hotel had a valet service, so I didn’t have to worry about searching the city for a parking spot.
I walked into the hotel, obsessively fixing my hair and dress, and hoping that I looked nice. As I approached the main ballroom, my eyes darted around the hallway, searching for Tyler. I saw other business executives and their dates. Everyone looked so… rich. Their suits and dresses were made out of fine material, and I felt out of place here. Was I in over my head?
“Madison!”
I looked up to see Tyler walking toward me, and I had to do everything in my power not to gape at the sight of him. He wore a black suit that fit his lean, muscular body just right. His dark hair was neatly fixed and pushed back from his forehead. The dark stubble on his face seemed accentuated as the corner of his mouth curled up.
“Hi,” I managed to say, forcing myself to straighten up and smile politely.
Tyler’s eyes swept over my figure as he stopped in front of me. “You look great. You’re going to make some of these girls cry,” he chuckled as he held his arm out to me.
I felt my heart jolt as I looked at his arm. I was really in this now. I took his arm, feeling his bicep through his suit jacket.
“You look nice too,” I said, figuring I should pay him a compliment back. Honestly, the thoughts in my mind weren’t totally innocent. He looked insanely hot tonight, and it didn’t help that I was touching him and right by his side. Sweet torture.
“Are you ready?” Tyler asked me as we faced the ballroom where jazz music and chatter were pouring out.
I drew in a deep breath through my nose before nodding. I had no choice but to be ready, and I wasn’t going to let either of us down tonight. I always felt like I had something to prove, and I was going to show him and myself that I could thrive in an environment like this.
“Let’s do this,” I said, shooting him a determined look.
Tyler grinned and led me into the dimly lit ballroom. White-clothed tables were spread out throughout the front half of the ballroom. Business executives occupied the tables to chat and drink with each other, while the rest of the ballroom was open to stand and admire the jazz band on the stage in the very back. There was a bar crowded with people along the right wall. Servers in white suits walked through the clusters of people to serve small appetizers and drinks.
“Want a drink? It’ll loosen you up,” Tyler asked as he guided me toward the bar.
“Do I seem stiff?” I asked him as my eyes swept over all the laughing rich people all around me. I wondered what the net worth of this entire room was.
“We can smell fear from a mile away,” Tyler reminded me before approaching the bar. “Whiskey, neat. Vodka, cran.”
I lifted an eyebrow at him, surprised that he ordered for me. Granted, he picked a good drink.
“What if I don’t like vodka?” I asked him.
Tyler turned to look at me. “You need it,” he replied.
Part of me wanted to roll my eyes at him, but it was hard to have an attitude when he was so close to me. I could smell that damn cologne again.
“You’re bossy,” I informed him.
“Good,” Tyler merely said before grabbing my drink and placing it in my hand. “Drink. Once you loosen up, I’ll show you how to talk to these people.”
I sipped on my drink, feeling the burn of the vodka with each sip. Peering over the top of my glass, I watched him down his whiskey without a single wince. I wished that I didn’t find simple things about him attractive. It would help my brain not be so clouded with fuzzy thoughts.
