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"You're coming. That's settled. I'll speak to you later. Okay."
"Okay. Bye."
I hung up with Alice and then hurried toward the door and opened it. The room was filled with attorneys sitting at tables, drinking wine, and eating little canapes. So these were the hors d'oeuvres that Oliver had been talking about. I stepped inside and was about to take a seat when a lady at the front of the room says, "And Oliver James, please come up to the stage and collect your award." The crowd went wild, and I watched as Oliver stood from a table on the far right and headed toward the front of the stage. He looked so handsome and so debonair even in just a pair of slacks and a shirt. When he got to the stage, I saw his eyes looking around the room, and then they found mine. He smiled at me, and for a moment, I felt like I was the only person in the room. I smiled back at him and gave him a little wave. He cleared his throat and started his speech.
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I really appreciate the applause, though I don't think I deserve it," he said, and everyone laughed. I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to me. And then I felt eyes on me coming from the other side of the room. When I looked to the left, there was Diana with her cat-like blue eyes glaring at me. I gave her my widest smile and waved slightly. I was about to head back out of the room when Oliver... The voice made me jump.
"Rosalie," he had said to the entire room. I paused and looked back at the stage. "Come up here. I saved a seat for you at the front. Ladies and gentlemen, this is my best friend's sister, Rosalie. We grew up together, and I'm happy she's here to witness me getting this award tonight." I blushed as everyone turned to gaze at me and made my way toward the front. I felt like I was a muddle on a catwalk as I strode in my tall heels to the front of the room. I couldn't believe that Oliver was embarrassing me like this, though I was kind of happy that he'd called me out and didn't want me to leave. Someone whistled at me as I walked by, and Oliver chuckled on the stage.
"Yes. This is how all the youngsters are dressing today." I glared at him and rolled my eyes. It was his fault that I was dressed like a hoochie. It was his fault that I was dressed to seduce and not to impress. If he'd told me... I sighed. There was no point getting angry about it again. The moment was done. I squared my shoulders and held my head up high. I looked hot, and I wasn't going to be ashamed of the fact. If men wanted to ogle me and women wanted to be jealous of me, so be it. Maybe, just maybe, I'd find a guy to make Oliver jealous, and then he'd feel like shit.
Chapter14
Rosalie
I listened to Oliver speak, and I was surprised at how different he sounded when he was in a professional setting. Gone was the teasing, funny guy I knew at home, and in his place was a businessman talking about precedent and the blue letter of the law. I looked around to see if Diana was still glaring at me when I realized that the guy next to me was staring at me.
"Hi," he said, reaching his arm out.
"Hi." I looked at him in confusion.
"I'm Chad," he said, wiggling his fingers, "and it's nice to meet you."
"Oh, I'm Rosalie," I said, reaching out and shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you too."
"I'm a first-year associate at the firm where Oliver works. He's amazing. He's probably going to make partner next year. Super fast."
"Oh cool," I said. That didn't mean anything to me, but it was obviously a big deal because this guy was impressed.
"So you're his friend's sister."
"Yeah. I grew up with Oliver. He's been best friends with my brother, Foster, for years. I just moved to the city, and they're letting me stay with them for a little bit."
"Oh, cool." He smiled. "So are you single?"
"Maybe," I said. "Why are you asking?" He chuckled and blushed slightly.
"Sorry. I'm not usually this awkward, but..."
"But what?"
"But you're so pretty."
"Oh, thanks," I said, wondering if he meant sexy as opposed to pretty. I knew that my dress was showing off a lot.
"So... Are you having a fun time?"
"Ummm... I don't want to lie. Not really," I said, laughing.
"Oh, it's because it's a law thing. These legal events are usually boring, and I'm a lawyer."
"Yeah. I mean, I think there's a reason I didn't go into the law."
"So you said you just graduated?"
"Yeah, from college. I have a degree in English literature."
"Oh cool. Shakespeare, aye?"
