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Nick asked the bartender for two sparkling glasses of water.
He clinked his glass against hers. “To an evening, may we survive it.”
“Of course you will,” Mulberry said. “If I can get through it without an anxiety attack, I’ll be happy.”
“What helps when you have them?”
Mulberry swallowed. She didn’t like talking about it. “I don’t know, it depends. Sometimes I just need air. Need to remember to take breaths. And touching something helps.”
“Like what?” Nick frowned.
“Like this,” Mulberry reached into her clutch, pulling out her keychain of a soft teddy bear – a mini-sized stuffy. “My mom got me this keychain. It’s my worry bear.” Worry bear’s nose was velvet, and Mulberry was surprised it hadn’t rubbed entirely off.
Nick put his palm out, and she placed the worry bear on it. Her talisman looked so tiny in his hand. “It’s cute. Does it help?”
“Honestly, I just have to get through them most of the time. Nothing helps. I take medication for the anxiety when it gets terrible.”
A woman brushed against Mulberry’s shoulder, almost spilling her glass of wine. “Oh, I am so sorry. You look so much like your mother.”
“Thank you.”
The woman nodded and went back out to the dance floor.
Mulberry exhaled. “Anyways, this night is about Laurent Industries. Let’s not talk about me.”
“If you need to, I’m happy to talk. If it helps,” Nick threaded his fingers through hers.
His offer surprised her, he looked wholly uncomfortable, but he’d made it anyways, despite how he felt about her.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
He led her from the bar.
“Nick! Come here and explain to my friend, Ms. Greeves, how the Earpods work, please.”
“We’re going there right now, Maman.”
“Good, I just have to check the kitchen for myself,” Livia brushed by them.
“As you can see, my family is intense.”
Mulberry shrugged. “They aren’t that bad. They love you.”
“I guess,” Nick mumbled. “I see the doors are closing. The presentations and speeches are about to start.”
“This might be fun,” Mulberry said.
“And remember, don’t leave my side without telling me.”
For a moment, she had forgotten that this was a set up that this was his work.
It had felt like an actual date for a moment before he snarled an order at her.
“Fine,” she glared at him.
CHAPTER ELEVEN – NICK
Mulberry turned from him, literally giving him the cold shoulder.
