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“Do you know David Brooks Westerhaven?” she asks me. Wow, straight to the point. Not even an introduction. Well, okay.
“Uh, yes. We’re work colleagues. I’m new to New York, so David invited me so that I could meet people.”
It’s not totally true, but it feels weird to tell people I’m here to watch David interact with other people, and it’s close to what he told the hostess. Her lips twist into a pitying smirk as she moves around to stand beside me, her eyes darting between David and me.
“Well, good luck meeting people when you’re just sitting in the corner of a party, not talking to anyone and making pathetic puppy dog eyes at a man who iswayout of your league.”
I start at the vitriol in her tone.Excuseme?
“I’m not sure I catch your meaning?” I tell her coolly. She pats my hand condescendingly.
“You’ve been staring at David all night. And he’s not once so much as glanced in your direction. It’s desperate and pathetic. I mean, look at him. Look at you. Someone like David BrooksWesterhaven won’t look twice at someone like you. You’re probably making him uncomfortable by staring so obviously.”
She pats my hand again and saunters away while heat creeps up my neck and over my cheeks. Oh my god. I never really considered what it would look like to have me sit here and watch David. I was only thinking about analyzing his actions to get a feel for him for the design. How absolutely mortifying. Suddenly, I don’t want to be here anymore.
Slipping off the stool, I fumble with my clutch purse, pulling out my phone. Christine sent me his phone number the other day. I assume she gave him mine at the same time. I pull up the contact details now.
ANI: Thank you for inviting me to the party. I’ve seen enough, and am heading home. Enjoy the rest of your night!
There. That’s cheerful. I shove my phone into my purse and slip inside, grabbing my trench coat from the bored-looking staff member at the door, and pull up the town car company phone number David gave me, calling it.
“Antonio Russo speaking.”
Oh shit. Did David give me the wrong number? “Uh. This is Anica Kasan….”
What am I supposed to say? I think I have the wrong number.
“Ms. Kasan. Are you ready to leave the party?”
Okay. Maybe it wasn’t the wrong number. “Uh. Yes.”
“I will be downstairs in five minutes. Wait inside the foyer until I arrive, please.”
Oh, okay. Hanging up, I take the elevator, stopping inside the doors, and smiling vaguely at the doorman as I peer outside. The familiar town car pulls up, and the tall, swarthy driver who David uses climbs out, his eyes searching the foyer and locking with mine. He smiles, opening the back door, and I nod to the doorman as I hurry outside, sliding into the car, feeling grateful.
“Where to now, Ms. Kasan?” Antonio asks as he slides into the car, his eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror.
“Oh. Home, please.”
“Of course.”
He pulls into traffic, and I let out a sigh, settling back into the seat and hugging my purse in my lap, trying not to cry. I want to go home, put on my comfortable clothes, and wallow in my humiliation.
David
My eyes wander over the crowd, sweeping over the table Anica commandeered away in the corner with disinterest. I do a double take, my eyes narrowing on the table. The empty table. She seemed more comfortable sitting there by herself than when people were talking to her.
I’ve been monitoring her all night, wondering if I should go over there and chat with her. But every time I caught her eye she smiled and nodded at my companions. Like she wanted me to keep doing what I had been for her to watch. It felt a little like I was a performing monkey.
I have no idea if I’m acting like I normally would at a party like this. It’s a little unnerving to know that she’s watching and judging everything I’m doing. I wait, she’s probably using the restroom, but she doesn’t return after ten minutes.
My gaze moves across the rest of the balcony, including the bar area, but Anica and her purple business dress are nowhere to be seen. Huh. I pull my phone out, frowning at the message.
ANICA: Thank you for inviting me to the party. I’ve seen enough, and am heading home. Enjoy the rest of your night!
She’s bailed. That’s a little annoying. She could at least have come and told me she was leaving in person. She didn’t seem put out that she was by herself. I wonder why she left. It’s not even eleven o’clock, and it’s a Friday night. No work tomorrow.
A leggy blonde saunters past, throwing me a flirtatious smile. I recognize her. She was talking to Anica a little while ago. Maybe she knows why she bailed. Excusing myself from the group I’m currently chatting with, I follow the woman and catch her as she is heading inside.
