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Theeventspacewasdripping in young wealth. People who were far too young to know what to do with the massive amounts of cash that were in their name.
Some, like Evan, came into their money through family and trust funds. Others like Eloise, who worked as a top marketing executive in one of the city’s best agencies, had clawed their way to wealth, not wanting to be left out.
I mean, all of these people had always been wealthy, but some just had to work a little extra to pave their way and carve out their own niche.
Those were the ones with many siblings and extended family members, just like me. They knew that the wealth was the family's and not exactly theirs to own. Like them, I would soon follow my own path. I just had to resolve the issue with my father’s company to be free to leave.
Every detail of the reunion seemed deliberately designed to cater to this affluent group. The trays of champagne, the expensive and intricate canapes, the live band playing low on the stage. A group of women were crammed at a table at the far end of the hall, all wearing dresses that were clearly expensive and looked perfectly tailored.
All of it was frivolity on a level I couldn’t reconcile.
It was the same reason I didn't like to hang around entrepreneurs or CEOs, they were technically my peers and frequently invited me out. But I just couldn’t take them seriously. It was why they whispered of my arrogance and aloofness. I just couldn't stand the pointless wastefulness and the empty posturing. Unlike them, I had nothing to prove, so I didn’t want to waste my time trying. Any needed proof would be provided by my efficiency as a CEO, not my ability to squander wealth unnecessarily on high-end booze and toys.
Evan, of course, felt right at home here. He loved the excess. But he had an uncanny ability of not letting anything stick to him. Really, he blended in wherever he went. It was a special talent of his. He could waddle right into the mud but walk out the other side looking clean.
I sighed deeply as I looked around, trying to distract myself with all of the beautiful women. I didn't remember having such attractive classmates, but here they were in sparkling dresses, mostly short, mostly low-cut. I saw Lindsay Wilson, my sophomore year homecoming date, wearing a dress that seemed to be made entirely of hot pink rhinestones. It was so short it threatened to expose her ass if she so much as leaned a little to the left. It wasn’t that different from her homecoming dress all those years ago.
The men weren’t left out from the spectacle. Most were dressed in ruthlessly tailored suits, slim cut, modern colors, “fun” ties.
I forced myself to make the rounds. I talked, reintroduced myself, shook hands, and asked questions. It was unsurprising in the Bay Area that a lot of my classmates were involved in tech, finance, biotech, or some sort of combination.
Noah Asher and Bentley Cook, both owners of biotech companies that were Reed Biotech’s top competitors, sat at a table. All three of our companies were leading the market with a barely noticeable gap. But that gap had grown wider following the strange rumors that started about my family and the consequent plummet in stock prices.
“Reed,” Noah said, raising his glass in my reaction, an invitation to join them. I pulled out a chair and sat down, clinking our glasses in cheers.
“Noah, how is it going?” He was tall and lanky and his slim fingers featured large, silver rings. Noah’s dark hair was tied back.
Noah shrugged and Bentley smiled. It was more of a smirk, really, mischievous dimples popping out on his light brown skin. They were up to something. This wasn’t meant to be just a friendly chat.
“I hear the feds are looking to partner with a firm here in San Francisco,” Noah finally said.
“I’ve heard.” I took a slow sip of my whiskey.
“Are you submitting a proposal?” Bentley asked, raising one eyebrow. “I am, and so is Noah.”
Okay, game on.
“Of course we are.”
Noah scoffed.
“That’s great. Really brave,” Bentley said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Although I doubt they would partner with a company that has falling stock, regardless of the name on the building.”
Bentley smirked again, taking a long drink from whatever dark liquor was in his glass.
I forced my face to remain impassive. I couldn’t let them see how rattled I was by all of this.
“I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we?” I raised my glass again and turned my attention back to the crowd, hoping the conversation was over. I started to get up before Bentley spoke again.
I turned to leave, running into Evan. He gave me a fresh drink, which I reluctantly accepted.
“Hot damn,” Evan said, staring off in another direction. “Who is she? I don’t remember anyone who looked like her back in high school.”
“Who?” I sighed, forcing my shoulders to relax and grateful for the distraction.
“The woman who just walked in,” he said, gesturing at a gorgeous woman in a green dress just walking in the door.
Chapter 6
