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Amy
WithLila'sdirection,Imade my way through the crowd, smiling at my old classmates, wondering if any of them even remembered who I was. I got it; I wasn't on the list of most notable people, especially in my highschool years. In those years of my life, I did my best to appear as small as possible. I battled with severe self-esteem issues and it was only after meeting Jennifer that I started to be better and feel more confident.
The evening felt, to an extent, like a success. I talked with a few hospital administrators - Noah, who ran a biotech company and Diana, who had the biggest science laboratory in the country. She ran all sorts of research there. They all seemed interested in my research and I was even more surprised to learn that Diana followed my work.
Overall, I was hopeful, but I also tried to rein it in. What if they decided my research wasn't worth the cost? I had obviously not spoken about funding. There were social rules, after all. Tonight was for having fun and catching up with what we all were doing. There would be time to discuss funding later. I needed to make the connections and pretend it wasn't the most important thing in my life.
It didn’t take long for me to be tired from all the networking. I needed to clear my head and get away from the music and constant buzz of excited conversation.
I wandered into the hallway outside the room, feeling uncomfortable and anxious in my body-hugging, green dress. I found the silent auction table; it held tons of high-end things to bid on–gorgeous gift baskets, ski cabin vacations, artwork, and other things that clearly cost a fortune. There was a large card that indicated all proceeds were going to be donated to a local community center. How generous.
I pretended to study the goods and the bids, even though no one was around except for some guy who was facing away from me, studying the artwork on the wall.
It was dimly lit in this area, with just a glow coming from battery-powered candles on the auction table and soft lighting from the ceiling fixtures. I glanced back at the man. His posture was marked by a careless arrogance, the type that only the truly wealthy could achieve. Even so, he looked tired, like he was out here for the same reason as me, with a strong desire to be left alone. A slight tension buzzed from him, even though he was a good ten feet away.
I turned back to the table, but I couldn’t help butfeelhim. Who was he? Did I remember him from high school? Would he remember me?
I barely registered the sigh that escaped my lips until it was already hanging in the air. I glanced back at him, but he showed no signs of hearing me. I was suddenly desperate to talk to him or to figure out who he was.
Still looking at the auction table, I took a small step backward. I was close enough to smell his cologne now. It was a softy, woodsy scent. I looked behind me and his dark hair caught the subtle light, glowing just a little.
My hand twitched with a strange impulse to run my hands through his thick hair. How would it feel? Was it soft? Did he like the feeling of nails running against his scalp? Would he moan, turn, and pull me against him?
Oh boy, I had to stop before these thoughts got too dirty.
“It’s exhausting, right? This whole reunion thing?” He didn’t say anything, and I wondered if he even heard me. I almost opened my mouth to repeat myself.
“You might want to take it down a notch. Nobody is buying it. I’m certainly not.”
That voice. The deep bass sent shockwaves through my body, setting my blood on fire. I would recognize that voice anywhere. It stretched across the years and I could still hear it, berating me. Shitting on my self-esteem. He had told me once that I didn’t belong. That I should stay within my own class. Daniel fucking Reed. My high school crush and the only person who had managed to so thoroughly humiliate me.
I spun around to face him and he was already there, looking down at me, both physically and literally. I desperately wanted to swipe my palms down my dress to stop the clamminess, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
“Excuse me?” I snapped at him.
His smile dripped with derision. I had no idea how such a beautiful face could also look so ugly.
“You have diligently applied yourself to sycophancy all evening.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. Who the hell talked like that? Who did he think he was?
“And you have nothing worthwhile to do than to lurk in dark corners and spy on other people and say weird things?”
His cold blue eyes looked into mine briefly before he looked away dismissively.
“If only you were that interesting. You have simply made yourself too obtrusive to not notice.”
“Well, at least I’m not some arrogant, rich asshole.” I was beyond angry. “Sorry to shock you, but not everyone is interested in your opinion.”
He smiled again. And again, I wanted to slap it off his face.
“Oh, but I thinkyouare interested in my opinion.”
Chapter 7
Daniel
Ismiledteasinglyandenjoyed the storm of annoyance that filled her beautiful brown eyes.
