Mom reluctantly agrees and when we finally reach the front door, that reluctance instantly fades away as she becomes dazzled by the sight before her. We've spent most of yesterday and today helping set this all up so it’s not exactly like we haven't already seen the amazing decorations but with the sunset and the room lit up with lights and music, it’s like walking into a dazzling, crystal version of wonderland.
Jazz music fills my ears and the smile that spreads across my face is as real as it’s ever going to get. Champagne flutes are put into our hands and I pull mom deeper into the party. “Are you ready for this?” I question, glancing across at her to see the excitement filling her eyes.
She takes a quick sip of the expensive champagne and holds out her glass to clink against mine. “I was born ready.”
Within three seconds, I lose mom in the crowd and I roll my eyes, knowing that she’s out there making friends in this crazy new world we live in and having a good time just as she deserves.
Not wanting to waste a single minute of this party, I walk into the crowd and get halfway across the dance floor when I find him.
Colton Fucking Carrington.
My eyes roam greedily up and down his large frame as he talks to an older gentleman while looking like the most important man in the room, but truth be told, he is. He wears a suit that looks as though it was taken straight from the 1920’s—Blue dress shirt, tie, and vest covered with a cream suit that somehow makes his hazel eyes stand out. He has the attention of every woman in the room yet his eyes are focused solely on me.
I walk toward him but am sure to keep my distance as he wraps up his conversation with the older man beside him. After all, this party was put together solely for the purpose of proving to the Carrington business contacts that Colton is the fucking star of the show and I refuse to do anything that will jeopardize that.
“Wow,” he says, walking toward me and meeting me in the middle of the dance floor as I take a sip of champagne. “You look breathtaking.”
His arm slips around my waist and just like in the movies, he takes the champagne flute from my hands and places it on a passing waitress' drink tray before effortlessly sweeping me around in a dance. “Everybody is watching,” I warn, reminding him that although we’ve gone public with our relationship to our friends, we haven’t exactly announced it to the world and perhaps a party with all of his business contacts in attendance isn’t exactly the best idea.
“I hope they are,” he tells me. “I’m not hiding this. You and I … we’re doing this. I’m serious about being with you and if they have a problem with it, then they can fuck off but they’re going to regret it, because in this fucking game, I hold all the cards.”
I smile up at him but before I get the chance to say exactly how much I appreciate his comments, his lips are pressing down on mine. “What was that for?” I question when he pulls back.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Jade, but you have a habit of fucking up sentimental moments with ridiculous sarcastic comments to hide the fact that you don’t know how to respond. So, I kissed you because I’d prefer to savor the moment before you go ahead and fuck it up.”
I purse my lips and grin up at him. “For the record,” I say. “I was going to remind you that you’re a fucking boss and not only do you hold all the cards in your hands, but you hold mine too.”
His brow raises and he looks at me as though he’s seeing a stranger. “Wow, I thought I’d have to torture you to get a little emotion out of you.”
“Look who’s throwing around sarcastic comments now,” I laugh. “And quit acting like I’m some kind of robot. I have a heart buried in here somewhere. I just don’t like to admit it sometimes.”
“I know,” he murmurs, pulling me in tighter. “I’m just teasing you.”
I roll my eyes and let him move me around the dance floor and with each step he takes, he completely sweeps me away. The song changes and we dance again until a waitress walks