Chapter 19
“You’re handsome and dressed for the occasion. Now just turn on that charm.” I nearly scoffed at my affirmation. I might be many things, but I’m not sure I’d ever put charming at the top of the list. But tonight, I’d need that more than the ability to beat a supervillain into the ground.
“You’ve got this.”
Standing outside of the gala, I watched as Vanguard’s wealthiest walked down the red carpet toward the massive gilded wooden doors.
If it wasn’t clear, we were in a ritzier part of the city, the gargoyles lining the fifth story left an impression.
Griffin worked for a magazine featuring superheroes, but their operation seemed almost piddly compared to the grandeur on display by Revelations.
“I so don’t have this.”
Before the two women with coats approaching could intimidate me, I started toward the building.
I adjusted the tie, surprised at how lifelike the material felt.
If I could get away with never buying another shirt, I’d gladly use the suit to protect the city.
Being an outcast had to come with at least one perk.
A gentleman at the door bowed and pulled it open.
I avoided eye contact, convinced they’d see the hesitation and ask for my invitation.
The opulence of the exterior couldn’t have prepared me for the interior.
A narrow foyer only served as a buffer to a magnificent open ballroom.
The ceiling easily stretched three stories, raised in a dome with pillars holding it afloat.
“I prefer villains,” I whispered.
“Xander?” Oh dear God, I couldn’t handle being accosted before I barely got in the door. Bursting into flames and fleeing quickly became an option.
I turned to see Sebastian taking a ticket from the coat check. A friendly face. He wasn’t an ass-kicking vigilante, but in a pinch, Griffin’s handsome, mild-mannered boyfriend would do.
“I didn’t think I’d see you here.”
“Me either.” Did I lie? Or did I confess that I came to make amends with Aiden?
“Aiden, of course. Well—” He linked his arm with mine. He was a burly man, but it was the strength in his arms that struck me as impressive. “You can serve as arm candy until we find him.”
“Where’s Griffin?”
He laughed. “He didn’t tell you? No, of course he didn’t. Griffin worked for Revelations for a hot minute.”
“That part he mentioned.”
“Did he mention the giant F-U email he sent my boss? Damien is a force to reckoned with. Griffin didn’t make my job any easier. For now, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring him up.”
“Note made.”
“It’s unfortunate, too. Would have made afternoon quickies so much easier.”
“That selfish bastard,” I jested. Why didn’t Griffin bring Sebastian around more? This man was amazing. I had to wonder what other secrets he was keeping about Griffin. If I could patch things up with Aiden, perhaps I’d ask if they wanted to go on a double date.
A double date? I hardly recognized myself anymore. I was sounding like a love-struck puppy. The worst part was I didn’t hate it. It beat being angry at the universe 24/7.
We walked from the foyer into the ballroom, pausing long enough to take a flute of champagne from a server. There must be nearly two hundred people in the room. I didn’t know any of them personally, but I recognized a newscaster, a politician or two, and even the mayor of Vanguard City.
We moved through the room, Sebastian nodding to various people. I knew he was important to the magazine, but with all the smiles and raised glasses in his direction, he must be a much bigger deal than Griffin made him out to be.
“It must be awkward,” I said.
“Working for a boss who wants to drive Griffin’s magazine into the ground? Yeah, to say the least. He’d have me quit and venture out on my own. But you know, stick with the devil you know. Speaking of…”
I half expected Damien Vex to appear. It appeared that Revelations hired girthy men capable of bench pressing a car. Bald with a strong brow, it appeared as if the people flowed around him, keeping their distance. But the moment he spotted Sebastian, he gave a slight wave, gesturing us forward.
“Into the lion’s den we go,” Sebastian muttered.
As he pulled me along, I’d have to ask Griffin how much they were paying his boyfriend to suffer these people.
I’d have to sit down and break out a calculator to come up with a figure that’d have me working alongside people I loathed.
Lei might be a pain in the ass, but she was a fun pain in the ass.
As we got closer, the suit constricted. As it shook along my chest, I almost gasped. I pulled my arm away from Sebastian to make sure he couldn’t feel its reaction. I’d like to say I knew what it was trying to tell me, but I hadn’t exactly worked out the nuances of a sentient suit.
“Xander, this is William Grim, one of the managing editors at Revelations. William, this is Xander.”
I held out my hand, fighting the suit’s vibrations along my wrist. He eagerly clutched my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. Instead of letting go, he stepped dangerously close, running his hand along my forearm, feeling the texture of the fabric.
“Excuse me,” I pulled my hand free.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your suit,”—he gestured to my entire body— “is a cheap knockoff.”
“Jackass,” I mumbled.
“What was that?” William asked.
“I called you a jackass. I’ll be sure to speak up next time.”
His eyes almost turned emerald as they flashed green around the iris. I snarled. I might be out of place, but that didn’t give him the ability to disrespect me. Thankfully, instead of brawling, like the socialite he was, he ignored anybody he deemed lesser-than.
“Have you seen Damien?” William might want to ignore somebody beneath him, but he didn’t stop giving me the side-eye. If he thought he was throwing shade, he had never met a sexually frustrated Alejandro. He’d need to take lessons to hurl daggers with that level of accuracy.
“I just arrived. I’m sure he’s schmoozing with somebody far above my pay grade.”
“His influence is almost…” William rubbed his chin to prove he was deep in thought.
I wanted to bop him on the nose just hard enough to break the cartilage.
His tailored suit lacked any personality, much like the man wearing it.
The only things that stood out on him were the piercing green eyes and a rock necklace of the same color. Tacky. “…superhuman.”
“I’d wholeheartedly agree,” Sebastian added before guzzling the golden liquid from his glass.
“And what do you do? Xander, was it?”
“Oh, you know, manual labor. I’m sure you’ve—” Sebastian shot me a look. Fine, I could behave for the sake of his job. “Excuse my manners. I’m a paramedic with the S.E.M.S.”
“Hero chasers.” His tone spun a fact into an insult. Nope, not going to take the bait.
“Villains, too.” I gave the man a slap on the shoulder. “Equal opportunity when saving lives.”
“You must see some uncanny things in the emergency room.”
I nodded. I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. But I couldn’t argue the point. My last trip to the emergency room ended with a supervillain trying to beat me to a pulp.
“I’m sure Damien would love to hear about your escapades saving the tyrants from lording over Vanguard City.
” There it was, the moment where I went from being a human to being a resource.
It was a reminder that Revelations dragged heroes through the mud.
I might have once empathized with their mission, but doing it now made me a hypocrite. I hated hypocrites.
“And on that note, I should probably continue scouting for local studs.” Sebastian smacked his forehead, shaking his head. It appeared that my charm was operating at peak capacity.
Somewhere, obscured by the crowd, a string quartet played.
I couldn’t make out the tune, but I’m sure I’d heard it on the radio.
Thanks to the men walking about with silver trays with champagne, the bar remained practically empty.
I conversed with the bartender before handing him five dollars and taking my beer.
I took a long sip, emptying half the contents before coming up for air. Now I was ready to mingle.
“Xander?” Was this going to be an ongoing event? Should I assume that at the most inopportune time, somebody in Damien Vex’s sphere would call me by name? I gripped the glass, turning slowly.
Aiden’s face gave away his confusion. I’m sure he didn’t have a clue why I might have come tonight. His brow transitioned from sharp angles to a soft roundness. He couldn’t decide if he was angry or glad that I had showed.
“I would have been here earlier, but I had a previous engagement.” Did I give him a kiss? A hug? It had been so long since I cared about somebody I didn’t know the protocol. It was high school all over again.
Aiden wrapped his arms around my torso and squeezed. It wasn’t a brief embrace. He lingered, and I savored the smell of his cologne and the way his hands held one another, giving him leverage to squeeze harder.
“I’m still mad at you,” he whispered.
“You should be,” I replied, kissing his neck. “I was an asshole.”
“Keep going.” A little humor. He gave me an in where I could come back from this.
“I met your editor.”
“William?”
“Sebastian introduced me. He’s…” I pulled back as I searched for a word to describe the condescending jerk. “A piece of work.”
“The lovable, carefree Xander doesn’t like somebody? There’s a shocker.”
“Ouch. I deserve that. But you have to admit, the guy is a bit of a jerk.”
“A jerk who got me a staff position at Revelations.”
“About that…” Was I willing to risk another fight? There was a quick and easy way to sidestep this potential disaster. With a flick of the wrist, the arm of my suit would turn into black liquid latex. With a tense of the muscle, I could summon a ball of fire in my hand.