Chapter 18
Riley
This dinner could not be any worse. I look around. I’m seated next to Sebastian, with Nate on my other side. Xavier is across from us, and he’s brought a beautiful date with him. She’s smiling as he relays some story from the partners’ time together in college. Next to her, Jonathan and Jamison are nodding along to Xavier’s story, interjecting bits here and there.
I would love to listen but I’m too focused on the sheer awkwardness of this moment. Why in the world would they have assigned me to the head table? I’m an intern, not a permanent employee, let alone a partner. All I can think is that Sebastian must have had something to do with the seating arrangement. He seems to love making me squirm. I look around the beautifully decorated space. There’s low lighting adding to the enchantment of the whole place, making the golden accents on the tables gleam. There are tasteful touches of the holidays everywhere, from the shimmering snowflakes hanging delicately from the ceiling to the red velvet chairs surrounding each of the huge circular tables .
This isn’t the kind of holiday party I’d always imagined from movies and tv shows. This is elegant and beautiful. If I wasn’t so angry with Nate, I could see this being a night for enjoying one another and maybe having a bit of romance. Instead, Nate came home an hour before we needed to leave for the dinner, completely wasted and disheveled.
“I thought you were going Christmas shopping?” I’d asked incredulously when he stumbled in. I was already finishing up my makeup and curling my hair. I did not want to be late to a company event.
“I did shop,” he said matter of factly. “Then I decided I could just grab a beer while I was out.”
Fucking Nate. Not that this is unusual for him, but I had really hoped he could not let me down at least this one time. I’m trying to show up as a professional.
“Just get dressed.” I’d said and marched back to our room to finish getting ready. By the time we left, we were later than I’d have liked. I knew this was a seated event and I did not want to walk in as someone was speaking or when everyone had already started dinner. It seemed so rude.
When we walked into the gallery at first, I was holding tightly to Nate. I could tell he was wobbly on his feet, he’d been sullen the whole ride. I had just ignored him and listened to music. I was not going to rile him up more than needed. A few heads turned toward us as we made our way through the gathering of Bolt employees and their spouses. I just kept looking around for Kaz. She would know where we should sit.
Now we’re walking toward the back of the large open space when I see Sebastian and Xavier, standing near the head table. They are both looking in my direction. Shit. I’m in trouble.
It becomes more and more tense as Sebastian introduces himself. The male pheromones are wafting all around me.
“Riley? Don’t you think so too?” Kaz asks me. I realize they must have been asking me a question. Kaz has come up to the table with her drink. “Don’t you think we should make our rounds and be seen?” She winks.
“Um no I’ll stay here,” I say. I can’t leave Nate like this. I also don’t want to piss him off. My face is still sore and my hips have bruises from being slammed against the counter while Nate roughly fucked me the other night.
“Suit yourself,” she says. She walks around the table and I can’t help but notice how she lets her hand trail along the back of the twins’ chairs.
“Actually,” I say. I am going to head to the restroom,” I start to get up from my chair and Sebastian jumps up to pull it out for me.
“Oh, uh, thank you,” I say.
“My pleasure,” he says and smiles.
I head toward the back where I assume the restrooms are. The volume of the room is escalating as people finish their drinks and loosen up. I see Kyle at one of the tables, surrounded by our group of fellow interns. I give him a small wave, not wanting to draw attention to the fact I’m not seated near them.
As I’m walking down a small corridor to the ladies room I hear someone behind me.
“So are you fucking that guy too or just your boss?” Nate has come up right behind me and grabs my wrist roughly pointing towards the table surrounded by interns.
“What? Kyle?!” I ask, incredulous. “Kyle is my friend, Nate.” Not to mention Kyle and I are both interested in men. I don’t say that because Nate doesn’t deserve more explanation.
“Did you bring me here just to make yourself feel better than me?” Nate growls out, still clutching my wrist.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me,” I whisper through clenched teeth. I don’t need people hearing this exchange. Behind Nate I glimpse Sebastian walking our way. Wonderful, another confrontation is about to ensue next to the bathrooms. I can't go anywhere with my husband anymore apparently.
Within seconds Sebastian is close enough to hear us. I turn away from him so he can’t hear me and whisper to Nate, “I’m not fucking anyone else, but maybe you are.”
He looks taken aback. His blurry eyes sharpen suddenly. Before he can respond, I see Sasha appear beside Sebastian, taking his arm in hers. He doesn’t seem to pay her any mind, he’s quickly walking toward us, a look of fury on his face.
Nate spins around as the two approach us and I see him look Sasha up and down quickly. Then he pales. Surely he’s seen a tipsy blonde in a tight dress before? Why does he have that look?
“Are you okay Riley?” Sebastian asks as he stares directly at Nate.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” I yank my wrist from Nate’s hand and begin to turn toward the restroom. I need a moment to compose myself. Then I hear Sasha.
“Nate?” she practically gasps. “What are you doing here?”