Chapter 21
~
June
I was expecting to be nervous for the Masters mixer a few weeks later.
After all, it was a huge event that was supposed to foster potential future connections with other students and faculty.
A few months ago, I would probably have been freaking out and planning my outfit well ahead of time only to second-guess it the hour before.
But not anymore. I found myself more excited than anxious as I took a shower and got dressed. I decided on high-waisted cream pants paired with a navy turtleneck that I tucked into the waistband. As I pulled on my black ankle boots, Mads put her hands on her hips, throwing me a suspicious look.
“You are… eerily calm considering what’s happening tonight,” she observed.
“What are you talking about?” I feigned innocence, fixing my curls into a messy bun.
She narrowed her eyes. “Oh don’t play coy. You know exactly what I’m talking about. You’ve been different lately. I noticed it a while back but thought I was probably just imagining things until tonight. You look hot by the way.”
“Thank you but I pale in comparison to the goddess herself,” I said, gesturing towards her.
She waved off the compliment but she really did look good in the earth-brown jumpsuit and dark brown heels she chose to wear.
On anyone else it might’ve looked plain but Mads had a penchant for wearing the shit out of any outfit.
“I mean it though. What gives?” she asked.
“Nothing. Seriously,” I said. I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to tell her the whole truth.
Plus, as much as I trusted her, I couldn’t risk word getting out about what I was doing.
That would just be creating another source of unnecessary stress and I was determined to minimize that as much as possible.
She didn’t look like she believed me but she let it go anyway. When we were done and happy with our final looks, we took a cab to the alumni center together. It was the first real big academic event we’d been invited to and the atmosphere even from outside the building was already buzzing.
The welcoming lobby was oddly cozy, complete with school-branded, high-end furniture, various decor pieces and even a fireplace in one corner.
Mads and I walked over to the nearest one, taking a peek at what seemed to be a “hall of fame” of sorts; a collection of photos and awards given to NEU’s outstanding alumni.
There were also pieces of historical documents like vintage university charters, yearbooks and old newspaper snippets.
It was like stepping into a time capsule.
Seeing the accomplishments of others who came before us was a reminder of what was at stake in these next few months.
A hint of that old pressure pressed at the back of my mind, but instead of letting it overwhelm me as I usually did, I tried to reconvert it into determination.
Sheer stubbornness that I was going to have my own photo up there one day with a list of accomplishments that coming students could aspire to.
Mads and I made light conversation about everything we could see before we moved into the general meeting area.
I recognized a few of the people walking around as students and faculty members, though there were a few who I knew from reputation only as industry professionals across various departments.
One in particular stood out to me— an older woman with ivory-streaked dark hair and an elegant pantsuit.
I recognized her as Elaine Dalton, one of the most high-profile project managers at Vantage Urban Evolution.
While they weren’t Muller & Co., the private development consultancy was still a notable network connection to have.
I steeled myself, grabbed a glass of champagne from the open bar and headed over to introduce myself.
She was friendlier than I anticipated, and after introductions were made it became easier to slip into the sort of professional, genial conversation I’d gotten accustomed to this year.
By the time we parted ways, we’d exchanged contact information and I had another connection in the industry.
That set up my confidence for the rest of the evening.
I made my rounds, occasionally making eye contact with Lucas, Ronan or Oren who only spared a secretive smile or innocuous touch to my lower back as they slipped by.
But I could feel their support from any point in the room.
Knowing that they were there and rooting for me definitely added to my self-assurance.
Just as Mads and I met up near the bar, Abe Halliwell sidled up to us with a huge grin on his face.
“Miss Price! Oh, the visiting faculty can’t stop raving about the impression you made with them.
Everyone’s talking about your potential and what a credit you are to our university and department. Keep it up!”
I awkwardly returned his smile. “Thank you, Mr. Halliwell. I appreciate that.”
He nodded at Mads and I before scuttling off to schmooze with other staff members. Mads watched his retreat before turning to look back at me with genuine curiosity spelled out on her face.
“Okay, now it’s official. You need to tell me what your secret is,” she said.
I winked at her. “Practice.”
“God, June, just how many of these guests have you slept with?” she asked with a laugh.
I knew that she was only kidding and probably alluding to her earlier joke of me getting laid, but that didn’t change that her comment certainly hit a little closer to home than she realized.
But instead of cowing or giving anything away, I simply offered a piece of intel that would actually prove helpful.
I linked our arms together and leaned in.
“It helps if they all want to, but can’t,” I said.
Mads thought about it for a second as she scanned the room. Then she seemed to perk up a bit, giving my arm a quick squeeze. “Okay. Got it. Let’s give this another.”
I wished her luck as she disappeared into the crowd looking to implement the advice.
I took a sip of the champagne, my throat dry with all the talking I’d been doing tonight.
But I was satisfied. Hearing from the HOD himself that I’d made a good impression with so many of the people here left me glowing with pride and happiness, though I knew that Mads wasn’t that far off from the truth.
Something had changed in me these last few months.
And speaking of which…
I caught Oren’s eye as he made his way over to me. He greeted me with a quick side hug, the type that was commonly observed between friendly staff and students. But I felt him squeeze my hip so quickly that I was certain no one else could possibly have noticed it.
There was something so undeniably exhilarating about being this close to him in a room full of people we had to hide from. No one else outside of the four of us knew what was happening behind closed doors. Specifically, closed office doors.
“You look stunning,” he said, his voice low and words to-the-point. “I wish I could stay longer but there’s another event I promised to attend. Lucas and Ronan are still here to keep you company though. I’ll get my time with you later.”
Heat surged in my belly. “I look forward to it, Professor Reed.”
His gaze briefly ignited but all he did was run a hand down my arm, then turn to leave. There wasn’t too much time for me to be alone though. Not when, after some more room-working, I found myself in a quiet corner with Lucas.
We were standing a respectable distance apart from one another, both of us holding a glass in hand.
“Having fun?” I asked him.
He smiled but there was something strained behind it. “As much fun as someone can have at these kinds of events, I suppose.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to avoid me the entire evening” I said, my voice low enough so that only he could hear what I was saying. I noticed as his hand tightened around the stem of his glass.
“I wasn’t… I wasn’t trying to avoid you,” he said, clearing his throat. “It’s just that we’re in a room full of faculty members. I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, especially now that we’re really doing this.”
I recalled how, while Ronan and Oren were a bit more playful in their risk-taking when it came to stealing glances and sly touches, Lucas had stayed the most distant.
I thought initially that it may have been him still thinking about my proposition but now, looking at how tense he looked, I wondered if it wasn’t something else. A different kind of tension.
I was about to ask him when I felt a hand on my back.
“Forgive me for interrupting.” Ronan’s familiar voice cut through our conversation.
Lucas frowned and that only seemed to widen Ronan’s smile.
He focused it on me. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, Miss Price, but this building actually has a number of rather fascinating study rooms. Abandoned and dependably soundproof, I might add. I’ve discovered one with a fireplace.”
That was all he said as he led the way, knowing that I would follow.
I took a few steps forward when I noticed that Lucas was hanging back. He looked so unsure of himself, and the tiniest bit pissed off at Ronan’s intrusion. But I took his free hand and rubbed my thumb against the back of it.
Trust me, was the thought I hoped he’d understand from my body language. Whether he understood or not, he let me guide him as I followed Ronan’s path.