Chapter 4
Serenity
Ding, ding.Who could be emailing me at this time? I walked over to my laptop and opened it to see a note from one of my colleagues, Allie. She was around my age, maybe mid to late twenties. She helped me with this case since I have been in Chicago and has been wanting to go out before I left, but I don’t hang out with anyone. I have been avoiding her for the most part, which was probably why she emailed me. I don’t give out my number to anyone, if I’m being honest.
Serenity!
There is an event for one of my clients tonight. There will be food, booze, and hot guys! You should totally come. I keep forgetting to get your phone number so I’m hoping that you see this email before it starts. I will send you the address and it’s at 8 if you want to come. It will be fun!
23561 Shoredrive Ave
See you then!
Allie
Fuck it. I wanted to go out anyway and at least I will know somebody. What else was I going to do? Go try to find a hot, not creepy guy at the bar downstairs? At least this is an event and the food might be better than bar food. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. Shit, it was almost seven. I checked myself in the mirror once more, then grabbed my bag and headed out the door to the elevator.
When I got downstairs, I went outside and flagged down a cab. It was definitely a little chilly out here tonight. Maybe I should have grabbed a shawl. Whatever, by the time I get there, I would be inside and maybe get a jacket from some stud. I jumped into the cab and gave him the address, before sitting back to enjoy the ride.
“This must be a really important event to have such a pretty lady going to it?” I looked up into the rearview mirror to see what he looked like and shook my head.
“It’s just a party, but thank you for the compliments.” I was always told to be polite, but I unfortunately have a rougher side that would come out if someone didn’t get the point.
“If you need another ride after, I can give you my number and I can come back to get you?” I turned back to the mirror and gave him a smile.
“I’ll be fine, but thanks for the offer.” Keep it cool, Serenity. The rest of the car ride was quiet which is what I expected. We pulled up to the location, but it looked like it could have been in a book.
“Holy shit,” the driver whispered as I went to get out. He put down his passenger window, and I threw in the money for the ride. When I looked at him, he looked like he wanted to say something else, but decided against it and drove off. Good boy.
I turned and started for the house, glancing around at all the cars that were parked around the property. Audi, BMW, Land Rover. Oh look, there is a Ferrari. What kind of work was Allie doing for this client? Maybe I needed to make them my client too. Maybe I should mix business with pleasure.
When I approached the sidewalk, I saw that there were doormen and a limo pulled up just as I was about to take my first step. As a naturally nosey person, I lingered and saw a lady get out in a beautiful red dress, that was definitely not meant for her. She looked like she could use a little less Botox and a little more sleep.
But then I saw a tall man get out behind her. Clean shaven and looking like he had a body to kill for under all of those clothes. I wondered if that was her son? I stood and stared for a second too long and he must have felt it. We made eye contact for a split second. That dark hair with those haunted blue eyes just pulled me in and fuck me, I”m a little wet now.
I kept walking up the stairs, and approached the doorman and gave him my name. As I stood while he looked through the papers, the man came right up behind me and I could feel his heat. I turned to see him standing there with the lady on his arm. I would be damned if this guy was with this lady, because where was my hunk of a man? I let out a little chuckle when I turned back around.
“Is there something wrong, miss?” I just shook my head and went inside as the other doorman opened the door. Before I walked through, I stood and turned to hear the names of the guests behind me. He didn’t speak , but she did.
“Claire Morono and guest,” she said to the doorman, but as I was about to turn my gaze back to the mystery man, I noticed he was already looking at me. I felt as though he was trying to see through me to my soul.
“Is there a problem, sugar?” As I shook my head a little, I noticed that it was the lady who was talking to me.
“No, just admiring your dress. It’s beautiful,” I said, trying to get the attention off me and mystery man. She took the compliment and soaked it in. Of course, she did.
“This old thing, why thank you, darling.”
I hated pet names, especially when they came from a lady who had way too much makeup on to be natural. I gave her a small smile and eyed up Mr. hottie once more. Now it was time to figure out how I could get him alone to talk, because I need to know that story.