I wipe the edge of my lips to rid my mouth of any remaining food, Nic stands up and comes to my side offering his hand.
"Would you care to dance Miss Clarkson?" He smiles winking, I laugh shaking my head and take his hand.
"I don't see why not Mr Rimini." I throw back, he returns the laugh and helps me up.
He leads us to the area where there's more than enough space for most of us to dance, his hand rests just above my lower back and mine on his shoulder and our hands linked.
We sway left and right to the music, "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" He asks after a few seconds.
I look up for a second, "I don't think so. How can that be?" I ask just as he twirls me.
"I guess I was too speechless to even try and I apologise. You look absolutely beautiful Miss Clarkson." He changes his accent into a British one on the last statement.
I laugh throwing my head back, "Dare I say the same about you Mr Rimini." I smile, he returns the smile pulling me closer to him.
We continue dancing in a peaceful silence for a few minutes then Nic opened another conversation, "Can I ask you something? And be honest with me?" His eyes look directly at mine and the hold he has on me tightens even further, I highly doubt there is enough space between us to fit a germ.
"Uh yes?" I ask, he leans closer to me, his nose nearly touching mine.
"If I weren't your boss," Oh God. "Would you consider going out with me?" He whispers, his warm minty breath fanning my lips.
"I-I don't think this is appropriate, Sir." I mumble trying to get myself free from his hold but he doesn't budge.
"That's not a 'no'." He smiles leaning closer that his lips brush mine ever so softly.
I move me head back and tug on his hands but he keeps me where I am, "I'm sorry Rosie, just stand still okay?" His whole demeanor changes, I look up at him confused.
"Wh–" when I least expect it, he cups my cheeks and his lips just barely touch mine.
I open my mouth to ask him what in the world he's doing but he's thrown off me and a familiar white tux dressed figure throws rapid punches at him.
A few men hold him back, I look around and I'm glad to see that not a lot of people are left. Probably just a few people finishing their business opportunities.
Mr Grey struggles against the men, "Sir!" I yell when he gets out of their grips and heads for Nic.
He stops, looks at me, fixes his tux and walks out of the hall. Nic gets up, fixes his tux and gives me a boyish grin, I look at him shocked.
"What the f*ck was that?!" I whisper yell, he wipes the blood from his nose and lip.
"I think he broke my nose." He mutters chuckling to himself, I take his hand and lead him to a table and take a clean napkin to tend to his nose.
"Why didn't you fight back?" I ask looking at his nose. It's not broken but probably just cracked.
"I deserved it." He shrugs, I know that probably from the outsider's point of view it looked like he was kissing me but why?
It's like he reads my mind because he shrugs his shoulders, "I don't know." I shake my head sighing.
Before I can ask him another question he stands up, "I'm going to talk to the reporters, why don't you go check up on him. If he isn't by the balcony he's probably in the garden." He turns around and goes wherever.
I stare at his retreating back confused before standing up and taking my purse then go looking for my boss, I find him at one of the balconies.
He's staring out at the stars or the garden with what I would assume is a cigarette in his hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other.
I take a cautious step next to him, and lean on the railings looking up at the stars then at him.
"You know this is going to kill you slowly?" I ask referring to the cigarette, he stays quiet and takes a long draw from it.
"It's my stress reliever." He slurs, blowing out the smoke into the dark night.
I look up at the stars, sighing heavily. "My father quit too late. He's in the hospital because of those, I hate them more than anything. After drugs maybe, those two things just seem to find their way into my family and ruin whatever is well." I mumble.
My brother Logan was sixteen when he started using, two years after my mom passed away and a year after my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Like James, he's in and out of our lives, one minute he's in rehab and the next he's asking me for a couple of hundreds.
And last I checked he's in rehab, unless he only told us so just to keep dad calm. Our lives turned around the minute mom left, and I don't think we're going to get better.
"I hope that isn't a ploy to convince me to increase your pay señorita." I hear the joking tone in his voice, I smile shaking my head.
"I tried my best." I reply, he snickers and hits the nub of the cigarette on the railing before taking out a portable ashtray and leaving it in there.
"Let's get you home." He mumbles looking at his watch, he places the bottle on the edge of the wall and let's his hand rest on my lower back.
We silently walk to the car, thankfully all paparazzi is gone and I think everyone is gone by now, leaving the cleaning crew.
The SUV we came with is replaced with a black Lamborghini Gallardo LP, the valet hands my boss the keys.
He can't be that stupid.
As he opens his side of the door, I place my hand on the door to close it then stick my hand out for the keys.
He glares at me, but I stand my ground. "Between the two of us, all I had was one glass of champagne and you probably had half of the bottle in there and more."
He shakes his head and tries to open the door again but I shut it close, "If I'm not driving then you aren't I might as well hail us a cab."
His face visibly scrunches up in disgust at the thought of public transport, reluctantly he drops the keys into my palm and rounds to the passenger side.
At this moment I'm wondering why he would tell Aaron to bring this car, I know he didn't plan on getting drunk but he could've called him again and asked to be driven home.
I take off my shoes then enter the car, I take a second to admire the interior work. Leather all the way, and it is gorgeous.
"For the love of all that is Holy. I pray that you do not scratch nor crash this car Miss Clarkson, or you won't live to see the cost of damage." He grumbles, I look over at him and snicker.
*~*~*~*