I threw my own back laughing ‘’I’m just kidding, my god you’re so sweet’’ I said handing her her diet coke that the bartender gave me, while I drank down in two gulps my favorite bourbon whiskey on ice, and ended with a smooth relaxed lick of my lips.
‘’Ha ha’’ she pouted playfully, and elegantly sipped down her own beverage between her perfect pink glossed lips.
‘’But in all seriousness, I want you to enjoy yourself tonight and have fun, this is a party after all’’ I grinned again ‘’but every now and then do mingle and get to know people, and more importantly, let them get to know you too. This entire room is filled with top business clientele, a lot of which you’ll be acting on my behalf with at some point or another as my PA, so make sure and leave that continued good impression’’ I winked at her. I then took a step closer leaning my lips a little down to her ear ‘’…the same one you’ve already left on me tonight’’ I said squeezing my hand lightly inside hers with a kind smile, before going off to mingle myself and talk business with our newest investors.
TAYLOR POV:
I stood staring after him, even long after he’d disappeared into the crowd of businessmen around me, feeling a little lightheaded still, and my legs a little shaky after the warm compliment Hudson had given me. I was nowhere near over him, and even through all my effort trying to desensitize my feelings, it only boomeranged and intensified them more. And now, I was starting to get really concerned that my feelings for him were one day going to step itself in the wrong direction, one where I had no way of coming back from…ugh, my throat feels dry whenever I think about it, I soooo need me another drink now.
‘’Hey bartender? Um hello? Can I order another drink pleased?’’ just great…it was like whispering at a concert, completely useless in its act what with all the noise around me.
(TAP TAP TAP!) ‘’Bartender! The lady asked for a drink’’ boomed the familiar British accent, and I turned to see the lightbulb silver blonde hair of Skipp stood next to me, his authoritative hand loudly smacking against the bar for attention which he immediately got, and with top service too ‘’what’s your poison darling?’’ he turned grinning at me.
‘’Oh gee thank you Skipp, it’s just so loud in here’’ I said looking a little embarrassed across at the bartender, who stood patiently waiting now to take our order ‘’I guess I’ll have another diet coke with ice please’’
‘’She’ll have a gin and Tonic’’ he said to the bartender ‘’in fact we both will. Oh and put one of those pretty umbrella thingy’s on the side for the lady will you’’
‘’No Skipp, I…I don’t drink’’ I tried telling him.
‘’Nonsense. Everybody drinks’’ he said playfully shooing a dismissive hand at me.
‘’But I-‘’
‘’Don’t worry darling, Skippy will look after you. Besides, Ave will kill me if I don’t’’ he laughed handing me my umbrella Gin & Tonic, which I politely placed untouched back on the bar.
‘’So…he’s talked about me?’’ I asked timidly.
‘’Every man in this room is talking about you. Look around Taylor…all eyes are on you’’
‘’Don’t be silly’’ I said feeling stupidly shy all of a sudden to look around and see if what he maybe said was indeed true, because…why would it be? I was nothing special.
‘’My eyes certainly are…’’ he smiled taking a step closer to me, and I instantly burst out laughing when finally realizing the joke.
‘’Ha ha good one, you nearly got me there’’ I grinned ‘’thanks for making me laugh though, I really needed that. I guess I’m just feeling a little nervous tonight is all’’ I confided in him ‘’…this is kind of a big deal for me, as it’s the very first work event I’m attending’’
‘’Do forgive me darling, as I’m well on my way already to reaching my goal of completely tanked’’ he said, leaning across the bar behind me and picking up my untouched drink, which he also gulped down back to back with his own ‘’…but, what’s this ‘joke’ that’s got you so amused?’’
‘’Well, because you’re gay right’’ I laughed ‘’so obviously you telling me your eyes are on me was a way to rattle me out from my silly nerves, and hey it worked’’ I chuckled up at him.
‘’Gay? Gay? Oh Taylor please’’ Skipp sputtered, with half his drink now spilling down the inside of his suit onto his bare chest in amused laughter ‘’whatever gave you that ridiculous idea??’’ he howled, motioning over the bartender again to refill his glass, while ordering me this time round the diet coke I’d originally asked for.
‘’Wait…you mean you’re not??’’ and he shook his head ‘no’ just looking at me.
I was hella confused right now, but offered up a sincere apology all the same ‘’gee Skipp I am so sorry, really I am, that’s my complete bad’’ I told him honestly, feeling in that moment as embarrassed as I did when unknowingly word vomiting to my boss, how I’d heard he was a satyriasis ‘’…I guess with the fancy hair coloring, coupled alongside with your rather confident mannerisms, even your accent in a way, that um, well, you kind of gave the impression that- and for lack of a better phrase…that you perhaps maybe batted for the other team’’ and I could feel my cheeks further reddening in embarrassment even as I said it.
‘’Batted for the other team? Bha ha ha!! Oh what a charming way you put it’’ Skipp howled throwing his head back again in laughter ‘’but no Taylor, I’m afraid you’ve got it all wrong sweetheart, that’s just the British bastard in me you Americans aren’t used to’’ he whispered up close to my ear ‘’I of course refuse to lose my mother accent’’ he said straightening up again and gulping down another beverage handed to him by the bartender ‘’…as it’s that rather endearing feature that makes me so unique this side of the pond’’ he grinned drunkenly complimenting himself ‘’as far as hair coloring goes, what can I tell you baby, blondes always have more fun’’ he winked, before taking a slow step closer to me almost backing me against the wall between it, and his rather close bare chest ‘’…but I assure you Miss Wainwright, I am anything but gay, in every sense of the word’’ and his face was now dangerously close to mine where I could see his evergreen eyes lustfully darkening, and his lids slowly lower, along with his pupil’s gradually dilating in the dimly lit part of the bar I found myself cornered in with him…
…right before the uncomfortable shove I was forced to make when noticing his lips traveling closer down to mine ‘’I’m going to let this go, because clearly you’re very drunk right now. But try in the future Mr. Bennett to get a grip of yourself, especially as top representative of Tazer’’ I scolded him, in the polite but firm reminder of his CEO position. And with my head held high, I sharply maneuvered my way through the bar to go find Hudson.
It took a while to find him as the venue had since doubled, almost tripled with guests from the last time I’d noticed. But there he was, looking as handsome as ever in his tall tuxedo and glass of bourbon in hand, with every female's eyes in the room lusting after him, mine included. His eyes were looking back at me also, and I gave him a bright smile and a little wave to show him I was having fun.
He must not have really seen me I guess, as no smile was returned from his face, just a blank stare in my direction before going back to conversation with a few of the businessmen that surrounded him…aww, he’s probably just tired, he was up really early this morning. I’ll make him a nice coffee later and we can catch up…I thought with a warm smile, before busying myself with introductions and mingling with the crowd like asked.
Very soon the ole ‘time fly’s by when you’re having fun’ theory decided to rare its ugly head, and I found myself letting loose a genuine groan of disappointment, at having to end the night when noticing people beginning to slowly file out from the bar. I scanned my eyes around the room again for Hudson, but instead caught the bright beacon of Skipp’s blonde hair as he stood practically dry-humping some equally drunk girl against the far wall, with no regard whatsoever for who around could see him, as he stood roughly kissing her hard with his hands halfway up the hem of her mini dress…really?? That’s some nice class you guys have…I scoffed in disgust…oh gee Taylor look at you, the high life is making you so snobby already…I grinned humorously to myself, as I’d seen waaayyy worse than that over the years when living out on the streets.
‘’You ready to go?’’ said Hudson suddenly appearing by my side.
‘’There you are, I was looking for you’’ I beamed up at him.