BLACK CRESCENT

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

LAUREN

Checking my watch for what had to be the tenth time that night, I found myself unable to contain my excitement. It was 9:30 p.m. All of my students were here, with the exception of Camila. Apparently, she had to go home for something and would take a taxi.

Five hours is more than enough, my ass.

She took forever in the morning. I could make a full breakfast, write a few emails and be on my second cup of coffee by the time she came downstairs. Yes, she looked beautiful, and yes I appreciated the amount of effort, but some days it annoyed me to no end.

But then again, if she was perfect, that would tick me off more.

"You look tense," Zayn said as he came over to me with a glass of champagne.

In his other hand, he held the handle for his sliver masquerade mask. Taylor was off making the rounds with their daughter.

"I'm fine."

"She'll be here soon, just focus on the other ones. Look at them, they even have business cards!" He laughed.

"What could possibly be on it?" I wondered. "They don't even work anywhere."

I chuckled, watching as Austin kevitch excitedly spoke to my father, and the rest of the old men. He wore a red masquerade mask that only covered his eyes, but even from here, I could tell it was him. The men all laughed along with him, nodding in earnest at whatever tale he was spinning.

"You've made their year with this," Zayn said to me as his gaze followed the other students who were doing their best to socialize and connect with future bosses... as Camila should have been doing. My eyes narrowed and I checked my watch again. Anyone who was anyone was here, even the mayor.

"It's the least I can do for them, with all the crap that I'll be throwing at them next week."

If they didn't hate me now, come next week that would change fast.

"She's here," he said looking at the entrance, and my head whipped back.

"Wow."

It was the only word that my mind could form.

She wore a fitted, off-white ball grown, with gold lacing. Her mask matched her dress perfectly, and with each slow step forward, I wanted to take one towards her. I found myself doing just that when Zayn grabbed onto my arm.

"Lauren you can't just go up to her. She isn't your date, she's your student," he reminded me.

She searched through the crowd and I wondered if she could find me. I needed her to know that I at least saw her.

Come on, I thought as she searched through the crowd, until finally, her eyes caught mine. Her lips turned up in to a smirk, and she winked at me.

I wanted to watch her forever, but just as I had noticed her, so did the rest of her classmates, Mr. kevitch being the first one. I knew they were allies... friends now, but it still bothered me how familiar they were with each other, and how she could laugh with him so easily.

"Careful now, your jealousy is showing, Lauren" Zayn snickered, before taking a sip of his drink.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Lauren, my baby!" My father called out over the music, and I could tell that the liquor had gotten to him already. He came over along with a few of his buddies and put his arm around me.

Oh no.

"Ladies and Gentleman," he called out, then waited as the music slowly as the volume of the music slowly died down. "Ladies and Gentleman, I will proudly proclaim that my baby,  my Daughter Lauren Michelle Jauregui, is the best goddamn criminal attorney in the state of Massachusetts. And furthermore, to the sons-of bitches that I know will need her help later on... you're welcome."

They all cheered and laughed, raising their glass to me. My father turned to me and shook my hand before being pulled into the craziness of the night.

"Well that was cute," Dr. Cindy Kimberly, smiled with a glass to her lips. She was, as always, dressed to kill, in a blood red gown and black mask.

"Long time no see," I greeted her.

"Too long, Lauren" she whispered. "Dance with me."

It wasn't a question.

She took my hand, dragging me to the center of the room.

"Cindy..."

"It's the least you can do, after leading me on, and letting me go," she smiled as we waltzed.

"Forgive me," I said to her, as I searched the dance floor for Camila. But it seemed as though more people had joined us on the floor, and I couldn't find her through the dense crowd.

"Not until you take me out on a proper date."

"I'm sorry, I can't," I said looking back at her. "I'm sort of seeing someone."

"The it's complicated girl?" she asked with a certain degree of annoyance in her voice. I spun her outwards and brought her back to me. "I thought you ended it."

"More like a dramatic pause."

Where was she?

"Is she the one you're looking for?"

"No," I said quickly, a little too quickly in fact.

Finally, I spotted Camila standing in a group talking to the rest of her classmates. I could allow myself to get closer to her now that other students were around.

"Cindy , you are very beautiful and a successful woman. I'm sure anyone would be more than happy to be with you—"

"Just not you."

"I would've been if I met you before her . but now I am really Sorry."

As the song came to an end, I turned away from her and headed towards the corner of the house. The closer I got, the better I could hear their conversation even without seeing their faces.

"How much do think this place is worth?"

"Ten million, easy."

"Does it matter? None of us are making that any time soon." Camila's voice reached my ears.

"Easy for you to say, you're law royalty, I bet you grew up going to parties just like these. Just look at that dress. What's your zip code?"

"I'm glad to hear that you're all inspired," I cut in before she could respond, and they all turned and backed away like I was Freddy Krueger.