Slow Dancing

18 | sin al fine

"Sure – they just seem rather impatient so things aren't looking so good. I'll try to hold them off, but ring the front desk the moment Mr Bretton's available."

"Alright," I promised and quickly hung up. Then I turned to Parker, who had a look of calm amusement on his face. "Is it always this crazy on Kaden's birthday?" I couldn't help but ask.

Parker smirked. "That's – one way to put it. Okay, here's the plan," he stood up and straightened his suit, before glancing over at me. "I'm going to head downstairs to see what I can do about the crowd. And you're going to find Kaden."

My mouth fell open. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Isla, you're his personal assistant. It shouldn't be that difficult."

"Well, it is rather difficult when I'm one of the people he's always hiding from."

That wasn't an exaggeration at all. Kaden continued to avoid me and interacted with me as little as possible. Our conversations had dimmed and diminished to mere obligatory exchanges, all of which had to do with work.

Parker offered me a sympathetic look of understanding. "There's no harm trying. I've a feeling he'll want to be in your company today." I opened my mouth to argue, but he shook his head. "It's time to do some damage control, Isla. I've really got to go."

Reluctantly, I followed Parker towards the lift. "Did you and Nolan have to do this on Kaden's birthday last year?"

"Well, no – last year, Kaden spent the whole of his birthday hiding out in his office until the time came for him to head to the party his parents threw for him."

I stared at him in surprise. It seemed almost ridiculous that someone as rich and powerful as Kaden Bretton would spend his birthday alone. Somehow, the thought of that made my chest tighten. "You're kidding."

"I wish I was," Parker returned, with a rueful smile. "But that's just one of the perks of being Kaden Bretton."

Shaking my head, I waved him off into the lift and watched as the doors slowly slid shut. Once Parker was out of sight, I spun on my heels and headed back to my desk, reaching for my mobile in the pocket of my coat. Kaden's number was saved under my contacts solely for emergency purposes, since I saw him at work everyday and he'd made it explicitly clear that there was nothing between us other than an employer-employee relationship.

Settling down on my chair, I hastily dialled Kaden's number and pressed the phone to my ear. It took about five rings before he picked up, his voice velvety and deep, but not without his usual trace of suspicion.

"Isla?"

I blinked. "Have I given you my number before?"

There was a beat, before he spoke again, sounding rather defensive this time. "Have I given you my number before?"

Touché. I couldn't help but let a tiny smile gloss my lips as I recalled how I'd asked Parker for Kaden's number. Had Kaden done the same?

"That's not important," I said breezily, pushing any thoughts about phone numbers and Kaden Bretton's true intentions firmly out of my mind, focusing on the matter at hand instead. "Where are you? Dylan said that there are dozens of your business associates and acquaintances waiting for you in the lobby."

"Dylan?"

"He's from security – "

"Oh, you mean your secret lover?" The suspicious tone in Kaden's voice made me roll my eyes instinctively.

"Just as much a secret lover to me as Diane Crossbow is to you," the words slipped past my lips before I could think twice. I bit my lip, wondering if my sarcasm was uncalled for, but his voice cut in before I could speak.