Chasing Forever Down (Great White Surf Saga, #1) [Wattpad Featured Story] | ✔

Chapter 1: Enchanted to Meet You

That chandelier should crash to the floor. I'd save one of the crystals as a souvenir, a symbolic end of corporate parties. It's the same thing year after year – slinky black dresses on women too old to be wearing them, artificially whitened smiles, and the picture of Solomon Worthington, who built this building, still wrapped up in that awful bronze frame that's the color of a spray tan.

But the guy beneath Solomon is different. No one shows up at this kind of event with a crooked tie, messy hair, or wearing Converse.

And he has.

It's too late to look away. He's already seen me all starry-eyed and frozen. His shadow shrinks beneath the picture as he pulls away from the wall and advances in my direction. There's no time to bail. I wouldn't dare try. I'd most likely trip on my way out the door and go down in corporate history as the idiot who busted her ass at Town Hall.

He stops in front of me and smiles what has to be the most charming smile in the history of smiles.

"Black tie affairs should make the top ten list of reasons why people commit suicide," he says.

He tugs his tie to one side. "Noose provided."

It's a good thing I didn't run. That has to be the best line I've ever heard. I run my finger along my pearl necklace. "In a variety of styles," I agree.

"Parents drag you here?" he asks, fiddling with the knot of his tie.

I nod. They've dragged me here every year since I started high school, when I was old enough to tag along. Mom always gives me the same speech, the one that starts with, "Haley, please make a good impression. Your future depends on this."

Every successful businessman and businesswoman across the state is here in our Town Hall, and with them are their protégés aka their children. Some of them can't wait to take over that CEO position, and others are like me – looking for a way out.

"What about you? Parents?" I ask. I can't imagine why anyone would be here otherwise.

Yet he shakes his head.

"Nah. I was actually thinking of crashing the party, but it doesn't seem worth it. Let's get out of here," he says, jerking his head toward the exit.

Nothing could sound better right now...except his name. And maybe a little background info to convince me that he's not a serial killer.

"They'll never know you're gone," he says, as if he can read my silly thoughts. "We'll be back before this thing ever ends. They'll be finishing up the last bottle of champagne."

He looks over me, skimming the room quickly, like he doesn't want to be noticed. I want to ask who he's looking for, but I already know his answer will be "no one." I copy his action – looking for my parents though – and don't see a familiar face. He pulls away from the wall and walks into the hallway. I follow, hoping someone other than Solomon Worthington's portrait will see me leave...just in case.

"There's a cover band playing at The Lyric," he says.

The Lyric Theater is the oldest landmark in Fallen Elk Grove. It's the heart of downtown, just a block over from Town Hall. The city wanted to tear it down a few years ago to build shiny new buildings, but it's part of our history. The good news is that it's a very public venue and makes for many witnesses.

"Who are they covering?" I ask. I try to read his face for something other than mystery.

"The Ocean in Moonlight," he says.

He explains that The Ocean in Moonlight is a summery-feel band from Arizona, but I'm miles ahead of him. My best friend Linzi is in love with this band, their drummer Keegan in particular.