(1777 words)
I sat next to Blayze at one of the tables in the giant ballroom, bustling with men and women dressed exquisitely, as they talked fashion or business or about their expensive interests and hobbies. We had gotten there in Blayze's car, where I had the privilege of sitting with Blayze in the backseat. Sarcasm intended.
Blayze barely said a word the whole ride, and also didn't speak to me ever since we got to the venue. Not that I wanted him to. His talking gave me a headache.
I ignored his existence, just like he ignored mine, and texted my best friend, Aileen. She had been trying to make plans with me, but I just couldn't see that happening with my busy schedule those days. Until the app came out, my social plans had to be on hold.
"Put your phone away, Miss Woods." Ah. The devil has finally decided to speak.
I raised my head from my phone to look at him. "You can't tell me what to do here."
"Look around. Do you see anyone else on their phone?"
I sighed. "What do you want me to do then?"
"Sit quietly."
I glared at him. "That's exactly what I was doing."
"Don't sit on your phone." He said, and I fought the urge to growl at him.
Ignoring him, I began using my phone again.
A gasp left my lips as I felt my phone get snatched from my hands.
I shot him a death stare. "Mr. Colton, give me my phone back."
"I told you to stop using it." He said.
"You are not the boss of me!" I exclaimed without forethought.
Excellent, Mihrimah. How smart of you.
He smirked mischievously. "You sure about that?" His eyes now held a teasing glint.
I sucked in a breath with my eyes closed, before opening them again. "Blayze, give me my phone."
"Mr. Colton." He emphasised.
"Blayze." I uttered stubbornly, leaning forwards a little, to irk him, while my eyes blazed with fearlessness.
He leaned in as well. "Mr. Colton," he drawled, almost menacingly, when his face was mere inches from mine. "My name doesn't sound good on your tongue." He said, leaning back and getting rid of our proximity.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, ugly sea monster does."
He shot me a glare. "Behave."
"Or what?" I challenged.
He moved his face close to mine again. "I'll put you over my shoulder," his voice had dropped to a menacing whisper. I didn't know why I felt the need to squeeze my thighs together. "Tie you up," he continued and I found myself craving a drink for my suddenly parched throat. Oh God, tie me up? "Put you in the trunk of my car and throw your body in a river."
Once he was done, he closely observed my face, his eyes holding an indecipherable emotion.
I put a hand to his chest and pushed him away. "Get away from me."
"Don't ever touch me again, Miss Woods." He was glaring at me as if my hand had burned him.
"Stay away from me and I won't."
He put my phone on the table, in front of me. I grabbed it and shot him another glare.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Miss Woods?" He asked with a straight face, his tone changing to a casual one.
"Are you checking if I'm available?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He snickered sarcastically. "No, I'm sympathising for the poor soul."
I scoffed. "Mr. Colton, any guy would be lucky to have me, firstly. Secondly, any woman you're with should be pitied."
"Miss Woods, women would kill to spend just a night with me." He said arrogantly. I fought back my grimace.
"Those women are stupid then." I stated.
"Mr. Colton, it's nice to see you." A man appeared to shake hands with him, and they both began talking business.
As the man left, I turned to Blayze. "Where's the person you're discussing a deal with? We've been sitting here doing nothing for almost an hour now."
"Mr. Semen is the host. He has things to take care of and people to meet. He'll be here soon." He replied, without looking at me.
"Come again? Did I hear you right? Did you just say Mr. Semen?" I stifled a laugh.
"What can I do if his last name is that?"
I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore. My head bowed, my hand clutching my stomach as I laughed crazily. Mr. Semen. Who even has a name like that? It had to be a joke.
As my laughter faded, I met Blayze's eyes. He was watching me intently, with a peculiar expression and an indecipherable glow in his eyes.
"What?" I asked him.
"Do not laugh like that when you're introduced to him." He said, averting his gaze from me.
"Oh no... I'm not sure if I can do that. Mr. Colton, please give me a heads up when you see him coming this way and I'll excuse myself to the restroom." I said.
"No," he deadpanned. "You might have to note some things."
"Don't get mad at me if I laugh, then." I warned.
He shot me a pointed look. "Miss Woods, be serious and professional."
"It's not my fault his last name is hilarious." I retorted.
"Neither is it mine."
"Do you think he's embarrassed about it?" I asked, holding back a giggle, but a silly grin broke across my face, regardless.
He watched me intently again, as if studying every little thing about my face. "I never asked." He finally replied, his eyes abandoning their scrutiny, and I laughed again.
Blayze sighed. "Miss Woods, enough already. It isn't as funny as you're making it to be."
"I find it really funny." I said.
He ignored me, not replying. After a few minutes of silence, I spoke up again. "Why did you pick this dress for me?"
"I didn't. Carla did." He didn't look at me as he replied, his voice not holding any emotion.
"She said that you picked it."
"No, I didn't."
"Are you saying that she was lying?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know." He replied.
Silence fell between us again, until I once again broke the ice. "How did you know I like dresses like this?"
"I figured, keeping in mind the dress you wore at the last party." He answered. And just as he did, his eyebrows shot up, realising that he had confessed to having selected it for me.
I grinned teasingly at him as he avoided my gaze.
"Blayze, I'm sorry to keep you waiting." A man with a moustache appeared at our table, shaking hands with Blayze. He had to be in his fifties.
"No problem. Meet my assistant, Miss Mihrimah Woods. Miss Woods, this is Mr. Albert Semen." He introduced.
Oh no. It's him. Don't laugh.
Mr. Semen extended his hand toward me for a handshake and I put my hand in his, while digging my nails into the palm of my other hand to keep myself from laughing.
"Nice to meet you, young lady." He said.
"Nice to meet you... too... Mr. Sem—" That was it. I laughed. In his face.
Who's the rude one now?
I clamped my hand to my mouth, my eyes widening. Both men stared at me as if I'd grown another head.
"I apologise, Mr. Semen. My assistant is a lightweight. She had a little too much to drink."
I scowled at him.
Mr. Semen chuckled. "I see. That's alright. It's good to know your assistant is having a good time here."
"I'm not drunk." I retorted.
"No drunk person accepts that they're drunk." Blayze quickly responded, and I scowled at him again.
"Where did you read that rule?" I quipped.
He shot me a death stare. "Miss Woods, I remember you telling me you needed to use the restroom."
I gave him a fake sweet smile. "Mr. Colton, I remember you telling me you needed me to take notes."
"I'll take care of it. Please leave." He said, almost imploring at that point. It made me want to laugh again.
"Excuse me, then." I said, looking at both men.
"Excused." Blayze replied curtly, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
———
I stood in the parking lot waiting for Blayze. He was, unfortunately, my ride home. I tapped my foot on the ground, wondering how much more time he would take to come, when I saw him step out of the exit.
Finally.
"Mr. Colton, you took forever. I really need to—" He grabbed my arm, dragging me to a desolate corner of the parking lot.
"How dare you embarrass me like that?" He boomed.
"What the hell did I do?" I raised my voice too, instantly becoming irritated.
"I fucking told you not to laugh!" He yelled.
"It was only laughter, Mr. Colton. It's not like I verbally abused the man!" I yelled back.
"Lower your voice. You're not the boss here." He said through gritted teeth; his fists balled up, and his chest rose and fell with his frantic breathing.
I glowered at him. "I should be the one mad at you! You made me seem like a drunkard!"
"I made you seem like a drunkard? You made me seem like a fool who's hired an idiot!"
"You are a fool!" I screamed in his face.
"And you are an absolute idiot, a fucking embarrassment. Now fucking get lost!" He screamed back.
"I won't get lost! You have to drop me home!" I retorted.
"You can go to hell!" He said, beginning to walk away from me.
"Hey, stop!" I called angrily, grabbing his arm. He quickly removed it from my hold.
"Go away!" He hissed.
"I'm not going anywhere! I don't have a ride!" I hissed back.
"That is not my problem. Call someone. Or take a cab. Just get out of my face."
"Oh really? Because at the last party we attended, you claimed my safety being your responsibility." I reminded him.
"To hell with what I said in the past! I don't give a fuck about what happens to you. Get away from me!" And then he began walking away from me again.
This time I didn't call out to him, nor did I try to stop him. What the hell did that asshole think? That I was dependant on him to get home? I was Mihrimah Ethan Woods; I could have a limo called there if I wanted.
Once Blayze disappeared from sight, I took out my phone from my clutch to call dad, but realised I was doomed.
There was no service.
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Heyyy.
Okay, so I enjoyed writing this chapter. I think it's hilarious.
Hope you guys like it too. Don't forget to vote and comment ❤️