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Bethani

Bethani leaned back in her office chair, reaching her arms back as far as they would allow to stretch out her aching back. Glancing around the work floor she realized that she was once again the last to leave. She shook her hair loose from its constricting hair clip, brown curly waves brushing the tops of her shoulders, a freedom she rarely indulged in since her mother insisted it was horribly unprofessional to leave her hair down.

As hard as she tried, she couldn’t keep her focus for more than a few seconds on her large computer screen sitting to her left. Charts, spreadsheets and graphs covered the display. She laughed; it almost looked as cluttered as her physical desk.

In a steady rhythm she tapped her self-manicured fingers softly over the tops of the keyboard keys. Not enough to press any keys or anything, more of an absent gesture to help her think.

“Ms. Jacobs.” A gruff but not wholly unpleasant voice disturbed the quiet from behind her. “You are here rather late. Whatever you are working on will be here in the morning. Go home.”

Bethani attempted to stifle her startled shriek but wasn’t successful. Spinning in her chair she came face to face with her boss, Mr Hillier, whom she’d only ever glimpsed from a distance. Even more surprising than his presence was the fact he knew her name. In an attempt to cover her embarrassing display of surprise she blurted, “I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”

He grunted in response and headed back up to his office. She watched him go in and shut the door. She hadn’t ever met the boss, still hadn’t technically, since he hadn’t bothered with a hello much less an introduction. In fact, she was still reeling by the fact that he knew her name and had noticed she was still there. It’s not like she had been making noise. She peered up at his office, unsure if she should head out or stay and finish her assignment.

She dropped back down in her chair. Even if she wanted to leave, she couldn’t go. Her supervisor had happily assured her that if the project wasn’t polished and complete by morning she would be fired. Cruel, bitter woman. Bethani was stuck at her desk until it was done.

“I better get it done faster. Maybe he won’t notice I didn’t leave.” She muttered to herself as she went back to typing. For several minutes she made a whirlwind of progress.

“Ms Jacobs!” Mr. Hillier roared from where he now stood in his open office doorway. Bethani hesitantly peeked her head over her computer to look at him. He didn’t wait for a response. Instead he continued to holler. “Get in my office now.”

She hurried to comply. She couldn’t lose this job. 

Once inside his office she sat in the large plush chair opposite his desk. He sat with steepled fingers and a slight glare. Bethani watched as he took several slow, deep, bracing breaths.

“Why are you still here? I have a meeting with board members in Hong Kong and you are distracting me. ” His eyebrows arched in annoyance.

“I need this job sir.” Bethani struggled to speak above a whisper.

“And how would going home tonight compromise that job?” He demanded.

“Mr. Hillier, sir. I was informed this afternoon by my supervisor that if I did not complete my project by tomorrow morning I would be let go.” Bethani didn’t raise her eyes, focusing firmly on her own clasped hands.

“What project?” The curiosity in his tone pulled her gaze up to his now contemplative face.

“Carista.” Even as she said it his gaze darkened with mild anger.

“Carista?” He repeated. She nodded in confirmation. “Abigail is your supervisor then.” Again he surprised her by knowing who she worked under. “How much of this project are you assigned to complete?”

“All of it.” Bethani replied. Confusion spread through her. If he was going to fire her for staying why didn’t he just get it over with?

“I see.” He leaned back in his chair, looking decidedly more thoughtful as he looked at her across the desk. After a brief pause and slow inhale he nodded to her. “Since you have my attention, I would like to see what you have come up with so far.” He announced. 

Pulling everything she needed off her cluttered desk, she made her way back to his office to find him still sitting reclined in his seat.

“Sir, I…” 

He interrupted. “Adam.”

Startled, she blinked, “What?”

“The formality. I hate it. It is also after normal work hours. Please call me Adam, not sir.”

Bethani blushed. “Oh. Alright then, Adam.” Setting down the papers filling her arms she handed him the one on top. She proceeded to provide all the pertinent information and solutions she had been slaving over. He stopped her and asked questions throughout her makeshift presentation. Once she finished, he continued to look over her cluttered papers.

Unsure what to do, she quietly sat back down in her chair. She was surprised when he finally looked up at her again. He was smiling. A jolt of joy seared through her. He was stunning, smiling at her like that. 

“Well Ms Jacobs.” 

“Bethani.” She interrupted, the corners of her mouth curving up in the hint of a teasing smile.

His megawatt grin brightened as he nodded in acknowledgement. “Bethani. I must admit I find I am very pleased you chose not to leave when I told you to. This has all been very enlightening.” Adam motioned to the mess she had made of his previously pristine desk. “But now I must insist you go home. Your job is secure and I am impressed by your ideas and dedication. I expect to see you in my office tomorrow morning to discuss this in full detail. However, for now, allow me to walk you to your car. It is late and I would hate for anything to happen to you.”

“I can keep my job?” She sighed in relief.

Adam chuckled. “Without question, your job is secure.”

“Don’t you have a phone call with Hong Kong?”

Delicious warm shivers ran the length of her spine as she watched him stand and button his suit.

 “I have a few minutes to spare.” He said.

Bethani stood, smiling shyly. “Then yes, you can walk me to my car. I’m starving.”

As he came around his desk he offered her his arm. “Could I convince you to wait an hour and have dinner with me?” 

She cocked her head to the side. “A business dinner? As friendly coworkers? Or like a date?”

Adam leaned in close. “Most definitely a date.”

Bethani’s heart tingled as she dared to nod at the handsome man in front of her. “I’ll wait.”

Tieralee

Tieralee found herself toying with her starburst pendant, her fingers trembling. These high society balls made her anxious.  It was stifling. 

She stood on the outside of the swelling crowd, head bowed, eyes down. In a heartbeat she was shouldered roughly into the wall behind her. With a pained exclamation she looked up into a pair of sage green eyes, the surprise in them mirroring her own. 

Quickly the owner of those eyes righted her, sliding his hand softly down to take hold of hers. 

“Are you alright? Did I hurt you?” The intense sincerity with which he searched her face stole her clear thinking from her. 

“I…no…please do not worry yourself. I am unharmed. Only startled.” How long had it been since she last spoke to anyone? Relief flooded through her when her voice did not crack. The music for the next dance announced the beginning of a waltz.

“Still” he temporized, “I am appalled by my lack of manners. How may I make it up to you?”

“Sir, I do not even know you. Please do not worry over such a trivial thing.”

“Of a truth! Another bout of bad manners on my part!” He caught her hand in his and bowed over it. “I am Lord Braithwaite. Allow me to show my deepest apologies. Please honor me with a dance Miss…?” 

“Gibson.” She acceded, looking anywhere but into his intoxicating gaze. She struggled to figure out a way to extricate herself and reacquaint herself with the shadows of the nearest alcove as soon as possible.

“Wonderful. Miss Gibson.” He led her on the dance floor in a firm grip well before she could voice her dismay. Dancing with the handsome Lord Braithwaite was not a good way to stay out of her aunt’s scornful watch.

With his hand properly holding her in harmony with his movement, the warmth emanating from his strong frame lulled her to giddy acquiescence. It was exquisitely more exciting than what she had expected of her very first dance, and a waltz at that.

She was quite enjoying her forbidden interaction with Lord Braithwaite, until he opened his mouth.

“Now Miss Gibson, to whom do you belong to at this delightful little soiree?”

“My aunt.” She hedged.

His smile bloomed. “Ah, how telling.” He glanced away. “When you answered, you glanced her way to make sure she hadn’t seen you. Thus she is in that corner and you are only recently acquainted and don’t want to mess it up.” He paused. “That is, if I read that look correctly.” His gaze went from scanning the corner in question to piercing through her. “Why weren’t you standing with her?”

Tieralee blushed, dropping her gaze to his shoulder. This man and his eyes were far too perceptive. At a loss of how to answer, she stayed silent. 

She forced herself to keep her smile but could still feel him looking at her. With the end of the dance there came no relief, for he held her hand to his arm in the guise of escorting her. “Come, let us meet your aunt.”

“Please, leave it be. The shadows where you found me is where I aim to stay for the rest of the evening.” She pleaded softly.

“No I’m afraid I can’t allow that.” He smiled to cushion his bluntness. “We must be properly introduced through your aunt, for I plan to spend as much of the evening as I can at your side.” With this pronouncement he pulled her to a stop in front of her aunt. How he knew, she couldn’t say. “Lady Grenault, I must compliment you on pulling together such a wonderful event.”

Lady Grenault turned her full attention their way. “Lord Braithwaite. I am pleased you have enjoyed yourself thus far. Allow me to introduce my daughter Miss Alanna to you.”

Simpering and flouncing into view, Alanna dropped a deep curtsey to Lord Braithwaite. Tieralee burned with embarrassment at what was sure to happen next.

Lord Braithwaite bowed, drawing attention to the fact that he had her at his side by choice. It only took a few seconds but Tieralee knew the instant she was noticed. It was then she knew without a doubt, her aunt had expected her to stay out of sight in her room and most decidedly not in the ballroom.

Lord Braithwaite felt her tense and watched her wilt under her aunt’s silent scolding. Far too perceptive.

He forestalled any further conversation that would put Alanna forward and relegate Tieralee back to invisibility as he spoke. “I must beg your pardon for bringing this young lady into the conversation, however she has not been introduced to anyone and it seemed only appropriate to seek your impeccable guidance on whom would have such manners as to abandon their kin without a friend here, to be left alone, unable to properly meet anyone. She refuses to tell me who she is here with. Would you be able to enlighten me?” Tieralee looked up at the innocence plastered convincingly all over his face. Subtle.

“No need to be rash my Lord.” Lady Grenault fluttered. Based on her aunt’s simpering theatrics, Lord Braithwaite’s influence must have been great indeed. “She is my niece sir, and I was simply unaware she had arrived. Seeing how she has only arrived this evening from the country. I had assumed she would need more rest after such a long journey. Since she is here allow me to happily introduce her to you now. My sister’s daughter, Miss Tieralee Gibson. My dear, this is Lord Jamison Braithwaite.”

Tieralee did her best to curtsey prettily as the bow Lord Braithwaite presented her was impressively powerful. Immediately he placed her hand back in the crook of his arm. “Please excuse us Lady Grenault, I promised Miss Gibson an introduction to several of my associates.”

Tieralee followed him away from her aunt. Once far enough away she whispered up to him. “Though I am sure to be in great amounts of trouble for that conversation, I thank you.”

“No need to thank me Miss Gibson. I did it for selfish reasons.” He shrugged, refusing to release her hand from his arm. 

She stilled. “What would those reasons be?” 

“Well, I am sorry to say I may have been avoiding your cousin. And even if that were not the case, I couldn’t bear to not have the chance to get to know you better.” He caught her gaze with his, capturing her fully. Again, Tieralee found herself speechless and utterly drawn to him.  He continued with a grin, “And most importantly, I learned your name is Tieralee. Charming indeed.”

Maddy

I didn’t realize how close our faces were until our noses brushed. I took a step back, focusing on my breathing to stay calm, to hold it together.

Caden turned 17 yesterday. He now knows who he’s going to marry and I can’t figure out why it irritates me so much. All morning when I caught him glancing my way I couldn’t help but blush at his obvious attention. A part of me wants him to be my future. After all, we are best friends.

However, I am going to have to wait another year before I will find out for myself who my parents chose for me. With each engagement and subsequent marriage arranged and coordinated by parents, society deemed that children need not know the details until they were considered old enough to handle the responsibility. Yet that is not entirely true, because the boys find out when they are 17 while the girls have to wait until they are 18. The actual marriage doesn’t take place until both are 19 but still, they knew first. When did adults suddenly decide that boys were more mature than girls at 17?

When I asked my mother why I had to wait a year longer she laughed. “The longer a girl knows who she’s marrying the more she rebels and looks for a way out of it. Whereas the longer a boy knows, the more he gets used to the idea and looks forward to it.” 

I couldn’t disagree. I knew it would be very true in my case but I hated having all the guys in the school know and I was left in the dark. Caden was the last of my circle of guy friends to find out. Every one of their birthdays had come and they each had in turn become insufferable. I’ve grown to hate birthdays and what they did to my friends. Every birthday I got stares and every birthday Caden would take my guy friends aside to talk. After they talked everything would go back to normal. Caden saved my sanity. However this time it was Caden doing the staring. Who was going to have words with him?

By the end of the day I couldn’t stand it any more. I was walking out with Caden, Ben, Trate, and Eli when once more Caden looked my way. He was hiding something. So I whacked him as hard as I could.

I had waited until we weren’t on campus so we wouldn’t get in trouble but that was it; this is where my patience ended. 

“What was that for?!” He hollered before coming at me. I had been friends with these guys for most of my life so they no longer felt the need to refrain from seeking revenge when I hit them. In turn, I didn’t hold back my punches when they deserved it. 

I widened my stance, ready to absorb the full-on tackle I knew was coming. I was braced and ready but at the last second he swooped around and picked me up. 

“Caden!” I screeched. “Put me down!

My world began to spin. I clamped my mouth shut and hung on tight. How he kept his balance for so long while turning my world on end, I do not know. As he finally slowed I could feel his soft chuckle deep in his chest to which I clung. When did he get to be so strong? I didn’t notice before how much muscle he hid under those baggy old t-shirts.

He held onto me and nodded for the guys to keep going. Ben laughed, but then as they all started walking again Caden didn’t move to follow. After a minute he looked down and smiled, setting me down. “Ready to talk?”

“It’s just not fair” I stuck out my bottom lip and gave my most convincing pouty face. 

“Aww put that pout away.” He tucked my lip back in. “I know it bugs you not to know and I shouldn’t have stared.” I looked up into his face and searched for some sign that he would give me even a hint of what he now knew. Guys talked to each other. They were allowed to. I caught his ‘debating’ look and wanted to beat it out of him.

“Are you going to tell me then?” My hand found itself clutching his arm. I didn’t want to look desperate so I forced my hand to drop to my side.

I watched him pull his hand through his hair as he looked down the road at the other guys standing around waiting for us. Our friends, MY friends. His voice dropped to a painful whisper. “You know I can’t tell you.”

My breath hitched. I pounced on his wording. “But you know! You know! Tell me who!” Again my hands clenched his biceps. Who cares about looking desperate. 

Both his arms wrapped me in a huge solid hug as he bent to whisper into my ear. “I wish you were mine.”

I lost my breath. My heart dropped down to my knees as they buckled. If he hadn’t been holding me up I would have been on the ground. It wasn’t Caden. And he knew who it was. In that instant I knew I wouldn’t find out from him. For a second I blanked. All my brain could process was one phase over and over. It’s not Caden. It’s not Caden. It’s not Caden. I didn’t realize how much I had wanted and counted on it being him. And now that it was too late to try and do anything about it he admits that he wanted me to be his. “Do…do I know him?” I stumbled out.

His eyes closed. I watched as his face filled with sadness.  “Don’t ask me Maddy.”

I didn’t realize how close our faces were until our noses brushed. I took a step back, focusing on my breathing to stay calm, to hold it together.

I looked around and discovered that all the other guys were no longer quite so near, but were studiously looking anywhere but at the two of us. In a moment of clarity it hit me. Every birthday, all those talks, Caden was making sure I could still be his. They all knew I was supposed to be with Caden. That he had always thought we would be together. How could I not have seen before? It’s true he had always been so protective of me. But it didn’t click until now. 

Once again I faced Caden.

Before I could say anything else he swooped down and caught me in a kiss, his embrace tightening. My world narrowed in, focusing on the sensation invading my heart, permeating my being and capturing my very soul. I happily lost myself in what I was feeling. Never wanting it to end but knowing it was inevitable.

As he broke away he softly took hold of both sides of my face. I could look nowhere but at his tortured soul. “I would’ve chosen you, Maddy Raile. I still do. I’ll fix this.”

Sira

“I caught a gorgeous brunette bedecked in full party gear, high heels included, sneaking out of the party before even joining it. That, and I had to find out what you’re hiding under that hoodie.”

Sira tiptoed down the stairs, clutching her oversized hoodie close. Her roommate, Jess, had promised a huge party. Sira’s only hope was to make it out the door before Jess saw her and dragged into the chaos of people invading the house. She had her hand on the door when a low chuckle caught her attention.

With a wince she glanced back, hoping without much hope that maybe one of Jess’ guys was with some clingy party-goer, laughing at something she had said. No such luck. She nearly stumbled as her heart stuttered in response to the sight she was greeted with. Whoever this drop dead handsome man was, he was staring straight at her with a warm smile that looked about ready to burst into one of those full heartbreaking smiles, and she couldn’t move. For a second she even ventured a thought about staying at the party. The more he looked down into her eyes with that melted chocolatey gaze, the more undecided she felt.

“Sneaking off to a party?” He questioned, the laughter barely restrained.

She glanced down self consciously at the half covered sparkly party outfit that Jess had forced her into, which probably looked ridiculous, not usually something she would choose to wear herself. “No, I…” Sira tried to come up with some sort of response but forgot she was needing to finish her sentence as he stepped closer to her, stealing her breath with his closeness. She watched as his eyes made scorching trails all the way down to her bright red stilettos, up her be-glittered skirt, past her drab gray hoodie to her perfectly styled hair and makeup. 

“You…” He prompted.

She shook off the haze of charm he had swirling around him and stood straight. “Jess is probably in the kitchen.” Sira didn’t wait for him to try to sweet talk her into joining the party. 

If she conveniently wasn’t around until midnight when the party should be dying down, the better.

Shoving the door open Sira escaped down the walkway, hoping that the man turning her insides upside down would make his way back into the party. 

She swallowed a shriek when his warm, work-roughened hand softly caught her arm. As she turned to yell at him he dropped his hand away and took a step back. He ran both hands through his short brown hair.

He looked a little sheepish. If it wasn’t so dark Sira was sure she would see him blushing. “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t walk you to your car.” 

It was her turn to chuckle as she found herself relaxing a bit. Maybe it was just being out of the house. “I would accept your gentlemanly offer.” She paused, teasing him. “But I don’t even know you.”

His grin shone with delight. “I can remedy that.” He made a mock courtly bow. “I am Mitch, Jess’ older brother. She can come out and vouch for my character if you need any references.” He took a step back toward the house.

“You’re Mitch!” She hooked her hand in his proffered arm. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’m Sira.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you Sira. Am I being kidnapped?”

She tried to slow her pace down so she wasn’t dragging him away. “I didn’t make you leave the party. You followed me even though you knew I was trying to sneak out.” 

His attention was transfixed on her. Sira checked her hair to make sure the breeze hadn’t poofed it from its elegant curls into a fro.

Mitch shook his head and held his arm out. “You are fascinating.”

Surprised to find herself tucked in under his arm as they began to walk again she nudged him with her elbow. “Mmm. Try again.”

Again his eyes did that piercing perusal up and down as if trying to figure her out completely in one long look.

“Try what again?”

“I am thinking that you were going for some sort of compliment. So you can try again because that didn’t work. Or you can tell me why you left the party?”

Out came that boyish charm that Sira was beginning to see was not a conscious attempt at being some sort of serial dater, but was just his natural easygoing nature.

“You haven’t been a roommate of Jess and Terra very long, have you?”

“3 weeks.”

“Jess will have so many parties that she will be dragging me to ‘cause she is always complaining about there not being enough guys for all her girl friends.”

“So you’re telling me you left because you are so popular and in high demand for all the parties?” Sira pulled her arm out of his to fold both her arms snugly around her waist.

He put up his hands defensively. “I was stating facts. I followed you out the door because I caught a gorgeous brunette bedecked in full party gear, high heels included, sneaking out of the party before even joining it. That, and I had to find out what you’re hiding under that hoodie.”

She hugged the hoodie close. “No chance of that.”

He laughed. “You are way too easy to tease.”

Sira picked up her pace and tried to leave him behind. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, he still had a solid hold on her arm and stopped her in her tracks. She tripped as he pulled her back to face him. Stupid Jess heels.

She wanted to go for indignant but ended up a wobbly mess on the grass. Instead of taking advantage of her being on the edge of toppling over to sweep her off her feet, Mitch patiently waited for her to regain her balance, one arm out in front of her in case she needed it. She wasn’t graceful as she took a few steps, and it wasn’t like any epic romance novel where she fell gracefully into the hero’s chest but his valiant support warmed her heart and made her toes tingle.

When she looked up at the strong chiseled planes of his face he looked at her with a odd seriousness. “Sira, I came out after you because of all the people at that party you were the first one I found any interest in talking to.”

Flabbergasted and beyond thrilled Sira smiled and searched for what to say that would not sound completely foolish.

“I wasn’t at the party.”

With a loud bark of a laugh he nodded. “No, you weren’t.”