billion book
Chapter 11
The brightness of the cameras flashing coupled with the photographers shouting Kylan's name, was enough to make her head spin uncomfortably. She suddenly understood exactly why Kylan always got so angry every time a photographer encroached on his space. It was disorienting, and she was thankful she had his hand to hold onto "Stare at the ground, not directly at the lights. It helps some," Kylan whispered directly into her ear.
She nodded slightly in response, taking his advice and diverting her gaze to the ground. Her heart was racing within her chest, and her cheeks felt like they were permanently flushed at this point. Knowing how to work a crowd and being subjected to dozens of cameras, were two vastly different things.
At galas in the past, she always showed up without Kylan, and she was never what anyone wanted to take a picture of. Now thought She wondered what people were thinking of her. Everyone could see that she and Kylan were holding hands. Something he had never done with someone, in public at least
Were there always this many stairs leading to a museum? They felt never ending
After what seemed like several minutes of careful walking, she finally reached the
e top of the stairs. Kylan glanced over at her, his eyes searching her
face.
you ready?" he asked her quietly
She took a deep breath. "I'm fine." She tried to sound confident, but she was certain that her voice was shaking.
"Just put on your PR face. This is no different from any other shit, Kylan tried to reassure her
But it was different. All of it was different. She was holding her CLO's hand, for freaking's sake. That alone was different.
"I can handle it, Sir. I mean Kylan. Shit, let's just go in, okay?" She was flustered and the longer it took for her to rip off the bandaid and go inside, the more nervous she became.
Kylan nodded. "You know how a gala works. Just walk the room with me and talk to rich assholes. Only this time, hold my hand and follow my lead with anything else" Kylan had leaned toward her, and he was speaking so close to her car, she could smell the mint of his toothpaste on his tongue,
She squared her shoulders and held onto Kylan's hand with a little bit more self-confidence. "I'm your fiance tonight, Kylan. Let's go showcase that," she said, flashing him a smile.
Kylan shook his head, but he also started leading the way into the museum. The vast open room was full of men and women, all dressed to the nines. She was suddenly thankful that Kylan had picked her dress for her; this was a far fancier event than she was used to attending.
A group of waiters was walking around the room, each carrying a tray of full champagne glasses. She stopped one of them, swiftly grabbing a glass,
"Want one?" she asked Kylan, who shook his head in response. She thanked the waiter and then downed the champagne in only a few gulps, before returning the empty glass to the tray. She felt Kylan staring at her, and she smiled at him sheepishly. "Nerves. Sorry," she explained.
Kylan rolled his eyes. He let go of her hand suddenly, and she looked at him in confusion for a moment. Then, he surprised the hell out of her as he wrapped an arm securely around her lower waist. She fought back the surprised squeal that threatened to escape her throat.
He pulled her into his side and began walking about the room. She was so close to Kylan; she could smell his cologne clearly. It was a deep, rich, almost musky scent. It was fairly intoxicating if she was honest with herself and she decided to lean into him a little more. Because hell, if she was already parading around as Kylan's dance, she might as well look the part too, right?
She spotted Ryan in a corner of the room, talking to several executives that she recognized from Elorde Corporation. She nudged Kylan lightly nodding her head in the direction of Ryan. Kylan nodded subtly, turning and heading in the direction of the executives. The pair came to a stop in front of the older gentlemen, who all wore nearly the exact same, scratchy looking black suit. The very air around them echoed money, and the Rolex watches that adorned their wrists all flashed dangerously in the undertone lighting of the museum.
"Ah, there you are. tonight
Kylan Ryan greeted their boss warmly. He had long ago perfected his gala voice, as he liked to call it, and it was out in full force
Ryan Bylan responded curtly. "Gentlemen," he added to the few executives.
"And who is this beautiful woman, Kylan? She looks vaguely familiar. I wonder, have we seen her before?" one of the executives asked curiously.
wasn't lost on her the way he eyed her up and down. She fought the uncomfortable shiver that tried to make its way up her spine.
"She should look familiar; she's been my assistant for the last three years," Kylan responded coolly
She laughed nervously, giving Kylan a subtle look that read play nice. "Sweetheart, surely these men only didn't recognize me with my hair all done Chapter 11
up like this" She ended her sentence by giving a small giggle, doing her best to play up the part that was being asked of her.
Kylan looked at her in surprise for a beat, no doubt having not expected her to call him a freaking pet name. Then, he cleared his throat and nodded his head. "That must be a "He agreed with her. "This is Katrina Morgan. She is my... fiance, as well as my assistant," he told the executives, his vowe oner agam even and nearly emotionless.
"Finer and assistant, you say That's most unusual, is it not? Perhaps we're all conducting our own companies the wrong way. She must teach us how the cape to know her assistant in such a capacity," one of the men said with a small chuckle, and she watched as his eyes flashed with soinething that made her skin crawl
"TI be sure to pass along that information, just as soon as we talk about the deal at hand," Kylan responded evenly. He wasn't looking at her, but she felt him pulling her closer in his side. The hand at her hip gave a small squeeze of what she thought was maybe reassurance, and she was thankful for the unexpected show of support
The rest of the convers
Conversations carried on in a much more relaxed fashion. She did her best to listen and interject only where it was pertinent for her Rispeak, but she mostly allowed Kylan and Ryan to carry the business deal forward.
She pretended she wasn't aware of the various looks and whispers she was getting from around the room, but it was impossible to completely tune
put. It was highly unusual, for Rylan to be with a woman, that is. Let alone having his arm wrapped firmly around the said woman.
She kept her head up and allowed the stares and talk to roll off her shoulders. This was what she wanted. She wanted to be noticed, she wanted prople to know she was dating Kylan
Finally, the executives walked away, leaving her and Kylan alone with Ryan. She let her shoulders relax ever so slightly. "I apologize for the way they wear looking at you, Katritu," Ryan told her quietly
She sled Tused to. Sir A man in my position can expect a few questionable looks, here and there. It's nothin
nothing I can't handle," she
"Are you feeling comfortable with the agreement you mader Ryan asked, lowering his voice further, no doubt to add more privacy to the
"Yes, I believe it will be mutually beneficial," she replied honestly
"Very well then Kylan, treat Katrina with respect, Ryan added with
a pointed stare at Kylan.
Kylan suffer foully "Tack off, yan. He turned to her. "Let's go make the rounds a bit more. I need to talk to that Hughes guy and probably turn den hos fucking golf itanon" He sighed and ran his free hand through his hair.
You should comeder taking him up on the offer, Kylan. He has a vast network of connections, I think he could help get the next Nighthawk up and rusing a lot epun ker than usual manufacturer. Thet we can talk him into taking only eight percent of the profit, too," she suggested with a
Kylan was looking at ber, las facial expression a mystery. "Fine. I'll go accept the invitation. He steered her in the direction of Mr. Hughes, and she undled as she walked over to hum