“Aren’t you so glad you came with me?” She yelled over the thumping music.
I nodded enthusiastically and took her hands as we danced.
Nights out with her were always the best, excluding the mob of paparazzi and fans that followed her every movement, but she also had a whole team of security around her at all times.
Her boyfriend, Maverick, was always sure to have some of the best people keeping Alexandra safe. Well, the second-best people.
I had the best.
Did I mention that Maverick was my number one competitor? His company, Beckett Industries, was widely behind Bly Enterprises in revenue, and thus wasbarelya competitor. But out of every business in the market now, Beckett Industries was the only company that could even dream of meeting Bly Enterprises’ success.
Luckily for me, Maverick was a sweet guy and didn’t take the whole competition thing seriously. He truly respected me as his equal in business.
Alexandra flicked me on the forehead, “Stop thinking about work,” she scolded. “We’re having fun.”
I rubbed my temple, “That kind of hurt.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled me to our table, where our drinks were being watched by multiple tall, burly men.
“Thank you, boys,” Alexandra purred as she slid into the booth, her gold dress riding up ever so slightly, and took a sip of her abandoned cocktail.
I loved her security team. They were quiet, good at what they did, and didn’t have the same sparkle of mischief in their eyes that Rome did.
“Why isn’t Maverick here?” I asked as I sipped down my third, maybe fourth, drink of the night.Was it the fifth? When did I lose count?
Alexandra shrugged, “That boy never goes out with me. You know that.”
“Maybe you need a new boy,” I mused, playing with the red straw that matched my nails.
She and Maverick were sweet, but it was obvious it wasn’t true love.
I hadn’t believed in the concept of true love for most of my life. It wasn’t until Will met his wife that I realized it was possible, but just not in the cards for most.
It definitely wasn’t in the cards for me.
Alexandra chuckled, “He’s fine. We’re fine. Now, tell me about you? I haven’t seen you in months! It’s been the worst. Anything new happen? Any new boys for you?”
I eyed my friend, who knew better than to ask that. “Zero new boys, and life is the same. Why do you always ask me that? We both know I don’t have time to meet anyone new.”
“You should make time! Then maybe you wouldn’t always be wound so tight.”
That wasn’t likely. I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s what I wanted, and a weight I fought to carry, but that didn’t take away the stress.
“That’s why I come out with you! It relaxes me. It’s also why we should do it more often.”
Alexandra laughed, her face lighting up, causing me to break out in laughter myself.
We spent the night drinking and dancing with each other. Enough men to build an army had tried to get to us, but Alexandra’s security team kept them far away…which was definitely preferable.
We swayed next to one another as the lights danced around us in dazzling colors. The music pounded through my bones, while the drinks warmed my body. I was rather blissfully buzzed. It had been far too long since I had felt so carefree.
“Hey, Bec?” Alexandra asked as she stared, confused, over my shoulder. “Any chance you know why Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is glaring daggers at you? Or who he is?”
Shit.
I followed her gaze to seehim.
Rome was here to ruin my night.
