"If someone tries to yell at you, you tell them it was my idea."
Her smile is downright charming. "I'll remember that when Arista calls to tell me I'm fired."
We walk over to the photo staging area and participate in the typical back and forth of the opportunists looking to snag the best angle for their paper or magazine article. The best looks will be measured and put in a column or article on fashion. Those who avoid the cameras will be photographed anyhow and then exploited later as introverts hiding something. Me, I have nothing to hide, so I drag Denali over and help her pose for the paparazzi, since it's only a matter of time before they spot us out together and make assumptions.
Iwantthem to make assumptions. If they assume we're together and spread the rumor, maybe it'll be easier to convince Denali to actually go through with it.
I'll tell her tonight.
The first reporter holds out a mic and introduces herself, asking the standard questions. Then, she gets to the subject of my date, and her eyes damn near sparkle.
"So, who's the lucky lady on your arm today?"
I look down at Denali and smile softly, hoping that I don't give away too much. "This is my assistant, and one of my only friends over here. I still don't know many people, but with her on my arm, I'm sure to be the envy of many of the attendees here."
"Oh, that's so sweet! I—" she's pulled away by someone else, someone local, someone domestically recognized. I'm big back home, sure, but here, I'm new. Not many people know about me, because I'm in a niche industry. Just like that, I've been dismissed.
My eyes are instantly back on Denali. She's not as skittish as she was a few minutes ago, but there's still something off about her. I don't like it. "Why don't we make one more round for the company's benefit and then get out of here?"
The offer makes her light up like a horizon at sunrise. "Yes, please. I feel so out of place here." Her hands fall to that gorgeous gown, the one that I personally picked out, the one that looks so damn good on her I had to buy it because I couldn't stomach the idea of it sitting on anyone else's body, in anyone else's closet. "This thing is so hot."
It's satin; of course it's hot. "I'd be worried if you weren't hot with all these people around."
We circle the room, the two of us together, hitting up group after group of people who it's almost obligatory to say hello to. The organizers mingle amongst the crowd, doing their level best to make sure they're not only seen, but they're recorded in motion. The two of them are stunning together, Kevin and James Anderson, wearing matching designer house suits and flagrant hats with feather plumes that practically scrape some of these lower ceilings. When they pass our way, I'm polite but respectful of the fact that I don't know these people, ready to introduce?—
"My, my, my, is thatyou,Denali Stone?"
James, the shorter of the two, rushes over and air kisses Denali like they're old friends. She embraces him with a smile, working the playing field like a seasoned pro.
"James! Oh my gosh, how have youbeen?"
I look from her to James, to Kevin, who stands off to the side, watching their interaction just like me—with amusement, though, instead of confusion. "Do you all know each other?"
Kevin shrugs, his smile widening. "When we had our first gala here, Denali was working for a friend of ours, taking photographs and running her social media account. We needed someone to handle ours for the night, so she rented her out to us. She doesamazingwork."
James holds Denali in the crook of his arm, turning to me with a quizzical expression on his handsome face. "You're a very lucky man to have her here with you tonight. Is she handling your social media, too?"
Denali turns a shade of pink I don't see on her often. "Oh, no, nothing like that, JayJay. I'm?—"
"My date for the evening," I say smoothly, cutting her off before she can downplay her role in my life. I know I haven't talked to her about it yet, but this wasn't a pity thing, and it wasn't just to fill a hole I needed filled for the cameras. Iwanther here, on my arm, like this. It's where she belongs. "I don't know where I'd be without her. She's a harsh taskmaster, but you know, since she came into my life, I've not been so organized that I can remember. And I'm never late to anything."
Kevin puts a hand on my shoulder, nodding solemnly. "Denali is good like that." Those same eyes swirl with intent, warning. "You take care of her, you hear?"
James holds out his hand and I take it as Denali wriggles out of his grip and steps back over to my side with a little nod of approval. "It was so nice to see you two tonight. Kai, I'm glad you accepted our invitation. We're always eager to see new faces in the industry, and the papers have been abuzz with news of you for weeks."
"It's an honor to be here, really," I say honestly, because this is definitely one of the biggest events of the year, and it'sinvite-only. I don't know how we secured an invitation, but I'm thankful nonetheless. "Thank you for having us."
"Any friend of Denali's is a friend of ours," James says, and then they're off again, flitting from group to group, person to person, every inch the hosts they're renowned for being.
I turn to Denali with a smile that she reciprocates, though hers is more hesitant. "And you thought you wouldn't fit in," I say calmly, a hint of teasing in my voice. "You know the hosts better than I do."
"I didn't even think about it like that," she muses, nodding to herself. "I suppose you're right."
"So, how about we go see what kind of chaos we can get up to in here?" I offer her my hand, hoping she'll take it and let me hold hers for a little while. "I'm feeling like making trouble."
"Kai," she warns, her tone that of the no-nonsense assistant she pulls out when I'm being an ass and she wants me to cooperate, "no trouble. The last thing I wanna deal with is a media fallout, mister."
"If you don't want me to get up to trouble," I say with a wink, putting a hand on the small of her back as I lead her to the dance floor, "then you'll have to distract me somehow." We join the growing number of guests dancing currently, and now she's looking around, hesitant, trepidation etched into every line of her body. "Youdoknow how to dance, right, Denali?"
