Page 13 of The Executive Assistant

“Ready,” I said softly.

CHAPTER FIVE

The charity auction was hosted at the main ballroom in The Kingston, a five-star hotel. The ballroom showcased paintings, sculptures, haute couture, and antiques that would later be auctioned off for eye-watering prices. Waiters milled around the crowd, offering champagne and wine. There was a bar on either end of the room for guests to order more specific drinks. Above us, the crystal chandeliers glittered and glimmered.

“Fancy,” Cameron commented, tilting his head back to look at a life-sized marble statue that would be auctioned off later that evening.

“Tell me about it,” I replied as we weaved through groups of people talking. A waiter passed by, and I picked up two flutes of champagne from the tray, passing one to Cameron.

“To tonight,” I said. It was the first thing I could think of.

“To tonight,” he echoed. We clinked glasses and took a sip. Around me, I could already hear chatter about so-and-so. This person had won this business deal. That person had married an heiress. This person was getting divorced. That person had been charged with embezzlement.

“Are you going to bid on anything?” Cameron asked me, pulling me from the haze of gossip.

We looked around. Some of the art was nice, and the antiques were cool. It was all very niche, though.

I shook my head and motioned to a table next to the stage where someone was taking donations by cash or check. “I’m just going to write a check. I don’t need anything in return.”

“You don’t need a Parisian corset or a breakfast bookcase from the 1700s?” Cameron replied with a teasing smile on his face.

An uncontrollable smirk crossed my lips. “I don’t think any of that will match my vibe.”

Cameron chuckled. “I don’t think so either. You need…”

“The best?” I asked, the words slipping from my mouth before I could even process them. Was I already getting loose lips?

He gave me a wry smile. “Of course.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off his, captivated by his smooth words and alluring grin. I wished that I could —

“Alison! Is that you?”

I whipped around, my eyes widening at the sight ofRussell McArthur. What the hell was he doing here? “Russell,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Russell gestured around us. “I’m surprised to see you here too. You should have told me you were coming.” He gestured at the blonde woman on his right, who wore an emerald dress and diamond earrings. “This is Lindsey Harmond, one of the chief executives at Capital Tech, and this is Arthur Wilson, CEO of Crowne Consults,” he said, motioning at the short, bald man on his left.

I politely shook their hands. “I’m Alison Firth of Firth Marketing. This is Cameron Holmes.”

Cameron jumped in and shook their hands. “I’m the executive assistant.”

“Oh, an assistant. She got you fetching drinks and holding her chequebook tonight?” Arthur asked with a teasing laugh.

While I wrinkled my nose, everyone else chuckled, even Cameron. Of course — he was always easy going.

“Actually,” I said, “I invited him as a friend.”

There was a short silence before Lindsey swept her hair behind her shoulders and smiled at Cameron. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you.”

Was I imagining it, or was Lindsey looking at Cameron the way a carnivore looks at a fresh cut of meat? I tried to stamp down my irritation, and finished the rest of my champagne.

“Yes, yes,” Arthur was saying now. “It’s always good to see new faces at these types of events; it gets boring otherwise.”

I picked up another flute of champagne from a passing waiter, then found that Russell had moved to stand beside me. “I enjoyed the other night with you. Shame it came to an end so early,” he murmured.

“Yes, it was nice,” I lied, taking a long sip of my drink, letting the warm, bubbly sensation fill me. I needed this to take off the edge a little.

“We should do it again soon,” Russell told me. “Maybe in a more private setting.”

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