Page 25 of Breaking Point

I know it all too well.

She must catch me looking because she smiles, blinking away any indication she might be affected.

“You know,” she begins. “I might be crazy, but since we walked over, everyone’s cleared out of the bar.”

She’s not wrong. Almost everyone has taken one look at us and not bothered getting closer.Makes my job easier.

When I don’t say anything, she shakes her head, teasing, “Someone told me once that smiling makes you seem friendly. It can even make you feel happy.”

“Friendly isn’t my prerogative tonight.”

She cocks a grin. “Just stick to brooding and glaring then.”

She’s trying to get a reaction.

So don’t give it to her, reason begs.

I don’t know why I feel the need to explain myself, but I do anyway, still watching the crowd. “It’s not my job to be friendly with these people. They’re not my client. And even if there were…” I drag my attention away from a rather drunken couple swaying on the dance floor. “I’m not known for being nice and making conversation.”

She swallows, meeting my eye for all of a moment before chuckling and glancing away. “Are you always this cheery?”

“Happy to oblige, Ms. Hughes.”

“If you scare everyone away, I’m going to start taking it personally,” she mumbles before standing a little straighter as someone approaches.

“Are you Olivia?” a man asks. His eyes drag over her body first. Then her face. The appraisal is swift, and while it wouldn’t normally be a slight, I don’t like the satisfied look on his face.

“I am.”

“My name is Chase. I’m an associate of your father’s, and I thought I’d introduce myself.” He extends a hand, kissing her knuckles as she smiles.

“How long have you worked together? I don’t think we’ve met.”

His face is vaguely familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen him around at events before, but I can’t quite place where else I might know him from.

“I’m relatively new- you wouldn’t have.”

“Are you participating in the auction?”

“Something is sure to catch my eye.” He grins as he says it, and when she blinks at the insinuation behind his words, I’m close to stepping in until I remember what she just told me.

Back off.

She beats me to the punch anyway. “Mhmm. It’s for a good cause, so… Anyways. It’s nice to meet you. See you around.” With that, she walks right past him.

I try to hide my surprise.

Seems like she can handle herself fine.

As we cross the dance floor, a voice sound out over the orchestra, silencing the party:

“Good evening! I hope everyone has had plenty of time to look around at some of the wonderful donations curated for tonight’s event.”

The man clears his throat, adjusting his microphone. “There is no greater cause than to help those affected by the reckless actions of others. In honor of Elizabeth Hughes, a pillar and founding member of our community here, it’s with great pleasure that I announce the winners of our silent auction. I believe Harvey and Olivia, Elizabeth’s husband and daughter, are here tonight.”

The audience erupts in a roar of clapping and cheering, and almost everyone turns to look at Harvey as the spotlight finds him. He lifts his drink in a toast as the audience hollers. Then the spotlight swings towards Olivia. She flushes under the attention as everyone turns, clapping for her.

“As you all know, ten fine ladies offered up a single date as part of our event. I will announce each name and their associated winner, and then we’ll move on to the next round. To start…” The audience shifts their attention toward the announcer, quiet with anticipation. “Angela Ortega… and Bradley St. James!”

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