Trapped

Chapter 41: BEFORE

Chapter Forty One:

The fundaraiser event.

—

I COULD HAVE simply attended the fundraiser alone.

I’d done it in the past and not given a damn what anyone else thought. In my opinion, anyone who looked down on another person for not having a ‘date’ to an event was the sort of person I didn’t want to know.

When Mom had called me Thursday morning and asked me to go in place of her and Dad, I’d completely ignored the fact that they’d be expecting two people. It hadn’t been a conscious thought at that point, though. In fact, it hadn’t registered until Maxwell had informed me that an old friend of hers, Daphne Martin, had asked Maxwell to spend the weekend with her, making my sister unavailable to be my ‘plus one.’

Maybe the truth wasn’t that I didn’t want to be here alone, but rather that I was annoyed at Maxwell for making plans without telling me. Which was ridiculous, I knew. Plus, I’d gotten the impression that Daphne’s invitation had come at the last minute, and the reason she wanted Maxwell to spend the weekend in Toronto. was important.

Protective younger sister that I was, I hadn’t liked dropping Maxwell off at the airport yesterday afternoon, but I’d been stuck between responsibilities. Since she’d be relatively close to our parents, even if she was staying with Daphne, Mom and Dad had agreed with me. Letting Maxwell fly down and back alone would be the best solution with the choices we had available.

I preferred to think that the reason I’d reached out to Aldrin was because I’d already mentally planned to have someone going with me…not because it involved some kind of romantic feelings. But we’re not entirely that close and hadn’t even communicated over the past week.

So it might probably be awkward.

But I didn’t have any choice since I didn’t have ‘guy friends’ to particularly call for this event.

All of my second-guessing had my stomach in knots as I waited at the entrance for him. It took everything in me not to pace. I had too many eyes on me to show any semblance of nervous energy, not when my family name would be connected to everything I did tonight.

Which brought me back to thinking that inviting Aldrin had been a terrible mistake. Yes, he cleaned up well, but who knew what he could pull together at such short notice?

When the door opened, I glanced that way, and for a moment, didn’t register that the insanely attractive man in the tux was Warren. I’d seen him in a tux before, and I’d explored that fantastic body both over and under clothes, but I hadn’t expected him to stroll in looking like a multi-millionaire playboy or Greek god. Or some combination of both.

“Hello, Chandria,” he called as soon as he noticed me.

It hasn’t been the first time that we saw each other. Warren and I mostly see each other in regards to my grandfather’s business. But aside from those few instances, we never spent time together not related to my family’s business—not that I wanted to either way.

“Oh! Hi Warren,” I greeted him, a soft smile laced on my face. Clutching my white purse closer to me, I didn’t know what to say next. Good thing that Warren initiated the conversation.

“Are you waiting for someone?” Warren asked, eyes scanning around the lobby, then averted his gaze to the entrance of the function hall where the fundraiser event would take place. “The event’s about to start.”

I bit my lower lip, embarrassed. Then my phone beeped, probably a message from Aldrin. I instantly unlocked my phone to check.

‘Sorry, Chandria. I can’t go tonight. Something urgent came up. I’ll make it up to you next time.’

“Your date stood you up?” Warren’s voice echoed in my ears.

My eyes were focused on my phone and I couldn’t even meet his gaze because I’m too humiliated.

What could be more urgent than this one, Aldrin?! Ugh! I told him that this is important!

“Hey, come on,” Warren called for my attention again. “My plus-one stood me up as well, we can go inside together.”

Lifting my head, his statement caught my attention, our eyes met in an instant. “Your date?” I didn’t even know why I wanted to clarify, but I blurted it out.

He chuckled in a manly manner, and I swear I could feel butterflies in my stomach. “No, my sister. She got some sleep-over at a friend’s house. Now, I have to go alone.”

I don’t even know why the thought that he was supposed to come here with his sister instead of some other girl made me smile.

Without even thinking twice, I linked my hand onto his arm.

“Come on, let’s go inside.” I told him with a smile.