Tasha
The event organizer shook my hand again. "Your foundation has contributed so much, and we're so honored you could join us. It might seem a little plain to you, but I promise you'll have a great night."
"A little plain?" I asked. "True elegance is simplicity."
Topher furiously typed my words into his phone. "Great quote, Ms. Nichols."
I nodded to the organizer and walked into the banquet hall. "When are you going to remember to call me Tasha?" I asked my assistant.
"When you're not being honored at an awards dinner," Topher said.
I smiled at his prim tone. "Well, Ms. Nichols' image is all thanks to you, so I can't complain."
My young assistant's ears reddened. "I'll go and find our table. You just mingle. And enjoy yourself."
His reminder was serious. Even Stan had complained that all my tabloid shots looked too stern. I still wasn't used to the pomp of high society charity events, and they often made me feel stiff and awkward.
Luckily, this was a local awards dinner hosted by and for the communities I was helping. It was a relief to see the server staff were volunteers; no white gloves in sight. I thanked the young woman who brought me a glass of wine, and she smiled. It felt good to be around real people and not in a room of people playing a role.
Stan kept on at me about playing my role. Now that I was officially known as a billionaire, I needed to act the part. Ivy had decked me out in an entirely new wardrobe; Barbie was using her nesting instincts to decorate my new home, and Topher deferred to me like royalty. It all made me cringe, but it was a small price to pay for the work I was able to get done.
I glanced around the room and noted a few charitable CEOs who I recognized. While two stood off to the side clearly discussing their next trip to St. Barts, one was engaged in discussion with a volunteer server. I watched as the two economically polarized people smiled and laughed. The CEO then clapped the volunteer on the shoulder. It was a genuine exchange, and as I sipped my inexpensive wine, I started to enjoy myself. Somewhere there existed a network of ultra-rich and yet low-key people, and I vowed to find them.
With that in mind, I scanned the room again. It was a smaller gathering, but there were still enough people to fill the banquet hall and make it a maze of clustered conversations. In my vicinity, there were discussions of best golf courses, Napa Valley vintages, and the cost of maintaining a community swimming pool. As I wound my way around a round table, I heard opinions on why Rome was the place to be, how to make a billion dollars flipping commercial real estate, and why pancake breakfasts are the best charity fundraisers.
It was easy to remember to smile as I wove amongst the varied conversations, taking note of those in my tax bracket who still sounded like regular people. I was just about to join a discussion on using goats for median maintenance when someone bumped into me.
"Tasha, I mean, Ms. Nichols. So nice to see you again," Rainer said.
I was speechless and felt my bottom lip drop open like a fish's mouth. Rainer turned his back on the men he'd been talking to, a powerful duo straight from Wall Street, and focused entirely on me. I popped my mouth closed, but couldn't think of a word to say.
"You know, I think the last time we met like this, out socially, it was on James Berger's yacht. Do you remember that party?" Rainer asked.
I narrowed my eyes but managed to stick my smile back in place. "It's always nice to see an old co-worker. How are you?"
Rainer smirked. "So casual. So polite. Definitely the Ms. Nichols who most people know."
"And what is wrong with casual and polite?" I asked.
"Is that how you would describe our meeting at that yacht party?" Rainer asked.
I fought the urge to punch him in the shoulder. "I much prefer parties like these, don't you?"
"Oh, look, your drink’s low. Let's get you a refill." Rainer caught my arm and gracefully escorted me across the banquet hall to a quiet corner just past the beverage table.
A server brought over two glasses of wine and I turned to her. "Thank you. Oh, your name tag says you work in recreational aquatics—"
Rainer took the glasses. "We were just discussing boats and boat parties."
The volunteer smiled politely and slipped away, leaving me to face Rainer and his determined conversation alone. I took a sip of my wine and looked desperately for any other conversation to join.
He stepped closer to me and the warmth of him mixed with his intoxicating cologne swept over me. My polite smile slipped, and I caught myself licking my lower lip.
Rainer did not miss my reaction. He slipped an arm around my waist. From across the room, we probably looked like old, familiar co-workers surveying the room together, but I felt his fingers flex over the curve of my hip. A shot of desire singed through me and, instead of pulling away, I leaned closer. I couldn't help myself.
"So, you'll have to tell me if that plan of yours worked or not." Rainer clinked his wine glass against mine.
"What plan?" I asked. I couldn't pull away without making a scene.
Rainer's fingers stroked the silk of my sundress in hot, lazy circles. "The plan to get me out of your system. I told you, it didn't work for me. Have you been faring any better?"
I moved then but his arm encircled me and my breasts bumped against the front of his sports coat. It took a full five seconds before I managed to step back. I then counted another five before trying to respond.
My voice was breathless. "Do you really expect me to admit anything to you?"
Rainer laughed and luckily Topher took that as the signal that he could now approach. "It's so nice to see you two together."
"Topher. It's like the band getting back together," Rainer said. He shook his former assistant's hand.
"I've been meaning to thank you for recommending Topher to me. He's an excellent resource," I said.
Rainer arched an eyebrow at me. "Yeah, well, my plan backfired because our ethical man here wouldn't funnel me any information on how you've been doing."
"I appreciate that," I told Topher.
Topher looked from me to Rainer with an eager expression. "Maybe I should make you late dinner reservations? I'm not sure how much food they are serving here, and there's a new tapas place not far. That would give you real time to catch up."
I held up a hand before Rainer could agree with my assistant. "We're fine here. Thank you."
"Mr. Maxwell has been inquiring after you," Topher admitted. "It would take the pressure off me as the middle man."
Rainer put an arm around his old assistant. "Give him a break, Ms. Nichols."
"I think that's up to you," I said.
Topher saw my stiff response and found himself an errand to run across the room.
I watched him go before I turned to Rainer. "I still haven't managed to include late night wining and dining in my work schedule."
"Why not? It makes morning meetings harder but the advantage is the relaxed perspective you get of clients," Rainer said.
"I'm not your client," I pointed out.
Rainer gave a frustrated sigh. "You know, it's okay to add a little excitement to your work."
"That's the problem," I said. "I'm just not exciting enough. I know the other junior executives used to call me the Ice Queen."
"I never once called you that. In fact, my experience was much the opposite," Rainer said.
I scanned the room again as my cheeks reddened. The pre-awards cocktails were still being served by volunteers and we were far enough on the edges of the crowd to pass unnoticed. It was ridiculous, but I knew I couldn't have a conversation with Rainer while in work mode because he upset my composure. The one thing he seemed determined to do.
"Let's just face facts," I said. "I was never exciting enough for you and you probably breathed a sigh of relief when you didn't have to deal with my work style anymore."
Rainer frowned. "Face facts? Speaking of facing facts, I believe I asked you a question about how your plan worked out and you never got a chance to answer it."
I ground my teeth. "I'm not discussing yacht parties or anything that may have happened at them."
"May have?" Rainer shook his head. "I'm creative, but there's no way I worked up that fantasy all on my own."
My cheeks burned with a brighter blush. "Fantasy?" I squeaked.
Rainer leaned close to my ear. "You never think about it? Us alone in that cabin while the party and rock concert raged on without us?"
I stepped away from him and stopped the urge to fan my hot face. "Stop," I whispered.
"No, not until you face facts. I don't find you boring, and I never did. In fact, you are one of the most exciting, and damn frustrating, women I have ever met," Rainer said.
My eyes widened enough to notice not only Topher, but my entire team bearing down on us. Within seconds, I was engulfed by questions on seating, acceptance speeches, who was to be in charge of taking the award to the office, and fifty other small details.
"I'm sure I can handle all of this," Topher said. "Just say the word."
I glanced up at Rainer. "I'm sorry, but it looks like I have work to do."
"You never were good at delegating," Rainer said.
A bubble of nervous laughter broke out of my mouth. "Can you imagine what would have happened if I delegated to one of my temporary assistants? I really can't thank you enough for recommending Topher."
Rainer caught my hand. "Or to your fellow junior executives. How did you put up with us for so long?"
I didn't want to let go of what appeared to be a casual handshake. None of my team noticed except for Topher whose eyes shone with approval. Then the house lights flickered and a swell of pre-recorded music caught everyone's attention.
"If you will please find your seats, the awards ceremony will begin shortly," a nervous voice announced.
Rainer squeezed my fingers. "I really want us to catch up, Tasha."
The sincerity in his eyes tipped me off balance and I hung on to his hand to keep from swaying. "Your boring old stick-in-the-mud colleague?"
"That's not how I remember you at all," Rainer said.
His gaze was hot, but there was more to his words than just innuendo. The lights flickered again, and I shot the cheap chandelier an irritated look. "I'm sure we'll run into each other again."
Topher piped up. "The tapas place is three blocks away, and they are holding a table for me, if you want."
Rainer laughed and slipped his hand out of my grip to chuck his old assistant on the shoulder. "Always anticipating. Glad you're taking such good care of our Tasha."
Topher pointed me to our table, far across the room, as Rainer turned to a nearby table. He pulled out a chair for the older woman next to him, and our eyes met.
"Good luck," I said, reluctant to move.
He winked and the flutters that flirty move caused followed me all the way to our far table. My head cleared as I nodded to my fellow table mates. What was I thinking flirting with Rainer Maxwell? As far as I knew, he was engaged to Ellison Ramsey and planning the pinnacle of a high-society wedding.
The charming toasts and stale jokes of the awards dinner began and I found it hard to concentrate on anything. I had somehow sat so I had to either turn towards the podium or sit staring straight ahead at Rainer. Through a few shifting gaps of other people, his smiling face would appear and give me a little jolt. He chatted with people at his table, laughed in support of whomever was at the podium, and lounged in his chair looking completely at ease.
"Ms. Nichols, is there anything I can get you?" Topher asked in a hushed tone.
"No, I'm fine. And you can stop asking," I told my assistant.
He shook his head. "You look unhappy. They're about to take a break if you'd like to switch tables. Maybe something with an easier view?"
Topher meant of the stage, but he had no idea how apt his suggestion was for me. I couldn't help but stare at Rainer, and the more I did, the more I felt the tug of attraction. If I was seated somewhere else, maybe I could better concentrate on the awards being given out.
The next presenters had a slideshow, and I took to swirling my wine and then trying to place it on the table in the exact same position. Topher eyed me with worry, but I shook my head at him. I was fine and didn't need to move.
It didn't matter that the table directly behind Rainer was half-empty. I could face the podium and see my fill of the back of his head.
Rainer would turn around, toss some funny comment over his shoulder, and we'd laugh. Just like in meetings at the community garden when his funny little asides were for my ears only. I imagined us finishing off the dull awards speeches sitting side by side and highly entertained.
It was tempting, and for a moment I sat up to signal Topher. Then I thought of Rainer's impending nuptials and slumped back in my seat. I might miss his banter, but I had no right to it. We didn't even work together anymore. I turned my chair with a loud scrape and concentrated on the slideshow.
For all of thirty seconds before I glanced across the room and saw Rainer looking back at me.
His look was intense, solidifying his easy smile into something serious. Rainer considered me the way a predator might stare at prey that once escaped. I shifted in my seat and was glad when a round of applause ended the long slideshow.
From then on, I resolved not to look at Rainer. Instead, I scanned the room again, wondering if perhaps his fiancée came late and was waiting politely for the break in order to join him. Ellison knew how to make an entrance, and I expected to see her when I turned around.
She wasn't there. In fact, Rainer hadn't mentioned her. And neither did Topher. Why would my very detailed assistant offer to make us reservations for two? Shouldn't Rainer be off to meet his fiancée as quick as he could escape?
No. I was being too romantic. Ellison Ramsey most likely had some fancier and more expensive charity event to attend. Rainer was at this grassroots event out of the kindness of his heart. I had to ignore the small voice that said perhaps he came on the off-chance that I would attend as well.
The woman seated next to me waited until the applause subsided then she leaned over with a conspiratorial smile. "That Rainer Maxwell is easy on the eyes, isn't he?" she asked.
I swirled my wine glass too much and almost spilled. "Yes, I suppose he is."
"Oh, dear, there is no supposing about it. Just look at him. I don't blame you for letting your gaze stray that way a few times." She patted my arm.
"We used to work together," I tried to explain, but it sounded like such a weak excuse.
My table mate laughed. "Well, then you must know his reputation."
Irritation stiffened my spine on Rainer's behalf. "What reputation is that?" I asked.
"He's easy on the eyes but tough on the heart," the woman informed me. "I've heard him linked with at least five different one-night stands."
I frowned. "Rainer Maxwell is engaged to be married. His fiancée would thank you to leave his past in the past."
"Engaged?" The woman clasped my arm. "You mean that whole thing with Ellison Ramsey? Oh, most people just think that was a publicity stunt. After he turned down the position that was tailor-made for him, I hear she was so mad she left for Europe."
"Wait." I clasped my table mate’s arm on mine. "Are you saying that he and Ellison Ramsey are not engaged to be married?"
The woman must have seen the fevered look in my eyes because she backtracked. "Well, one never knows with these tabloid types."
"Haven't the papers announced their wedding date?"
She pried my hand off hers and edged away from me to the opposite side of her chair. "It's hard to tell what's publicity and what's real. I don't really know Mr. Maxwell. I'm just speculating for fun."
I forced a laugh and spit out some Hollywood tabloid I had seen in the market the other day. The woman smiled and nodded, but did not relax again. I excused myself to get another glass of wine. Two volunteer servers and Topher jumped to help me, but I waved them back.
The next presenters were local law enforcement giving awards to exceptional and caring community members. I forced myself to concentrate on their heartfelt and real message as I stood near the beverage table. Only by concentrating on each and every word could I stop the room from doing wild swoops in my head.
Rainer was not engaged? He was not going to marry Ellison?
Instead of letting the weight of those questions knock me over, I grabbed another glass of wine.
"Can you believe he's actually here? I mean, when I first saw him I thought I was hallucinating." A trio of women approached the beverage table.
They spoke in quiet tones as the awards speeches continued, but I could hear every word. The taller woman glanced at Rainer's table and said, "You think he's really going the charitable route or is this all a way to recover from his failed relationship with Ellison Ramsey?"
I finished my wine and got in line behind the women.
"Who cares," the first woman said. "If he's here alone, then I say he's fair game."
"Janice, he's a playboy!"
"Exactly," said Janice.
I wanted to stop them and speak out on Rainer's behalf. It was clear from their admiring glances that it was my Rainer they were looking at. I stopped myself and took a step back. My Rainer? Why did I feel it was my job to tell them they had the wrong impression of him?
Rainer's reputation, his relationship status, and even his current work situation were none of my business.
"I hear he's not even that good of a businessman. His biggest windfall was all someone else's work," Janice's friend said with a disapproving frown.
"As Rainer's colleague at Hyperion, I can assure you that is not true," I told the trio of women.
They stepped back with googly eyes and the volunteer server took that opportunity to hand me another glass of wine. "Mr. Maxwell seems very nice to me," the server said.
I raised my glass to the young volunteer and then almost spilled the entire contents down my silk sundress. "Berger! What are you doing sneaking up on me?!"
Berger didn't bother to hide his wide grin. "Just chipping away at the ice, you know," he said. He waited until the gossipy women returned to their table. "Though it seems like someone else has beaten me to it. Did I just hear you defending Rainer?"
"Are you crashing this awards dinner?" I asked Berger.
He grinned again. "I heard some of my old Hyperion cronies were in the vicinity, so I just had to stop by."
I narrowed my eyes at him but said, "It's nice to see you stateside. The last I heard you were off to Paris."
"I was," Berger said. "And it was all cafe drinks and beautiful parties until the Ramseys came to town. Did you know that Ellison Ramsey not only speaks French, but also Italian and even some Arabic? She completely blew me away at an art auction. I almost lost my whole fortune just to keep hearing her translate art titles for me."
I blinked, confused, until I saw Berger catch himself and turn self-consciously towards the beverage table. The volunteer server handed him a drink right away, but he took his time turning back around.
"So, how have things been here?" Berger asked.
"Not as exciting as an art auction with Ellison Ramsey," I said.
Berger's eyes flitted over to Rainer's table. "She wasn't the only American society I saw."
"Just the only one who mattered."
"Now, wait, Tasha, don't get the wrong idea—"
I pressed a hand to Berger's rapidly beating heart. "Don't worry; I won't say anything. Not that it matters, right? I mean, it's not like Ellison is spoken for or anything. Is it?"
He shooed me back and brushed off his silk tie. "It's just nice seeing familiar faces when you're overseas."
"All right, fine," I said, feeling better than I had all night. "So, how do you like being home?"
Berger was relieved to step back into his regular role. "I'm bored already. I don't know what you did to Rainer when you two worked together, but now he's all work, work, work. You managed to turn our best party boy into the most boring and responsible drone bee."
"You're blaming me?" I asked.
"Nothing else explains it. One day he's fine and planning pranks to play on the golf course. Then he signs on to your project. Next thing I know he's over in the East Bay doing all this good work, and he barely has time to grab a drink," Berger complained.
"I don't see how that has anything to do with me," I said.
Berger chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "Now the tables have turned."
"Stop," I said. "Whatever wild speculation you are going to make up, I don't want to hear it. Rainer isn't the set-up to some bad joke. And I'm not your punchline anymore."
All jest disappeared from Berger's eyes. "Actually, that's what I was stopping by here to say. I'm sorry that I did not appreciate your hard work more when we were at the same company."
"Wait, what?" I spoke too loudly, and a few people glanced back at us.
Berger sighed. "The truth is that I got bored in Europe. All the parties and the jet-setting. I went all over but never seemed to be getting anywhere, you know?"
"You missed work," I said.
He nodded, almost embarrassed. "And I figured that was your influence too. After all those days of watching you go, go, go, I just wasn't content to sit around."
A light bulb went on in my head. "Well, maybe we should sit down during office hours and talk about what kind of work you'd like to be doing."
Berger shook my hand and then the mischievous light sprang back into his eyes. "I'd love that, I really would. Now, I've got to go comfort my old bachelor friend. We'll talk soon, Tasha. Thank you."
I watched Berger weave his way through the tables and take the empty seat I had been tempted by. When Topher appeared by my side, I couldn't hide my thoughts. "Should I have told Rainer congratulations? Isn't he still engaged to be married?" I asked.
Topher shook his head, relieved to finally be able to speak on the subject. "No! He was never even engaged in the first place. And I know for a fact that he never plans on proposing to Ms. Ramsey at all."
Topher's answer was so decisive that I berated myself for not asking months ago. Then it sank in: Rainer was single.