“Well, don’t let me keep you from your date tonight,” Jacob said. “Don’t let those long legs go to waste.”
“Those are my favorite part of the female anatomy, Jake. I most certainly won’t,” Derek said.
Fucking. Gross.
I heard footsteps approaching me, and I moved away a bit. I stuck to the shadows, watching as Jacob and Derek passed right by me. I kept my head down, allowing my body to blend in with the shadows as I listened to the distinct sound of Derek’s footsteps being muddled by the crowd. If they did see me, I didn’t want it to seem like I was sitting there and spying on them like some creepy girlfriend, since that was now the role I was really playing.
A girlfriend playing a fucking personal assistant.
I listened as their footsteps receded, and then I lifted my head. I scanned the room one last time as Derek approached the stage. It was time for him to receive whatever award he had come here to receive, and it was time for me to move back to the bar where he’d left me like the idiot he was.
Chapter 5
Derek
I WALKED ALONGSIDE Jacob as I made my way to the stage. I heard the announcer beginning his speech to settle the crowd. This was it. The moment I would collect an award for being an entrepreneur and helping out the city or whatever. I honestly didn’t care. I knew I should, but too much was going on in my mind. I had to update Sam on her change in position, and I needed to keep my eyes peeled. I stood at the edge of the stage, ready to accept my award as they called my name.
My eyes scanned the crowd, spotting Sam at the bar with a scowl on her face.
“Thank you, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot thank you enough for this award. Entrepreneurship is a vital part of any country’s economy. If it wasn’t for all the minds that created products to help us live our lives, none of the people around us would have jobs to work. Entrepreneurs are the true givers of every community, and I am honored to be recognized as one of them. But this award isn’t just for me. This award is for all the young ones in the crowd tonight. For those who have an idea but don’t think it’s good enough. For the children who will grow up and have an idea that will revolutionize the world. Encourage them like I had been encouraged because had it not been for the faith my parents had in me—”
The lights flickered, causing the audience to gasp. I looked around at the lights stabilized, my eyes connecting with Sam.
At least, they tried to.
She was no longer at the bar.
“Had it not been for the fai—”
The lights flickered again, and a spark of panic ignited in my chest. Something was happening. Something bad. Where the hell had Sam gone? Wasn’t she supposed to be near me for this kind of shit? Fuck, I should’ve taken her with me. I shouldn’t have left her at the damn bar.
There was a crash in a nearby room as the audience whipped their heads around. People were murmuring, and a few were screaming. I could see someone rushing the stage from the back as my heart began to slam in my chest.
“Had it not been for the faith my parents had in me, I wouldn’t be standing here accepting this award. Thank you, everyone, and remember that no dream is too big when it comes to changing the world.”
The audience tried to clap as best as they could as Sam came running up the edge of the stage. She quickly ushered me off it, her calm demeanor instilling a bit of peace in my own. She hurried me off, her hand on the small of my back as I kept my head held high. She ushered me toward the wall as she skirted in the shadows, the lights still flickering as we made our way to the kitchen.
I grabbed a bottle of whiskey as we rounded toward the bar, scooting by it as the bartender ducked down underneath the overhang.
Suddenly, shots rang out in the hall. People were screaming and
running as I tried to turn around and see what was going on. Sam kept pushing me, leading me toward a fire exit she eventually shoved me into. She got in front of me and took my hand as I clutched the bottle of whiskey. She was fluid in her heels, her dress billowing around me as we ran down the stairs. She sent us hurtling through a door, stumbling onto another floor of the building before she looked left and right.
I had no idea what she was looking for, but soon, I was being pulled around again.
Her hand was gripped tightly around mine as she threw a door open. She shoved me into the darkened closet and locked the door behind us. We were cramped together, our breaths coming in heavy pants as I reached up to turn on a light.
But she grabbed my wrist, listening out as shots continued to be fired.
“What the fuck is happening?” I asked.
“Shut up.”
I felt her fiddling around for something before I heard her turn on a walkie-talkie. It was crackling as she tried to find the right frequency. As she tinkered with it, I couldn’t keep my body trembling. Who the fuck was shooting up the fundraiser? Was anyone hurt? Where was Jacob? Was he okay?
Fire alarms started going off, casting a red glow underneath the doorway. The sound was piercing, drowning out any gunfire that was still going on.
Then, a discernible voice came over the walkie-talkie.