The guests were already filling the large banquet hall with idle chit chat and laughter. Except, they lacked the one thing most guests of this sort had. A drink.
Taking a deep breath for confidence, he pulled loosely at his tie, making sure to not undo the knot, and followed the others out the double doors. Like a parade, their silver trays glinted and the glassware shined under the crystal chandeliers.
Waiters uniformly came from the kitchen in a straight, almost military line, before haphazardly breaking off into loose directions. Smiles lit their faces as they offered drinks to guests and bowed their heads in politeness and submission if shooed away.
He had no time to think if the gel kept the strands of his hair in place or if the part remained as pristine as their employer demanded. He had guests to serve, in and out with empty and full drinks. Delighted gasps at new champagne replacing their empty hands.
His strides were even and long, keeping to the balls of his feet should he have to turn out of the way and avoid incident.
Around his third round of venturing into the banquet, only him and about five others filled the space. The rest had been re-tasked with preparing dinner and the dining room.
was then, mostly alone on the western side of the room, he stopped and offered a group more drinks. A few turned their heads, glasses in hand, but one particular lady dressed in a fine, dark green, silk dress traded her empty one for a new one, much to the chagrin of the older man beside her.
She laughed, bringing a twinkle to her eyes, and made a comment that he hadn't heard. But she winked his way and he smiled back before briskly walking away. He could feel her gaze as he wandered back into the kitchen.
Dinner was almost ready.
He kept a thin towel over his left arm, a chilled bottle of... something in his right hand. He never drank the fancy stuff. He rarely drank at all.
Beginning just before the trolleys were set to roll, he followed the others out to pour drinks.
She sat more to the side, the older gentleman no longer with her. This time, as he poured her drink, he took care to notice the neutral eye shadow above curious whiskey glass eyes and puckered red lips that set themselves in a gentle curve of a smile. Her diamond earrings twinkled almost mischievously in the light or perhaps that it was the way her hand played with the jewels in such a particular fashion.
Once done, he stepped back, bowing his head in slight embarrassment at his staring, before moving to the next guest. He didn't pull away quite yet before she placed a delicate hand on his arm.
He froze for only a second, then he bent his head down so she could whisper in his ear. Her warm breath sent a chill across his neck and she was so close to him, he could almost feel her satin lips against his skin. It was blood rushing embarrassing.
Almost as if she knew exactly what she was doing, she pulled away, her hand tracing his shoulder before trailing down his upper arm and finally, placing itself back in her lap. She smiled sweetly and he could merely nod at her request.
"Of course, ma'am."
He returned to the kitchen, finding her name and order and crossing out a few items to be replaced with something else. Taking the paper, he returned to her table where another had already finished their drinks and confirmed the changes.
The chef wasn't entirely happy, but he made do and sent the meal out as requested.
He watched from a distance as he attended his other duties. Her bright smile. The never dying twinkle in her eye. Her cheeks rosy from alcohol.
Of course, he knew it was all in his head. The times her eyes locked with his was nothing more than coincidence. The same for the seductive smirk that graced her lips every time they did.
So be it. He stayed on the opposite side of the room and attended guests there. At least, for the dinner portion he did.
Once they rolled out desserts, he had been moved to her side once more and forced to endure her vanilla perfume as he passed by her. Every time she waved him over, her hands came to rest on his bicep, the light pressure of her fingertips keeping him locked in place as her lips barely grazed his earlobe and her tongue slowly let her words roll off into his ear.
"Of course, ma'am." He straightened, keeping himself as politely indifferent as he could.
With a quick turn on his heel, he practically bolted for the double doors to finish her request and return to the other guests. The ones that didn't set his blood on fire. The ones that didn't make him feel the need to run home and bolt his doors.
A venomous vixen. A goddess-predator hybrid.
Perhaps if this was high school again and his crush was the one being so flirtatious and playful, he may have not minded as much. Granted, he would have thought it to be some cruel prank... maybe that's what this was.
A silly, little game to entertain her and her friends.
Well, he wouldn't play in this any longer.
He couldn't ignore her, but he could do better in his reactions.
So, when she summoned him to her side, he kept his face a mask of complete indifference. When her hand found his arm, her lips much too close to his ear for comfort, he didn't react. He didn't stiffen or attempt to pull away. He remained relaxed and cool. Composed.
Pulling back, he caught her eye and there was a change. Her mischief had died out. Replaced with a tender emotion he couldn't quite place. Her smile had even softened. She practically glowed.
She pulled away her hand, placing it back in her lap to fiddle with her napkin.
"Of course, ma'am."
When he returned with her Sprite, the dining room had become quite vacant as others mingled back out to the hall for chit chat before departing.
She thanked him and chastely kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for putting up with me tonight." She sipped her drink, the twinkle returning to her eyes as she waited for his response.
"My pleasure."
She looked taken back by his response at first, but the sweetest smile graced her lips. His sincere words couldn't have pleased her more.
He had to admit that past the panic of her forwardness, the game had been a bit exciting and fun to participate in. Even if he had been losing the battle for most of the night.
"Perhaps, we'll see each other at another one of these events?"
"Maybe." He bowed his head politely, before leaving her to her drink and silence.
They did see each other. A few months later at a charity event.
When her eyes landed on a familiar set of gelled hair and the eyes containing a green sea, she couldn't help the grin that lit her face. Or how her breath left her when he returned it with the politest smile and graceful bow of his head. A boyish and reserved charm about him, though he did seem happy to see her.
He briskly walked her way, back straight and strides even and long. He held a familiar silver tray with glasses filled and ready for consumption. A cool composure washed over him as he greeted her group and offered new drinks.
Let round number two commence. Except this time, she fully intended to slip her number into his pocket by the end of the night and see just how bashful he could be with her... alone... over a nice cup of coffee.
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