A Little Lost (2 page)

              “Kyle’s back?” he asks quietly.

              “Guess so, I met his fiancée a few days ago, didn’t know who she was engaged to though” I shrug even though I know he can’t see the gesture.

              “Should I be worried?” he asks making me frown.

              “Of course not, they are very happy and so are we. The past is the past. I love you and don’t want anyone else” I assure him.

              I hear him let out the breath he was obviously holding “Okay good, I guess I’ll see you in an hour then. Don’t be nervous about you’re speech, I know how you hate public speaking”

              “I know” I smile “I love you, see you soon”

              “Love you too”

              “Well that went well” I note once I’m sure he’s no longer on the line.

              “It will be fine” Cat squeezes my hand in reassurance.

              “Yeah” I nod, not sure if it will be anymore.

1

BOOK TITLE

              When we walk into the hall where the party is being held I’m overwhelmed by all the beautiful people I can see moving around. It’s no secret that I’m the only daughter of the richest man in town but I’ve never been comfortable with the wealth.

              “I always feel way in over my head at these things.” I say quietly into Cat’s ear when we hand out jackets over.

              “Just act like you did earlier when you morphed into the dumb spoilt girl in the car lot and you will be fine” she smirks at me “how did you start crying like that anyway?” she asks.

              I shrug “I’ve always been able to do it, it’s a talent”

              “You should have been an actress” she grins at me shaking her head.

              “Oh no darling, most definitely not. Why that is just too common of a career, I could never put my dear family through that, going to Hollywood and risk becoming a cliché how would I ever live that down?” I smirk at her jaw dropped expression and wink.

              “Did you know Kyle’s back?” Jen whispers to us rushing over to us.

              “Yes, we saw him earlier, why my panties just dropped at the sight of him. I simply have to get him into my bed faster than a stripper looses her inhibitions” I say straight faced.

              “Why are you talking like that?” Jen asks looking at me as if I have grown two heads, Cat just keeps laughing.

              “What do you mean?” I frown at her and turn my expression blank “I open my mouth and the words come out, it’s like magic. Amazing really”

              “Oh come on, this is too hilarious not have fun with” Cat laughs dragging me away from Jen and up to a group of men that I don’t recognize.

              “Gentlemen, have you had the honor of meeting Miss Banks yet?” Cat asks the group of men who all turn to me.

              I smile at them and fight the blush when they take in the deep plunge of my dress. My dress is more revealing than I’m comfortable with, deep purple, skin tight and strapless, it doesn’t leave an awful lot to the imagination.

              “Pleasure” I giggle slightly and hold my hand out to them one by one.

              “Lou, this is Mr. Hammerson he’s CEO of the finance company that funds these parties” she smiles him.

              “Oh well I do simply adore you sir. As you know it is a very good cause and one close to my heart. I was just telling my friend how simply adorable the little flowers that the waiters all have on their ties are, you should be very proud of the hard work you put into thinking of that” I gush.

              “Umm ... yes we are” he frowns at me.

              “Presentation is everything” I nod seriously “I do have one suggestion though, maybe in the future you could co-ordinate the hair color of the waiters to match the flowers that would be simply divine”

              I have to shout the last part because Cat drags me away not able to hold onto her laughter any longer.

              “Where do you come up with this stuff?” she asks wiping her eyes.

              Amber comes over to us and kisses us both on the cheek. “You both look beautiful” she smiles at us.

              “As do you sugarplum, that color is marvelous, you must give me the number of your stylist” it slips out before I can stop it.

              Cat starts giggling but I ignore her “Shit, sorry. It’s really hard to stop once I’ve started. You look gorgeous Amber” I quickly hug her.

              “What’s hard to stop?” she looks amused so Cat fills her in “Come on, see for yourself”

              “Who am I embarrassing myself in front of now?” I ask not that bothered because my friend is having a good time.

              “That over there is Geoffrey James” she nods to a man stood by himself assessing the awards board.

              “I’ve seen him before” I nod.

              “He doesn’t get along with you’re father, they fell out when he thought your mother was just brainless arm candy” she says amused.

              “Well let’s go have some fun then ladies” I smile and walk over to the man.

              “Mr. James, how are you this evening?” Cat asks polite as ever.

              “Very well thank you Miss Skye, yourself?” he asks sounding very posh.

              “Oh I’m doing wonderfully, your wife couldn’t make it sir?” she asks

              “No dear, she had other commitments I’m afraid, who are you’re friends?” he asks turning to us with a professional smile.

              “This lovely lady is Amber” Cat introduces.

              “Amber Barry, it’s a pleasure sir” Amber shakes his hand smoothly.

              “And who is this gem?” He asks Cat turning to me, his eyes also dipping to take in my dress.

              “This would be Louise sir, Louise Banks”

              “Ahh I have never had the pleasure of meeting you before dear, I do believe your father has kept you hidden away all these years” he says shaking my hand.

              “Oh no, not at all. I simply had other commitments myself” I smile at him.

              “I have heard great things about you, what is a bright young woman like you doing these days?” he asks me giving me an opening to be just what he accused my mother of being.

              “Oh I have lots of priorities, I am currently having a rather large, worrying problem with the local pet groomers here in town” I sigh and turn my expression troubled.

              “What is the problem? Nothing bad I hope, I have done business with them in the past” he looks at me expectantly and I force the waterworks, he is surprised by my silent tears but I don’t act embarrassed leading him to believe there is a real problem.

              “You see, it’s my poor Angel, she is a full pedigree poodle but those awful people at the grooming parlor refuse to dye her to match my outfit when I take her to shows. I have had to stop taking her out because she clashes with me and it’s simply unbearable. I cannot be an embarrassment to my family like that, you understand don’t you sir” I sniff dabbing at my eyes with a handkerchief Cat hands me.

              “Umm ... well” he coughs looking appalled.

              “Oh I know” I say cheerily, all my tears forgotten now and look up at him as if he is god himself. “Do you think you could maybe talk to them for me? I can tell just how much of a complete sweetheart you are and I just know that Mrs. James would be delighted that you helped such an inspiring cause”

              Before he can answer both Amber and Cat drag me away from him.

              “What are you three giggling about?” Travis asks watching us suspiciously.

              “Oh don’t you look adorable in your little suit darling” I say squeezing his cheeks like a proud grandmother making Amber and Cat laugh even harder.

              “Have you been drinking?” he asks looking into my eyes but I know they don’t give anything away.

              “There you are honey” Chris grins wrapping his arm around my shoulder and passing both me and Cat a glass of champagne.

              I clear my throat and shoot Cat a shut it look.

              “I’ve been looking for you” I smile up at him “It’s been very boring without you” I lean up and kiss his cheek to distract him from the snorts of laughter coming from Cat and Amber.

              “Do you want to dance?” he asks quietly into my ear then leaning down to kiss my neck.

              “Sure” I smile and move closer to his embrace.

              “See you all after my speech” I grin at Amber, Cat and Travis who all shake their head at me smiling.

              Chris pulls me closer to him when we settle on the dance floor. I wrap my arms around his neck and his rest on my waist.

              “I missed you today” he mummers kissing me softly.

              “Me too” I agree smiling, god I love this man.

              “I know you were up to no good earlier, what were you doing?” he asks smiling at me.

              “Cat was introducing me to a few people, they think I’m a trophy girlfriend” I smile back.

              “And why do they think that?” he asks raising an eyebrow.

              “I have no idea sir; I don’t care to dwell on the inner musing of other people. You’re mind is all that matters to me” My posh accent slips on the last sentence as I look into his eyes.

              “You’re the only one that matters to me too” he says kissing my head softly when I place it on his shoulder and close my eyes melting into him and the dance.

              Our dance is interrupted when someone pats Chris on the shoulder informing him it’s time for the speeches. He makes his way to the stage and I head over to Jen.

              “You stopped messing with people heads yet?” she asks swapping my empty glass for a full one when a waiter walks past us.

              “For now” I wink at her and turn my attention back to the front of the room. Chris is walking up to the stage. “I’m up first by the looks, I’ll see you in a bit” I kiss her cheek but don’t make my way forward yet.

              “Evening ladies and gentlemen” he says into the microphone getting everyone’s attention. “Now I’ve heard that a few of you may have already had the pleasure of meeting by beautiful partner Miss Louise Banks this evening” a few people nod and I hear Cat laugh, I turn to look at her and she’s stood with Tom, Amber and Kyle. Amber is giggling too and Kyle is looking at her questioningly.

              “Well I can assure you that she is amazing and has a very impressive mind” Chris continues and I smirk over at Cat and Amber because they are now being shushed by their other halves.

              “May I introduce to you the lady herself, who has a few words to say to you all” Chris ends his introduction and a few heads turn my way as I make my way to the stage.

              “Not so bad yourself darling” I wink at him when he passes the microphone over.

              “Behave” he chuckles making me pout.

              “Hi everyone” I smile at all the faces in front of me.

              “Let me just thank you all for inviting me to such a lavish party. As a few you may know this charity is one that is very close to my heart. A year ago my mother died of breast cancer; it was a very hard time for myself and my family. The volunteers for this charity however went out of their way to support us during that hard time. I cannot express how grateful and admired I am by them. What they do on a day to day basis is extraordinary and greatly appreciated.

              “During those last horrifying days of my mothers life, they helped us focus on what was important, not grieving for her life which was not yet taken or hoping for a miracle which was very unlikely but to putting all our efforts into saying goodbye. I really admire what they do and I know I’m not the only person.

              “My father couldn’t make it this evening but he has a donation that he has asked me to give to you. Once again I thank you for all the support you gave us. It is because of you that we are still a strong family. I only hope that some day I can help someone like you helped me.” I put the microphone back on the stand and everyone applauses.

              The organization leader shakes my hand and kisses my cheek before he introduces the next person.

              Chris takes my hand and leads me over to Cat and Tom.

              “That was a beautiful speech Lou” Tom hugs me.

              “Thanks” I smile up at him awkward from the attention.

              “I’m sorry about your mother Lou, I didn’t know” Kyle says quiet enough for only me to hear when he pulls me in for a hug. I smile up at him and accept the hugs from Amber and Cat just the same.

              “Umm Kyle, you remember Chris?” I ask turning to the two men who know each other but never really spoke to each other.

              “Yes, of course” he smiles at him shaking his hand.

              “And this is Amber, Kyle’s Fiancée” I smile at Amber as I introduce her to my boyfriend. Kyle truly has done well, Amber is kind, sweet and gorgeous, I don’t think there is a bad bone in her body.

              “Pleasure” she smiles at Chris “Louise has told me a lot about you” I frown at her lie but then immediately feel bad because when we met and she was gushing about her fiancé I never once mentioned that I was with someone. Kyle notices me frowning at his fiancée so I quickly smooth my expression into smile. When Tom pulls Chris into a conversation I lean over to whisper into Amber’s ear.

              “Thank you, I can’t believe I never mentioned him once, I feel so bad!”

              “Don’t worry about it, you probably couldn’t have gotten in a word edge ways” she whispers back.