Chapter 6: Did You Meet Anyone Nice
1143 Words
Isabel
I spun around, letting out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding
A few feet away stood a guy in a black suit. The top button was open, a small detail that somehow gave him an I'm cool vibe in a sea of starched shirts and uncomfortable postures. You could tell he was built, even under the expensive jacket. He had broad shoulders and looked strong.
He was handsome. Like, magazine-cover handsome. His face was all sharp angles: a strong jawline, a straight nose like a model in a fancy watch ad. But his eyes… Those were something else. Deep amber. And they were staring right at me.
“Or do you prefer, Miss Reyes?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, a tiny dimple peeking out near his mouth. He tried to sound professional, but his voice had this low, playful rumble.
I froze for a second. It’s crazy, I’d spent years avoiding eye contact with guys in suits, but this one felt different.
He nodded to the crystal award I was clutching.
"Careful with that thing. Hold it any tighter, you might turn it back into sand."
I looked down at my knuckles, which were indeed white from my grip.
I couldn't help but smile at his attempt at humor. The tension in my shoulders dipped for the first time all night.
“Um, hi,” I said, shifting the award to my left hand so I could tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Mr…?”
“Calloway,” he said, pulling out a seat on the stool beside me at the refreshment table. He turned to face me. “Julian Calloway. But please, call me Julian.”
“Julian,” I repeated. The name felt..smooth.
“I caught your speech,” he said, leaning one elbow on the table. “Short and sweet. I appreciated that.”
I laughed softly, taking a sip of my water. “I didn't think the crowd would care that much.”
“You’d be surprised.” He tilted his head, his amber eyes searching mine. “Seriously, though. Reyes Studio. I went over some of your work. I’m impressed. You’ve got a signature eye when it comes to textures.”
I felt a warm sense of pride that had nothing to do with the award. "Wow. You know design?"
He shrugged.
"I know what I like," he replied. "Do you live here in the city, or are you just here for the ceremony?"
"I live here," I said, leaning back against the table. "Near the district. It’s quieter there. Better for Noah."
"Noah?"
"My son," I said.
Usually, mentioning a kid was like hitting a kill switch with guys. They zoned out or looked for an escape route. Julian didn't do either.
"How old?"
"Five. He’s probably negotiating with the sitter about his bedtime right about now."
Julian laughed, a rich, genuine sound. "Five is a tough age to out-negotiate. I wish you luck."
I felt a strange warmth. I was just about to ask him what he did—what a man like him was doing at a design gala—when the MC’s voice boomed over the speakers again.
"And now, for our final award of the night. For his visionary work in funding the new Arts and Design District, Mr. Julian Calloway."
Julian didn't seem shocked, but he did look a little embarrassed. He stood up and straightened his jacket.
“That’s my cue,” he said. He glanced back at me and gave a quick smile. “I’ll be back, Miss Reyes.”
I returned the smile, watching him head toward the stage. My head was spinning. My mind was racing.
"He's charming," a voice whispered in my ear.
I knew it was Sofia without looking. She was right behind me, with a fresh glass of wine and that look in her eye.
"I know what you're thinking, Sofia," I said, keeping my eyes on Julian as he shook hands on stage. "Stop it. Right now."
"I haven't said a word," she teased, but her grin had said it all. "But you haven't looked happy with a guy since... ."
“It’s just talk, Sofia. He’s a donor. He’s a client's dream. That's all.”
“Sure, Izzy. And I'm the Queen of England.” Sofia's eyes darted past me. "Oh, he’s coming back this way'"
She vanished into the crowd just as Julian walked off the stage and headed right for me.
"Friend of yours?" Julian asked, gesturing toward Sofia’s direction.
I looked across the room at Sofia, who was watching us from behind a plant.
“She’s trouble”, I said. “But yeah, she's my partner.”
I pointed to the award in his hand. "Congratulations"
We talked for another twenty minutes. He had a way of making me feel like my thoughts were the only things that mattered in a room of five hundred people.
Eventually, the lights began to dim, a signal that the gala was ending.
The drive back was quiet at first.
Sofia was humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like a wedding song.
"Stop it" I said, staring out the window at the passing streetlights.
"Give him a chance, Izzy," Sofia said.
I looked down at my hands. I wasn't wearing a ring, but I could still feel where it used to be.
“I’m not ready.”
Sofia didn't say anything. She just stared at me.
"What?" I asked, feeling self-conscious.
"Nothing," she said, turning her gaze back to the road.
"It's not nothing. That was a 'you're lying to yourself' look."
"Well, I wasn’t the one that said it," Sofia replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
When I finally got back home, it was quiet.
I met Jenna curled up on the sofa with a textbook.
"Was he a good boy?" I whispered, putting my award on the kitchen counter.
"The best," Jenna said, gathering her things. "He tried to make me understand that 9pm is actually 8pm in dinosaur time, but he fell asleep halfway through."
I smiled and saw her out.
Once the door was locked, I tip-toed into Noah’s room. He shifted as I sat on the edge of the mattress.
"Mama?" he whispered, rubbing a sleepy eye.
"I'm here, baby."
"Did you win? Did you get the glass thing?"
I smiled.
"Yes, I did," I said, smoothing his hair back. "Mama won the glass thing."
Noah gave a big, sleepy smile, pulling his dinosaur blanket up to his neck.
"I knew it."
He closed his eyes, but then opened one again.
"Did you meet any nice people?"
I thought of the one person with amber eyes and a low, playful voice. How he didn’t look away when I mentioned having a son.
- Writer
