Men In Suits
1080 Words
Chapter 15: Men In Suits
The gala pulsed with life, a dazzling swirl of clinking glasses hushed tones, and glittering chandeliers. Everyone was dressed to impress. I stood at the edge of the crowd, heart pounding like a drum in my chest. My navy satin dress hugged my curves. Pofessional but bold.
I wasn’t supposed to be here. But after Sarah’s words had sent panic clawing through me yesterday. I had to.
“Your contract says these events are part of the job,”
And today, I’d found a sticky note on my keyboard: Gala’s today. Don’t disappoint.
I snatched a glass of wine from a passing tray, the cold crystal steadying my trembling hands. Weaving through the crowd, I sipped the wine, its tartness grounding me as I scanned the room. That’s when I spotted Sarah by a gilded fountain, her face lighting up as she saw me.
“Reina! You came!”
she said, relief flooding her voice.
“I thought you’d bail, and here you are stealing the show! That dress is stunning, girl!”
I laughed, cheeks warming. “Don’t make me blush.”
“You’re killing it,” she teased. “Just don’t hide all night, okay?”
“I’ll try,”
We started to talk, but in between a sentence, my words faltered. Across the sea of faces, I saw him—Noah. His sharp suit fit him perfectly, his tie slightly loose, giving him a carefree edge. Our eyes locked, and my breath caught. He raised a hand, waving, and began weaving through the crowd toward us.
The world blurred. Sarah’s voice, the music, the chatter fading until he stood in front of me, my heart sprinting a marathon.
“Hey,” he said, his voice warm. “You look beautiful.”
The compliment hit like a shockwave, my cheeks burning.
“Thanks,” I stammered, tugging at my dress. “You don’t look bad yourself.”
Sarah grinned, sensing the shift in the air.
“Okay, I’ve got some things to do. I’ll leave you two to it.”
She said as she slipped away, leaving me alone with Noah. The space between us felt heavy, electric.
“First time at one of these?” he asked, leaning just close enough to make my pulse jump.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “It’s amazing, but I feel like I’m drowning in all this.”
“You? Drowning?” He chuckled, his eyes sparkling. “Not a chance. You’ve got this aura people can’t help but notice.”
I smiled, warmth spreading through me.
Was he flirting? Or complimenting me?
Whatever it was I loved it.
We fell into easy conversation, trading stories about work and random moments, the tension in my shoulders melting away.
But something else nagged at me. Earlier, I’d noticed men in black suits lingering at the edges of the room. At first, I thought they were security nothing unusual for a high-profile gala. But now, they were closer. Too close. Their numbers growing. They murmured into earpieces, their eyes fixed on me.
My skin prickled. I wasn’t imagining it. I…
was being watched. They obviously couldn't make a move on me because I was with someone.
“Noah,” I said, keeping my voice low,
“It’s getting stuffy in here. Want to head out?”
His gaze softened.
“Sure. The crowd’s a lot, huh? Somewhere quieter?”
“No, just… somewhere with air. Can we leave?”
“Yeah, I just need to grab something. Give me a sec—”
“I’ll come with you,” I blurted.
He raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
“To the bathroom?”
Embarrassment burned my face, but fear outweighed it.
“I’ll wait outside. Is that okay?”
“Uh, sure,” he said, still confused but nodding.
I followed him closely, my eyes darting to the men in suits. As we moved, they did too, shadowing my every step. This wasn’t a coincidence. My stomach churned.
Who were these people?
What did they want?
My mind flashed to Adrian. Could he have sent them?
Outside the men’s room, I leaned against the cool marble wall, the gala’s buzz muffled. Two minutes passed, each second stretching endlessly. One of the men stood across the hallway, his stare boring into me. My heart raced. The moment the last guest left the hallway, he started walking toward me, his steps deliberate.
Then, a shadow moved at the hall’s end.
Damien. Adrian’s chief of staff. Relief flooded me, like a lifeline tossed into a stormy sea. Without thinking, I ran to him, blurting the only lie I could think of aloud.
“Oh my God, Damien! I haven’t seen you since high school!”
He caught on instantly.
“Yeah, been a while! Come on, we’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
He grabbed my arm, pulling me down the hall, but the men in suits followed, their presence like a tightening noose.
“Damien,” I whispered, “tell Adrian’s henchmen to stop following me. It’s freaking me out.”
He glanced back, his face grim. “It’s not Adrian. Reina, you’re in danger.”
My blood ran cold. “What? Why? How?”
“I can’t explain now,” he said, his voice urgent. “Just trust me—I’ll get you to safety.”
We hurried through a side exit, the cool night air hitting my skin. My mind spun. Danger? From who? Why me?
Damien led me toward a black car parked in the shadows, its engine already running.
“Get in,” he said. “We don’t have much time.”
I hesitated, glancing back. The men in suits emerged from the gala, their eyes locked on us. My heart pounded as I slid into the car, Damien jumping in after me. The driver hit the gas, tires squealing as we sped into the night.
But as the gala’s lights faded behind us, a new figure stepped into the road ahead, illuminated by the car’s headlights. A man in a tailored coat, his face half-hidden in shadow, raised a hand as if signaling us to stop.
Damien cursed under his breath, his hand gripping the seat.
“Who is that?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Damien’s eyes narrowed. “Someone who shouldn’t be here.”
The car swerved, but the man stood firm, his chilling smile freezing my blood.
What had I stumbled into?
- Writer
