Always Into You

The Demon may cry - Chapter 3

Tanya's POV

The night needs to be perfect. Ambessa Hightower had meticulously arranged every element of her 63rd birthday celebration, from the silk draped tables to the custom designed chandeliers that cast a golden glow across the rooftop. The guest list was a maze of the elite, each meticulously chosen to boost Ambessa's ego.

The lady was more than just a designer, she was a force of nature, an empire, and a queen who demanded the world to submit to her.

And me? i was the one who made it all happen.

"No, the caviar should be served after the amuse bouche, not before. Yes, I understand what the chef said I'm going to tell you how it'll be done."

A pause.

"God help me, the violinist isn't playing pop covers. Stick to the classical setlist that I approved.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. The weight of the darkness pressed down on me, twisting around my spine like a snake. But i was used to it. This is my playground, precision, control, and execution. Nonetheless, weariness threatened to set in.

Then i spotted him.

Christopher

My breath caught in my throat. He stood at the edge of the gathering, dressed in an easily fitted black suit that exuded elegance and restraint.

The Manhattan skyline stretched behind him, its lights shimmering like stars caught in glass.

He hadn’t noticed me yet, i was avoiding him because of my dream and at the same time Ambessa warned me.

something walking behind me and tapped my shoulder, and it's Christopher.

"Brixton," Christopher's voice was smooth and slow, filled with humor. "Are you avoiding me? "

I didn't turn around or slow my pace, i had a million things to accomplish, and Christopher Hightower wasn't on my list.

“No, Christopher. I'm just doing my work, Christopher grinned and closed the gap between them with annoying ease.

"Ah, so I am the thing you're avoiding." I immediately walked away.

I sighed and paused at the bar. I turned to face him, arms crossed across my chest.

"I am trying to avoid distractions. You are simply my distraction."

Christopher pushed a hand to his chest, seeming to be offended.

"Wow. Here I was, believing I was a source of inspiration."

I arched a brow. “Oh, you inspire plenty. Mostly stress and regrettable life choices.

”Please Christopher i just met you and I'm here to work."

Christopher smirked, leaning just a fraction closer. “Funny, because last time I checked, you seemed to be enjoying those choices.”

Heat crept up my neck, but i refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

“I don’t recall that being any of your business.”

Christopher tilted his head. “You don’t recall, or you don’t want to recall?”

I exhaled deeply, deeper than the mariana trench, pressing a hand to my temple.

“Why are you even here? Your mother barely tolerates you on a good day.”

Christopher grinned, resting his elbow on the bar as if he had all the time in the world.

“I was invited, actually. And besides, you make these events beautiful.”

My eyes narrowed.

"So you enjoy watching me struggle as your mother treats me like an underpaid intern? "

"It's my favorite part of the evening." Christopher said.

I grabbed a champagne flute from the bar and handed it to him. "Here. Something to keep your mouth occupied while you are expressing unnecessary comments.

Christopher took the glass, eyes flashing with wickedness.

"You really don't want to give me ideas like that, Brixton."

I almost choked on my breath. "Goodbye, Christopher."

I turned on my heels, determined to escape.

"Wait,"

he whispered, and for once, his tone was not playful. It was softer. Almost sincere.

I paused. Damn it. I turned just enough to see him looking at me, a quiet intensity beneath the smirk.

"What? " I asked, cautiously.

Christopher swirled the champagne in his glass, then looked at me.

“You’ve been working all night. Take a break just for once please?. One dance.”

I shouted.

“With you? That sounds like an HR complaint waiting to happen.”

Christopher grinned.

“Good thing I don’t work for my mother.

I hesitated. Every instinct told me to refuse to remind him that this night was about Ambessa, about my job, about keeping my world in order.

But then Christopher did something she wasn’t prepared for.

He held out his hand. Just held it there, waiting.

Not forcing. Not pushing. He is just… offering.

I glanced at his hand, then up at him.

One dance.

What’s the worst that could happen?

With a resigned sigh and a heartbeat i refused to acknowledge, i placed my hand in his hand and we started to dance.

"Eyes without a face started to play"

One moment, I was handling a platter of last minute bread and butter while dodging a problem with an almost missing birthday cake.

The next moment, I was in Christopher Hightower's arms, moving in perfect time beneath the golden glow of the chandeliers.

"This was not on your timetable, was it? Christopher whispered, his palm warming the small of my back.

I replied.

"Not unless 'terrible decisions' were penciled in between floral arrangements and Ambessa's grand entrance."

Christopher smirked as he led my hand smoothly across the floor. "You wounded me, Brixton. Is it that bad? "

I disliked the fact that i hesitated.

Hated that despite her carefully constructed boundaries, the feel of him against me, the way he held me as if i belonged there, was enough to make me forget every rule i had set for myself.

Then a harsh voice cut through the scene like a machete.

TANYA BRIXTON!

I stiffened. Christopher’s grip on my waist tightened instinctively.

Ambessa Hightower stood at the edge of the dance floor, fury rolling off her eyes.

Before i could react, Ambessa strode forward, grabbed my wrist in an iron grip, and brought me away quietly.

WE NEED TO TALK!

I barely had the time to look at Christopher a do not intervene look, before i was being dragged through a side door into a dimly lit backroom storage area filled with garment racks, forgotten floral samples, and the overwhelming scent of expensive Jo malone perfume.

The door slammed shut behind us.

I barely had time to turn before Ambessa spin her eyes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Ambessa snapped, with anger and despaired voice.

I straightned up my shoulders.

“I was”

“Dancing?” Ambessa cut in, the word dripping with disdain. “With my son?”

Ambessa scoffed like a caged lion.

“You’re not paid to dance, Tanya. You are paid to ensure this event does not fall apart. While you were busy flirting"

My hands clenched at her sides. “I wasn’t"

Ambessa ignored me.

“my birthday, my event, could have gone up in flames.”

Ambessa took a step closer, eyes are disdain. “I don’t tolerate distractions".

I swallowed hard but held my ground. “With all due respect, I can handle my responsibilities".

Ambessa’s lips curled. “You think I don’t have an idea of what this is?

You think I haven’t seen this before? My son loves to play with pretty things, Tanya. And when he’s bored, he ruins them.”

I shivered. The words landed harder than they should have. Before i could respond, the door burst open.

"Mother," he remarked harshly. "That's enough."

Ambessa turned to face him, her eyes sharp. "You don't get to tell me what's enough Christopher."

Christopher surged forward, moving between me and Ambessa in such a way that i felt a frightening spark in my chest.

"This isn't about the party," Christopher remarked calmly but firmly. "It's about control. And you don't have control over Tanya."

Ambessa's eyes dilate. Oh, please. Do not act as if you are doing this for her. Christopher, you hate losing and never say no."

Christopher tightened his fists at his sides. "Maybe because I know what I want."

Ambessa scoffed, staring at me. Do you hear him? He thinks he wants you right now. But when it fades"

Christopher's voice darkened. "You don't get to decide that for me."

For the first time, Ambessa appeared to take a stab. For a time, the three of us stood in tight stillness, the air reverberating with unsaid words.

“You will never be part of this world the way you want to be,” she said quietly. “And if you think otherwise, you’re a fool.”

She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Tanya standing in the aftermath of her remarks.

Christopher said sorry, and headed outside and left the venue.

And i, in the middle of the commotion, just starting to bring my things up and continued my work. with sadness.