Something in the Air

Something in the Air - Chapter 7

Emily, A Friday in May

American Bar, The Savoy, London

”One margarita mocktail and two margaritas to the ladies and the gentleman.” The waiter handed our drinks around the table.

We were in London's most famous cocktail bar: "The American". The bar had won international prices and been awarded the title as the "World’s Best Bar". This special occasion had called for an extraordinary celebration. My customer's first sales numbers for April had just ticked in. By the end of March, we had launched a whole new brand, a new website, and social media profiles. One thing was that the brand image looked great, one unified look, a structured storytelling and another was not being able to estimate how soon my customer would see the return on investment. It had been nerve wrecking. To our surprise, April had boomed and exceeded our most liberal projections. We had calculated and estimated with a few percentages, to begin with, but this was unreal. The company was a Danish start-up owned by Michael and Christina, siblings. They sold Danish designed small furniture under the name MCDK. They were in the process of establishing a name in London, and I'd flown over to meet with them.

We cheered and grinned happily of the crazy success we were having.

”I can't wait to see how May will turn out," Christina smiled.

”Neither can I, and I'm so excited for our summer campaign starting in June. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am to be working with you guys.” I raised my glass once again while my gaze swept over the other patrons having a great time in the bar after a long week of work. Suddenly my eyes fell upon a very attractive derrière. Tight muscular ass in a pair of dark blue dress pants, a dark gray button-down shirt straining over a pair of defined biceps. My throat got dry, and I sank, what I wouldn't pair with to have "no strings attached" s*x again.

Emily?

What are you thinking? My inner voice scolded me angrily. See how it went last time.

”I know,” I mumbled.

”Did you say something?” Christina asked and smiled again.

”No, I was just admiring the dark-haired man at the bar.” I pointed discreetly, and her eyes followed my fingers.

”Yum, yum, yummy those pants mold perfectly to his pretty little tush. I completely get you.” She winked and now both our eyes followed him.

He leaned down apparently to hear what his date was saying. They seemed close and intimate, and I couldn't help but gawk at them. She was just as beautiful as him, his opposite and contrast with long blond air, skinny but with curves in a tight red dress that screamed s*x. I sighed and caressed my baby bump that I couldn't hide anymore. This wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

”Excuse me, but I need to use the restrooms, this little one is sitting on my bladder.” Christina made room for me to pass with my belly and I went in search of the restrooms.

It was inevitable that I had to pass the beautiful couple standing at the bar. As I got closer, she got on her tiptoes to lean in and kiss him. Impossible to get past them without getting up close, I had to swipe between them and other people not that easy with my protruding belly in a boisterous crowd.

”Ugh!” I exclaimed but had landed in a pair of strong arms that per reflex had taken hold of me. A man had accidentally pushed me when he had moved from a table.

”Apologies, I'm so clumsy,” I smiled at my rescuer, who caught me with his glistening and more than familiar eyes.

”Emily!” He held onto my arms as I was still in danger of falling. The blonde woman stared at us with a "what-the-f**k" expression on her face.

Vaughn, the gentleman he was, introduced us. ”This is Emily, whom I met in New York right before... Christmas I believe it was.”

Fuck, the i***t didn't even remember when we'd shared our wonderful night together. I put on the prettiest face I could muster, but I was sure that my smile didn't reach my eyes.

”This is Lauren,” he said and continued. ”It is terrific to see you, how have you been?” Finally, his gaze slid down over me. My burgundy dress didn't hide my stomach, and it looked pregnant and not only fat.

”Well, I can see congratulations are in order,” he stuttered.

I didn't know what to say. We couldn't have the discussion right here, but I couldn't pretend it didn't have anything to do with him either. A coward was precisely what I was. I'd had the chance to reach out to him through f*******: but hadn't dared.

”I really have to go to the restroom,” I uttered. ”Are you going to be here when I get back?” He nodded, the smile had somewhat faded as though the truth slowly dawned on him.

Lauren had taken her glass and enjoyed the spectacle before her. ”Well, well, well, what an interesting turn of events, honey." She demonstratively caressed his chest with a red-tipped nail.

I hurried away.