Searching for Me

Chapter 1

Today is my twenty-first birthday and my Uncle Stephen has decided that he needs to throw me an extravagant birthday party. Not once even asking me if this was something I wanted. Did I? Hell no, I wanted to go to a club and hang out with my friends. But I would never tell my uncle no. He’s like a father to me and I respect him too much to disappoint him in any way.

My Uncle Stephen and Aunt Lori took my younger brother Max and me in when our parents died five years ago and they’ve been our rock.

My brother is three years younger than me and started his freshman year at the University of Southern California.  The program he is in requires that he is abroad for the first semester. I love that he decided to go to the same college as I attend. I’m a senior pursuing a business degree.

My uncle has always talked about me working for him at Ashford Finance and I thought that is what I wanted. Only now, that I start to see more and remember more, I think that AF is just a front. A front to a much deeper business that I’m not even sure I want to be a part of.

Just as I slip on my dress my bedroom door slams open and in walks my best friend, Kaci. Kaci and I have been close since before I can remember. We met in kindergarten and have been best friends ever since.

“Hey doll, you look hot!” She says to me as I’m trying to balance and put my heels on.

“You don’t look half bad yourself, chick. I love that color on you.” Kaci is wearing a deep emerald green strapless dress that clings to every gorgeous part of her body. Kaci has the body every girl wishes she could have. The funny part is she doesn’t even care; she eats whatever she wants and never gains a pound. I, on the other hand, have to work like hell to keep my body in shape. Don’t get me wrong, I have a banging body, I just have to work harder than she does.

The dress I’m wearing is probably a little shorter than my uncle would approve, but hell, I only turn twenty-one once, why not live it up. It’s a deep purple dress that wraps around me with flowing material. It’s tight on me, but doesn’t look too tight. I’ve always been told that purple is my color. With my dark hair and my unusual grey eyes, everyone says that the color makes everything pop.

“Are you almost ready to go make your debut birthday girl?” Kaci asks in her crazy-girl voice. She knows I want just about anything for my birthday besides this party. Hell, I would’ve been completely happy with sitting in our house watching movies all night, but no, when my Uncle Stephen decides he is doing something everyone has to drop everything to make sure he’s happy.

“Yeah, let’s get the party started!” I tell her and we go arm and arm out the bedroom door.

We walk into the ballroom, yes my uncle’s place has a ballroom, I don’t know of too many people who still have them, but he does. We are trying to stay unnoticed as long as possible. Yes, I know this party is for me, but I really don’t want all these people I don’t know touching and talking to me.

We are standing back in the shadows so to speak when my uncle notices me. He walks over and pulls me into a hug. “Happy birthday, Gabs, I can’t believe you’re already twenty-one.”

Hugging him back, “Thanks, Uncle, and thanks for the big birthday bash.” I say to him, trying to make my voice sound like I love this.

He says that I’m welcome and moves on to hug Kaci. “Make sure she mingles with all her guests, Kaci.” He says with a wink and is off to talk with his best friend John Morgan.

“Mingle my ass, can we leave yet, Kaci?”

Laughing and pulling me along, “No doll, we need to mingle.”

At least there is good food at this party. That is one thing I can always count on with Uncle’s parties is the food. After Kaci and I fill our plates, we make it over to the table where my aunt is sitting.

“Ah, it's the birthday girl,” my aunt shouts loudly, “Happy birthday, sweetie. I know this isn’t what you wanted and thank you for putting up with your uncle. You know he loves his parties, he just never understands how not everyone is like him.”

This is why I love my Aunt Lori so much. She gets me and reminds me so much of my mom. She is my mom’s younger sister. When she married Uncle Stephen, she not only married him but his business as well. It was actually because of her that my uncle and dad worked together. They wanted to keep everything in the family and with her and my mom being so close they thought it was an awesome idea. The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that whatever my dad and uncle were into led to my parents’ death. I would never voice my opinion out loud, every time I learn something new I grow more distrustful of what’s really going on. I’m sure my aunt doesn’t know everything that goes on, but she has to know that not everything is legal.

“I know, Aunt Lori, uncle loves his parties. I just wish I didn’t have to come to them all.” I say to her with a dramatic sigh.

“Sit and eat, then maybe dance a little and we can see about getting you out of here so you and Kaci can go do whatever you had planned to do before this party.”

“Thanks, Aunt Lori, I love you.”

“Love you to, girly. Just know your parents would be so proud of you.” She says hugging me tight.

Saying thanks, I go back to eating the food, not wanting to talk about my parents any longer. The night didn’t seem to drag as much as I thought it would. My brother Max and my cousin Dane have stayed with us most of the night. I keep looking over at Kaci and my cousin and I swear that there is something going on with them. Maybe it’s just the drinks that I’ve had making me see things that aren’t actually there.

As the night continues to go on, I feel eyes on me. I know is sounds stupid because this party is for me, but the feeling I have isn’t someone just looking at the birthday girl. No, this feeling is something completely different. Looking around again for the billionth time thinking it was going to be like all the other times I’ve looked for the looker and never saw anyone, my eyes land on the hottest man I’ve ever seen.

He’s standing with my uncle and John. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man look that good in a suit. The black and white suit makes him look even darker and more mysterious than anyone I’ve noticed tonight. He has his hands in his pockets and he’s leaning up against the wall just staring. I watch him for a few minutes not wanting to break our eye contact. His deep stare is starting to make my body feel hot. At the same time as my uncle says something to him, Kaci grabs my arm and asks if I’m ready to head out, breaking the spell between me and Mr. Mysterious.

“Yeah, let’s go say goodbye to my uncle and aunt then we can go.”

We walk over to my aunt and tell her we’re leaving. She hugs me and tells us if we need a ride to call her. Now it’s time to go say goodbye to my uncle. I don’t know why I’m hesitant, maybe it’s because he’s still standing there but I suck it up and head over.

Kaci stops me in my tracks, “Wow, do you see that hottie standing with your uncle? Damn he is fine.”

I laugh at her because yes I see him he’s kind of hard to miss, especially now that he’s looking right at me again. I pull Kaci along and interrupt my uncle’s conversation.

“Uncle, John.”

“Hey, Gabs, are you having fun?” My uncle says and John just nods his head in greeting.

“Yes it was a blast, but Kaci and I are heading out. I just wanted to come and say bye and thank you.”

“Well, all right then have fun you two and call if you need a ride. Oh wait, I don’t think you’ve met John’s son. Gabriella, this is Kaleb. Kaleb, this is my niece Gabby.”

He comes a little closer and extends his hand. Knowing the correct etiquette, I put mine out to shake his.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kaleb.” The minute our hands touch it feels like flames are roaming throughout my entire body.

“The pleasure is mine, Gabby, and happy birthday.” He leans down and kisses the top of my hand then slowly releases it.

After Kaci is introduced I grab her arm trying to tell her I need to leave, like right now. I walk to my uncle and give him a big hug thanking him one more time and grab Kaci’s arm and hightail it out of there. I chance one last look behind me and see Kaleb smirking at me. Does he know what that encounter did to me?

Once outside, hoping for Kaci to keep her mouth shut, my hopes went up in flames just like my body did a few minutes ago.

“HOLY HELLS BELLS. He was hot, Gabs, like hotter than hot. And the way he kissed your hand. Damn, I could feel the heat from both of you.” Laughing at her own comment, I can’t help but laugh with her.

“Yeah he was hot, but come on there was nothing there but him being friendly to his dad’s best friend’s niece. Now let’s forget about him and go dancing.”

Agreeing with me, we hurry up and go change into some club clothes. Most girls would wear what we have on but not us. I would rather be in jeans and boots than a dress to dance in the clubs. We call some of our friends and make our way out the door. Only to be stopped by my uncle’s driver Sid.

“Hey, Sid, what’s up?” I ask him.

“Nothing kid, your uncle just wanted me to drive you guys tonight.” He says with a wink. I’ve known him my whole life. He’s been driving my family around forever.

“Sounds like a plan, Sid. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes ma’am, where to tonight, ladies?”

After telling Sid to not call me ma’am and where we are going, we sit back in the car and enjoy the ride. My only problem is Mr. Kaleb Morgan doesn’t want to leave my mind.

Pulling up to Club X, it’s our normal club that we tend to go to only because the age restriction is eighteen so we were able to get in. It’s not that we don’t have fake ID’s it’s just that I feel relaxed in here. My uncle knows the owner and we’re friendly with all the bouncers so it makes me feel safe knowing they are here.

Kaci and I get out of the car and head to the front of the line after telling Sid that we’ll call when we’re ready to go. I see Bubba out front letting people in the club and checking ID’s. I have no idea if that’s his real name or not but that’s all I’ve known him to be called. He really does fit the name. He looks to be about six feet four inches tall and probably weighing about two hundred and thirty pounds. And from the look of it, he’s all muscle. He has short dark spiked hair and from what I’ve seen his eyes are a crystal blue. If I didn’t look to him as someone like an older brother, I would think he was totally hot. The first time I met him our connection was instant but only as brotherly. Kaci on the other hand, I know has hooked up with him. I wouldn’t doubt that they actually still hook up on occasion.

“Hey, Bubs, how’s it going tonight?” I ask him. He’s just standing there looking all gorgeous.

“Really, Gabs, did you think I wouldn’t remember what today is? Com’ here and give me a hug.” I go up to him and his arms wrap tight around me. “Happy birthday, doll.”

I step back and look up into his eyes, “Thanks, Bubba.”

He greets Kaci the same way with a big hug and lets us into the club. Of course we hear all the groans from the people who’ve been standing in line forever but we ignore them and make our way inside.

“Have fun tonight, ladies. You know where I am if you need anything.” Bubba yells out to us as we walk in.

The club is packed tonight and the minute we make it inside my body starts to sway to the music. I love to dance. At one point, I thought that was what I wanted to do. My mom had started teaching me when I was just barely walking. I think that dream died along with my mom.

I yell over the music to Kaci telling her let’s get a drink first so we head towards the bar and wait to give our order.

“Happy birthday, doll, what can I get for you tonight?” Bailey the bartender asks me.

“Hmmm… Kaci, wanna do some shots?”

“Hell yes! Line ‘em up, Bailey. Any type is fine with us.” Kaci says to her.

We slam the first shot back and it burns my throat going down. Just as we put the glasses back on the bar the rest of our friends show up. All dressed to the nines in their outfits. After saying hi to Karen, Kelly and Logan, we yell for Bailey to get us more shots so they can join in on the fun.

Counting to three, we all do the shot and slam them back down. Yelling at me happy ‘birthday to me’ as our glasses hit the bar. I’m the youngest of the gang. Everyone else has been twenty-one for a while now.

When Fancy by Izzy Azalea comes on, we all grab each other and head to the dance floor. Shaking our hips and grinding into each other to the song is fun. Having Logan with us always makes me feel safe. He’s just a tad smaller than Bubba and has blond hair with brown eyes. Very good looking, only thing is he plays for the other team. We’ve been friends with him since seventh grade and he’s the most down to earth person you will ever meet. But if you cross him or someone he loves, he will kick your ass.

By the time I’m done being spun around the dance floor by Logan, I start to get that same tingling feeling from earlier. Only one man has ever made my body feel like this. I instantly look around for him but I’m not seeing anyone. Maybe it’s just my body’s way of telling me it’s time to call it a night. I’m feeling a little buzzed and I know I don’t want to have a hangover tomorrow. I pull my friends from the dance floor and pull out my phone to call Sid when I realize that we’ve been dancing for over three hours. s**t, I feel bad that Sid had to wait this long. Making my call he says he will be out front waiting for us.

We tell Logan, Karen and Kelly, that we’ll talk with them later and knowing that Logan is the DD, I feel comfortable leaving them in the club. Kaci heads out the door first, but something caught my attention and I look over and see him. He’s at a bar table and has some chick grinding all over him. Of course he’s like that. Only thing is, he is not watching her, he is watching me while his hand runs up her leg. With a smirk on his face, I glare back at him, he winks and I go out the door.

Why do all men have to be pigs? He has some chick all up on him but staring a hole right through me. Don’t get me wrong, he can do what he wants but s**t, he has my mind all mixed up. I just need to get home and get some sleep.

“What took you so long?” Kaci whines and I know she’s drunk. She only whines when she’s drunk.

“Nothing. Thought I saw someone, but I didn’t.”

Sid drops us off at our townhouse and helps Kaci inside. After telling me goodnight he walks out and I turn on the alarm. My uncle insisted that we have the safest alarm on the planet. Sometimes it takes way too long to set it, but I always do set it.