Chapter 24 Why are you naked?
To take my mind off the man sitting on the couch, I tried to mingle with the few workers I saw. Astrid didn't attend because she had something to deal with at home, so I was left alone in the sea of unfamiliar faces, sipping my drink, while trying not to look awkward.
One reason I hated social gatherings? The odd stares from people. However, my greatest fear started when we all stood up to exchange pleasantries.
I ended up drinking more than my fair share of wine. Why? I had to pretend I was busy, so I wouldn't be tugged into a conversation I wanted nothing to do with.
After my sixth drink, and getting to meet twenty of the shareholders and overexcited women, who were fans of my works, smiling until my cheeks hurt, and appreciating comments on my dress, I was ready to leave.
I staggered out of the room and towards the restroom, praying I didn't fall on my face from the heels I had on. It was tricky walking on them with how drunk I was, but I would be damned to remove it. Some call it stubbornness, but I call it refinement.
Staggering into the bathroom, I closed the door and headed to the stall. Not like I was pressed or anything. I needed a place to stay, to clear my head until I was sober enough to look for a designated driver. The meet and greet room didn't seem like the best place to do that. Not with the conversations going on, and Dashiell staring at me like I stole something of his.
"What's beauty doing here?" Someone slurred behind me, and I whirled around, appalled to notice a man had walked in behind me. He was the head of the research group, a man who had been gawking at me all night. He looked as drunk as I was, or even more than I was.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, taking a step back. "This is the women's bathroom, you know?"
"Of course, I do." He smiled, grinning sheepishly when I tried to create as much distance between us as I could.
"Then you need to leave."
"Not when there's beauty in here. I'm not leaving." He took some steps towards me, but before he could reach my side, someone kicked the door open, and Dashiell rushed in, his gaze going straight to the man.
"What the hell are you doing in the women's bathroom?"
Asked a man who was also in the ladies' bathroom.
"... Bo...boss." the guy staggered back, awkwardly bowing before he raced out of the restroom, leaving me alone with Dashiell.
"So? Aren't you going with him?" I folded my arms, watching him as I tried to keep my stance, so I wouldn't fall.
"Is this how you appreciate a person who helped you?"
"Helped?" I scoffed at that, taking a step towards the exit. I could tell hiding out here like I planned initially wasn't going to work. "I didn't ask for your help, Dashiell. I can fight him off."
A kick to the groin would have worked perfectly. It wasn't as if I was some kind of damsel in distress.
"Where are you going?" He seized my arm before I could take a step out.
"Home."
I tried to shake his hand off, but his grip remained tight. "Let me fucking go!"
"Not with how tipsy you are." His tone was resolute. "I will take you to a place where you can rest. Let's go."
"No! I'm not going anywhere with you!" I tried to tug my hand from his, but he held on tight, not budging. "You are drunk."
He leaned down and scooped me up before I knew what was happening. When I realized what he had just done, I attempted to push him, but it was like pushing a wall. Not even my screams dazed him.
"Let me go!" I wailed, yelling and hoping someone would hear my scream, but I wasn't lucky. We were too far from where the meet and greet was.
"You are drunk."
"And so are you," I countered.
He didn't bring me down at all. He carried me into an elevator far from the one I took, and before I knew it, we had gotten far from the meet-and-greet room.
"This is my private suite. It's safe. You can rest here," he said as he opened the door and strode in. Closing it behind him, he put me down on my feet and helped me right my stance before he stepped back.
Groaning, I placed my hand on my head, trying to stop the pounding, but it was no use. I threw my purse on the floor and leaned down to remove my shoes, so I could be comfortable. "The bathroom is the first room in the hall if you -"
Before he could complete his words, I was already racing towards the bathroom. Not for the first time, I missed Brion. The first time I got drunk, he was the one who soaked me in a tub of cold water because of how hot I was feeling. Now that I felt like I was burning, I had no one to do it for me. Dashiell was a beast, so I couldn't ask that of him.
Racing towards the bathroom, I removed my gown, leaving just my panties and bra, before I walked towards the Jacuzzi tub. My mind was too hazy to make anything out, else I would have admired the beauty of the penthouse in the 5-star hotel. That was counted as the best.
I dipped myself in the water, keeping my hair away from it until I felt I was better. Though I was still slightly drunk, I wasn't feeling that dizzy.
I took a towel from the rack and tied it around my body before I stepped out, dragging my gown with me.
"Do you, by chance, have any boxer and shirt to spare?" I asked as I walked back to the place he was, only to stop short at the sight in front of me.
Dashiell had removed his suit and was only dressed in nothing but a pair of boxers. My eyes were naturally drawn to the bulge between his legs, but I caught myself and looked away. It was normal. Not like I was guilty of anything. Any woman in such a situation would look, right?
"I do." His eyes took me in, from my head to my toes, slowly sweeping over my frame.
I didn't know what to say. I felt extremely vulnerable dressed only in my bra and the tiny towel. I crossed my arms to shield my exposed body as if that would offer me some kind of protection before I blurted out, "Why are you naked???" I turned my face to the sides, so I wouldn't see him.
"And you are not?" he replied sarcastically.
I didn't bother to turn around. "Can I have a boxer and a shirt please?"
"Why do you need it? Did you have a bath? You are dripping," he murmured. He was directly behind me now and his face was right next to my right ear.
"What the hell are you doing??!" I took some steps back, and he followed me until he had me backed against a wall. I felt him brush up against me. He was rock hard. when he would return from work, and demand I sleep with him. "Step back," I demanded, keeping my gaze away from him so I wouldn't look at his naked body. Five years with no physical contact seemed to catch up with me. It didn't make matters okay when the man I was with was no one but my ex.
reminded me of five years ago,