Sick Like Me (Sick Like #1)

Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

I stood in the full body mirror of Stefan’s room, my hands gliding over the material of the dress as I eyed myself carefully. “The makeup isn’t too much or anything, right?” I asked.

I next to never wore makeup. Not because I didn’t like it or anything, but for the simple fact I was shit at applying it and it took too much effort. I applauded the women who wore it every day, it was time consuming to apply.

Stefan, who had chosen to use the mirror in the bathroom to tie his tie—he claimed it was because the bathroom had better lighting—called back in response. “No, you look great!” He tried to reassure me, but I still felt mildly self conscious.

I hummed lazily in reply, my hands wishing I could run them through my hair. But I had to be strict with myself, I had to make sure I looked perfect for a few hours. At least until everyone was drunk enough that they would start to care less and less about appearances as they too got messy in their drunk hazes.

My eyes wandered from the dress to my makeup. My eyes found my lips firstly. I had used a lip gloss, clear in colour, to add a bit of shine and to make sure my makeup remained understated yet elegant .

That, and I knew if I scoffed too much food it would get all over my face and stain my skin if I wore any lipstick of a vivid colour.

My eyes wandered higher, the dusting of pink on my cheeks accented with a small dusting of white highlighter on the highest part of my cheeks, where my bones stuck out ever so slightly.

My eyes wandered up to look at them directly in the reflection of the mirror. I noted my eyeshadow was barely there, but it still gave the faintest of colour to make my blue eyes stand out the slightest bit. I used a pale grey eyeshadow, and barely a dusting of a little black eyeshadow to smoke out the look before I highlighted the inner corner of my eyes with some melted white eyeliner—a trick I learnt from Peyton.

I smiled, nodding in appreciation. I was never good at doing makeup, but surprisingly I had pulled off the subtle look. I then let my eyes wander to my hair for the final time.

My golden hair was half tied back, the other half let loose to dangle down as it wished. I had curled the ends, hoping to add some depth to the look. I was bad at makeup, but when it came to styling my hair, I was even worse.

Stefan came out from the bathroom, his tie intact and snug against his neck. He smiled at me as he walked to the wardrobe to grab his jacket, baby blue to match his trousers. “Are you ready to go?” He asked, to which I nodded and turned to the bed to pick up the silver clutch bag I had thrown on it earlier.

“Ready when you are,” I stated.

“Mind if I throw my stuff in your bag?” Stefan asked, shovelling up his phone, wallet and room card from the breakfast table all in one hand. He smiled sheepishly as he looked from his hand to me. “I don’t want to shove them in my trousers because they’re too tight already, and I’m worried if I fill my pockets I’ll burst the button.”

I raised an eyebrow as I placed a closed fist on my hip, even jutting it out. I looked him up and down, shaking my head. “So much for being 75% sure everything was perfect,” I teased. “Surprised your missus even let you bring those if they’re that tight.”

But then I let my arm drop and I laughed before nodding my head. I then opened my clutch from the small tab on top before holding it wide open out to him. “Come on then, shove them in.”

Stefan took two long, fluid steps to me and dropped his items inside the bag. Despite the heeled black boots I wore, Stefan was still taller than me, which he was self conscious about. He was tall and lanky, which was why he was trying to bulk up his muscles at the gym.

I closed the bag, and then Stefan held his elbow out with a goofy smile to me. I raised an eyebrow as I stared at his arm with confusion, to which he rolled his eyes and laughed. “Grab my arm, you muppet.”

I did as he requested, wrapping my arm around his. And with that, Stefan led me out of the room and we began the walk down to the foyer.

“Would your girlfriend not get jealous if she saw us like this?” I asked, gently nudging him as I teased him.

Stefan made a faux gag noise and twisted his face into a look of disgust. “Shut it will you, you’re like an older sister and she knows that.”

I laughed as I made sure to keep an eye on my feet, ensuring I stayed in step with him. I wasn’t used to wearing heels anymore, and I was pretty positive if I didn’t pay attention, I would end up flat on my arse with a twisted ankle.

Other staff members, some I knew quite well and some I had only seen in passing once or twice, walked through the hallway and down the stairs to the same area we were seeking out. It seemed as if the turnout was looking good, and I nodded as I pulled an impressed face to Stefan.

When we got to the foyer, we found in the time we had spent getting ready The Manor had placed little blackboards with pale blue and white writing on them, pointing the King Family Furniture employees in the right direction.

We made our way out the front doors, both sets, as the signs pointed us to. Outside we found a row of golf carts, seemingly ready to take us to one of the function tents I assumed. Stefan and I both shot each other a look, once again confirming how we were both impressed by how fancy the event was kicking off to be.

But then again, anything to make Mr King impressed. I wished the Christmas parties were half as extravagant—and I had no doubt everyone else was thinking the same after the poor turn out of last year.

We got to the nearest golf cart, and the staff member checked our names against a tablet they had in their hand before they allowed us to climb in. The staff member then began the drive, and we held on tight as we looked around with wide eyes.

Other golf carts whizzed around, and I had to bite back a laugh at how strange the whole thing felt to me. Within no time, we pulled up to a gravel road that led to what seemed to be a barn that looked to be renovated to host functions.

I could see from the open doors that inside, there was a wood floor with large wooden rustic tabled lined up more so to one side of the room.

The golf cart stopped, and Stefan climbed out first before he extended his hand out to me. I smiled and took it, then stepped off the golf cart after him. He let go of my hand shortly after, and we walked side by side to the open doors.

Once inside, I had to stop the gasp begging to form on my lips. There were already a good few people inside the barn, I noted. They were all sipping varying drinks, and I looked around to find in a cut out on the right wall stood a bar, a blackboard above it with white writing reading FREE BAR .

The barn had exposed wooden beams along the ceiling, white fairy lights twisted around them to add some light into the room without making it too bright.

“I’m going to get us some drinks, you go snag us some seats by Casey will you?” Stefan didn’t bother to wait around for my response as he rushed off to the bar, rubbing his hands together as he eyed the varying drinks with careful consideration.

I let out a soft sigh, but the smile remained on my lips. The place was beautiful, I couldn’t help but think.

And once again my mind wandered to what it would be like to have a wedding there. I imagined staying in a beautiful honeymoon suite, and getting married under an elegant flower arch in the fields before the reception was to be held in the beautiful barn later in the afternoon.

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside. I didn’t even have a boyfriend, bear in mind a fiancé. There was no reason to be planning a hypothetical wedding.

I looked around the tables, trying to scout out the greying hair of Casey. But before I could find her, my attention was diverted when I felt a warm hand touch my lower back from behind.

I gasped at the sudden contact and turned, fully prepared to tell whoever touched me to not so nicely fuck off, only to be met face to face with Owen fucking Greenwich.

I tried my best to school my expression, but I had no doubt I was staring at him like some deer stuck in headlights. Stefan was going to have a field day knowing her was here, I couldn’t help but curse myself.

I had known he was considering coming, but he said his sister had broken her arm a few days ago when she tried to ride his skateboard without any help. I hadn’t even bothered to confirm if he was coming or not, and I had avoided his messages all day—a fact I hoped he had not picked up on and had assumed I was just too busy getting ready to reply.

I tried my best to keep the smile on my lips, my eyes trying their hardest not to scan the room for a place to run away to. “Owen, hey,” I smiled.

Owen went in for a hug, and at first my brain malfunctioned as I was at a loss as to how to respond. But as I felt his hands snake around my sides to my back, I threw my arms around his neck in a rushed attempt to hug him and then I pulled away.

Owen looked surprised by how quick I was to push him away. I had never done that before, and when we had been together in private I was more than willing to be touchy with him. But in a room with our co-workers, where only a handful of people knew I had been dating him? I was not going to risk any rumours spreading about me.

He may not have cared, but I did.

“You look lovely,” He commented after he took a few minutes to compose himself after my sudden rejection.

I let out a small laugh, looking down at the floor for a second before I looked back up at him. “Thank you,” I replied softly, not even sure he could hear my voice over the music which had begun playing through the speakers.

“I’ll catch you later, save me a dance, yeah?” He gently rest his hand on my forearm before he turned and walked off in the direction of a group of other men, all also in suits—half of them with their backs to me.

I wondered if any of them were part of the external finance company hired by Mr King.

Stefan cleared his throat from behind me, and I turned in surprise for the second time that night. I looked at his hands, a pint of bitter shandy in one hand for me, and a San Fransisco cocktail in his other hand for himself.

I took my drink and smiled sheepishly, to which Stefan raised a playful eyebrow. His eyes looked behind me to the group which Owen joined, and then back at me. I sighed, turning away from him as I made my way to the table where Casey and a few others from our department were situated around .

“Not right now,” I warned Stefan with a slight glare.

He held up his free hand in mock surrender. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He began, his lips turning up into a devious smirk. “But I think I just saw our boyfriend, Owen,” He spoke in a sing-song tone.

I turned to him and lightly slapped him in the stomach with my hand before I pulled up the chair opposite Casey. I smiled at her, placing my drink on one of the coasters. But Casey’s eyes never once found me, instead she seemed to be looking through me, around me.

It felt like the room fell into silent whispers, the music becoming deafeningly loud in the quiet. I frowned and turned to look over my shoulder, only to find Mr and Mrs King enter in matching clothing. Mrs King wore a pale green dress, long and flowy held up by straps around her shoulders, and Mr King wore a matching suit in the same colour, but with a white shirt to accompany it.

“They have to be the hottest couple in the whole of the UK,” I heard Stefan mutter to someone sat beside us. I laughed and rolled my eyes, turning back to face the middle of the table. I was sure the Kings had enough eyes on them—and they would all night.

“I bet you wish you and your girlfriend could be half as powerful as the Kings,” Casey stated as she grabbed her glass of white wine and stood. She used her hands to brush off imaginary dust from her clothes. “Do I look okay?”

I nodded my head with a smile, picking my drink up to take a gulp. I knew I needed alcohol to get through the night. “You look great,” I finally replied as I placed my drink back down.

“I better get over there before Colin comes hunting for me,” Casey stated, placing her purse on the table. “Keep my spot for me, I shan’t be long,” She stated before she waltzed off in the direction of the company owners.

Stefan gasped and leant close to me, the smell of orange juice thick on his breath as he whispered into my face, “Your boyfriend is there chatting up Mrs King.”

“He’s not my fucking—” I began, but as I turned my head to look behind me where the couple stood, I let my lips part in surprise for a moment.

I noted Owen stood beside Mrs King, his smile radiant and infectious. But it wasn’t Owen who had stolen my attention, it was the man slotted between Colin and Casey who I couldn’t keep my eyes off of.

The man stood slightly angled so it was only a portion of his face I could see, but something about him was unmistakeable, recognisable.

Stood before me, across the room in a navy suit and black dress shirt stood a familiar man. His dark brown hair was cut short, and his short beard looked neatly, freshly trimmed. In the dark lighting of the barn, it was hard to be sure it was him.

But then he let out a laugh and the smile on his face was one I had seen in photos, and I was positive it was him.

Dakota fucking Vernon.

I felt my throat get tight as I let out a breath of air. He was here. Why the fuck was he here? He told me he worked in the finance sector, sure, but I never thought his company was the one Mr King had hired.

I was fucked. Royally fucked.

Stefan seemed to notice the change in my demeanour and frowned, placing a gentle hand on my arm to try to call for my attention. “Ash, butty, are you okay? You look pale…”

But I ignored Stefan as I stared at him from across the room. No, surely not. Surely it wasn’t him. Maybe it was another man who looked just like him? I tried to reason.

But as if he could sense my presence, sense my eyes on him… He turned from the slight angle he stood at to then face me fully. His eyes seemed to scan the room lazily, but within no time, they locked in on mine .

It was undeniably him.

I had seen him only in photos, sure, but he looked just like the ones I had secretly screenshot from his dating profile—photos I sometimes sneaked a look at when I was awaiting his responses.

His social media accounts were private, so I didn’t have access to much, but from the profile photo I had seen with his large smile, I was 100% positive he was the man stood across the room from me, sucking the air from around me.

Somehow, despite the distance that separated us, I could see his eyes were not the grey I believed them to be. The room lighting was dark, but his eyes were such a vivid green I could even see them from my seat.

“Beautiful,” I heard my voice whisper, to which I shook my head and tried to pull myself out of my staring trance.

As if the man had heard me, Kota Vernon quirked an eyebrow. It was as if he was teasing me.

He knew I would be there, I had told him weeks ago about the work event. And he never once told me he would be attending an event in the area, bear in mind the same one. Did he keep it a secret from me on purpose?

My face flushed hot at the extended eye contact, and I had to force my eyes to pull away from him.

I took in a deep breath, but it felt as if my lungs were getting no relief. I slammed my hand on the table as I stood, accidentally calling for the attention of the people around me. Stefan looked wide eyed and surprised. He looked as if he was going to stand with me, but I held my hand out to him to urge him to remain seated.

I placed my clutch bag down on the table and forced a smile at Stefan as I said coolly, “I’ll be back now, I’m just going to the bathroom.”

I didn’t bother waiting for a response as I turned on my heels and walked around the table. I looked around, frantic. I noticed signs pointing to the toilets, and sure enough I had to walk past Mr King and his crowd that consisted of both Owen and Kota.

Despite my throat feeling as if I had a noose around it, tightening with every second passing, I took in another deep breath before I kept my head straight. I walked right past the group of people, ignoring Casey when she tried to call for my attention.

I reached the toilet door without a hiccup, and slammed it open. I walked through the small hallway in a rush, reaching the door with the woman symbol on it before I slammed through that one too.

The bathroom was empty, thank fuck.

So I made my way to the sink and turned on the cold tap. I was about to cup my hands to throw water on my face, but then I realised it would mess up my makeup. So instead I turned and entered one of the toilet stalls and grabbed a roll of toilet paper.

I made my way back to the sink and hurriedly wrapped the toilet roll around my hand a few times before I placed it under the cold tap, wetting the paper. Once cold and wet, I placed the paper against my forehead to try and cool my skin.

I felt like I had woken up in a nightmare, and Kota was the demon hunting me down.

I wasn’t sure if I was angry and upset, or surprised.

Angry and upset, because he knew where I worked and what I was doing, but he never once told me he would be attending the same event as me.

Surprised, because I never thought I would meet him, bear in mind have to work with him in some capacity.

Despite the shock, my heart thudded loudly in my ribcage, as if begging for me to go back out there and spend the night admiring his beauty. I barely had a long enough look at him to engrave his face into my mind, so why an extended glance seemed to affect me so much was a mystery to myself.

I pursed my lips and let out a sigh before I finally pulled the wet paper from my head. I felt I had cooled down enough and I was in a good enough condition to go back out there.

I knew Stefan would have questions, but I had hoped in the time I was gone, he had noted the man stood across the room from us. He had seen photos of him, and had even claimed he was positive he had seen the man before. A thought that mortified me.

I decided the best way to get through the night without making a hiccup was to act like he wasn’t there. I had to keep my head high and a drink in my hands. Only then would I be relaxed enough to forget he even existed.

Or so I hoped.