Chapter 5

Chapter 05

It was the third day of the conference.

Not much had happened yesterday, really.

The conference had gone smoothly, just like the first one had. The Ronald brothers brought in different guest speakers and they were just as inspiring as the previous ones had been. It held on quite longer than the first though but it was much more exciting.

Chris and I didn't have the chance to speak with Dean the entire time. Between the herd of people he was occupied with and Amber who was glued to his side, to the amount of people Chris and I got to mingle with, there really wasn't any time.

Being the third and final day of the conference, the Ronald brothers had decided to make it more of a dinner event. It was held in the same building, just not a conference hall this time. I, for one, felt it was a nice way to wrap it up.

The setting was breathtaking.

Everything looked so beautiful and luxurious. From the different tables arranged everywhere, to the glass and chinaware that were being flashed around by the waiters, to the drooping lights and chandeliers hung on the ceilings high above our heads.

Everyone present dressed as elegantly to fit the occasion and so did Chris and I.

Chris had worn one of his best tuxedos. He didn't wear the bow tie that came with it though, he just left the first three buttons open, revealing his silver neck piece and his chest underneath it. He also had one of his best black dress shoes on and his hair was styled neatly on his head.

I was dressed in a red dress that was of silk fabric and had a corset which snatched my waist perfectly. My heels were silver and so was my clutch. My makeup was mild; I hadn't done too much for it apart from the statement red lipstick which matched the colour of my dress.

"Bro, this is fucking awesome." Chris said, probably as in awe of the place as I was.

"Yeah, it is."

Just as we began making our way to a table, a familiar voice who called out my name made us stop in our tracks.

"Grace Anderson." Said the voice mellifluously.

Harry and Benny Ronald walked in short strides before stopping in front of Chris and I.

"Harry. Benny." I smiled at both of them.

Hugs were exchanged within the three of us while they exchanged handshakes with Chris.

The Ronald brothers were rather good looking.

They both looked a lot alike although Benny was a few years older than Harry. They had really worked their way up investing in so many business ventures that they were one of the richest men in the West Coast. They were both tech geniuses and were taking the crypto currency world by storm.

It was quite inspiring really.

"You look amazing." Harry said to me, his voice deep and calming.

"Thank you." I smiled. "As do you."

"Sorry, we haven't really gotten the chance to officially speak to you." Harry said again. "Between hosting and being busy with a lot of things that had to be done, we didn't really get the chance."

"It's no problem at all." I told him truthfully. "I understand."

"We were both really happy that you could make it." It was Benny's turn to speak. "Hope you two have enjoyed the conference so far."

"We have, it has been truly inspiring." Chris said to him.

"Thank you Chris Walker." Benny replied him. "You're a photographer, correct?"

Chris looked almost surprised, "Yeah, how did you-"

"My friend, Freddy, mentioned you." Benny told him. "I take it you're pretty good."

I could tell Chris was trying his best to hide how excited he was to hear that.

Chris and Benny became engrossed in their conversation about photography and Harry skilfully pulled me aside, offering me his arm which I immediately held in my hand.

"May I lead you to your table?" He said soothingly.

"Would be my pleasure."

He chuckled, "My brother and I are huge fans of your work, Grace. Me especially."

"Thank you." I felt my cheeks heat up. "That means a lot."

"I've always loved to read." He said to me. "By the time I was 14, I had read nearly half a thousand novels."

"Really?" I was surprised.

It was the same for me. I loved to read when I was little, my eyes were always glued to one book or the other.

"Yes." He chuckled when he took in how surprised I was at the fact. "My mother was a librarian and she would bring home stories because she knew how intrigued I was by them. When I was littler and she would read me bedtime stories, I always tried my best to read along with her. I learned how to read pretty fast that sometimes, I'd be the one to read to her."

"Your mom seems amazing." I smiled at the story.

"Yeah." He smiled as well, but it seemed distant. "She was."

I almost wore a sad look, "Oh-"

"What about you?" He said almost immediately. "Was it the same for you?"

"I'm afraid it was." I bit on my lip. "My love for reading bred about my ability to write. There wasn't any form of literature I wasn't in love with. And while I read, I learned one new thing or the other, you know? New words, new facts, new things in general and there was always this thing in me that told me I could do it as well. That I could be one of the talented writers I admired so much."

He smiled.

"I had this pink little journal and I wrote my first short story ever when I was 12." I continued. "My mom was the first person I gave to read it and she was so impressed. After that, she bought me more colourful journals and I would scribble anything in them when I felt like. Poems, essays, stories; anything."

"Your mother seems like an excellent woman as well." His smile widened.

"Yeah, she is."

"Excuse me." A waiter said nervously behind us as he tried to pass with the tray of drinks he was holding.

It was in that moment I realised that Harry and I had stopped walking and were simply standing on a spot, talking.

"Oh, sorry." I said to the waiter as Harry and I gave way for him to pass.

Immediately he did, Harry and I looked to each other and chuckled.

"You are an intriguing woman, Grace Anderson." The words travelled out of his mouth quixotically.

I bit down on my lip as I felt heat on my cheeks, "Thank you."

"I would love to take you out on a date." He said straightforwardly. "Somewhere where it's just us two and I can get to know you better."

I was flattered really.

"Look, Harry, you're a really nice person and you're very attractive too." I started, smiling. "But I'm honestly not interested in being with anyone right now, plus I'm heading back to England next week."

"That won't be a problem for me." He shook his head. "I travel a lot."

"You don't understand, I-"

"Harry, my man!" A male voice which exclaimed Harry's name cut me off abruptly.

Harry and I tore our eyes from each other, looking forward to see a young man who was almost as tall as he was, standing next to Dean Ryan who had his girlfriend glued to his side.

"David!" Harry shared the excitement of the man who had exclaimed his name. "So nice to see you, man."

Dean and I immediately made eye contact.

"Grace."  He said nicely, a small smile on his face.

"Dean." I returned his smile and shifted my eyes to his girlfriend. "Amber."

She gave a curt nod.

Harry politely exchanged greetings with Dean and Amber before saying, "Grace, this is my good friend, David Freeman. David, this is Grace Anderson."

"Lovely to meet you." David said, extending his hand.

"You too." I grinned, shaking it.

"I take it you already know my sister, Amber." David said, taking a quick look from me to Amber.

Oh.

I tried not to seem surprised, "Yeah, we've met."

I instinctively looked to Dean again and I don't know if I was just imagining things but his eyes were on my hand which was hooked to Harry's arm for a split second before they focused on mine.

"Why don't we all have a seat, yeah?" David suggested.

I don't know if Harry was about to agree to that but I quickly jumped in, "Uh, I'd really love to but um, my best friend would kill me if we don't sit at the same table and it's, you know, just five to a table. So, uh, thank you."

I was freaking stuttering and I hated every second of it.

I didn't even want to know how dumb I sounded. But I'd take that any day than having to sit in a table with Dean and Amber while she glared daggers at me. I completely understood if she had any resentment toward me but the thing is I didn't really have much of a take on her.

Apart from the brief conversation we had on our first encounter, she hadn't really said much to me enough to be sure on if she really disliked me or not. But I wasn't about to find out.

I genuinely just didn't want her thinking that I was coming for her man or whatever. Because I wasn't.

"Oh, okay then." David's nice smile did not waver. "It's no problem at all."

"If you'll excuse us." Harry said before leading both of us away from the three of them.

Dean and I shared one last look before we were both out of sight.

"Well, that was bloody awkward." Harry said immediately we were out of hearing range.

I looked to him and couldn't help but laugh, "Oh God, even you could see it. I just kept stuttering like a crazy person."

Harry laughed as well, "Yeah. Bet that had to do with the fact that he was the Jay to your Abby."

My jaw almost fell to the floor, "Wait, how did you-"

His laughter increased when he saw how shocked I was, "It doesn't take too much to piece two and two together. I didn't know for sure before but seeing how awkward you two were back there and the shifty semi-prolonged stares, my mind quickly remembered both your middle names which I saw when Benny and I were sending out invites. That couldn't have been a coincidence."

I chuckled, still feeling a little surprised, "Okay, Detective Ronald."

"Would you mind if I ask what happened between you two?" He asked.

"Uh-"

"There you are!" Benny Ronald's voice cut me off abruptly.

Thank you, Jesus.

Harry and I looked to his brother, who was standing beside my best friend, Chris.

"We have to say a few words, remember?" Benny said to his brother.

"Right." He nodded before looking at me. "I have to go for a while but our conversation isn't over, Grace."

That was the last thing he said before he gave my hand a gentle pat and walked away with his brother.

* * * *

Chris and I were seated at a table where it was just us and a man we had just met and had a brief conversation with. There were food and drinks in front of us and it all looked mouthwatering and delightful.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the Ronald brothers who stood on stage, addressing the audience.

"My brother and I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be part of this conference." Benny said into his mic, gratitude in his voice. "The past two days, and today, have been a huge success and none of it would've been possible without you all."

Everyone applauded.

"Benny and I spent months planning this. And we are so happy that it turned out greater than we could've ever imagined." Harry added, looking just as grateful as his brother did.

"Well, Harry Ronald is fucking hot." Chris said beside me.

You don't have to tell me.

"I agree." I said, my eyes still fixed on Harry. "My eyes get an orgasm just looking at him."

Chris laughed, "What?!"

I laughed too.

"You two seemed to be really kicking it off earlier." He winked when I looked at him.

"Yeah, he did kind of ask me out."

Chris' eyes widened, "Oh, my God!"

I chuckled at how dramatic he was being, "Calm your tits, I turned him down."

"Why in the world would you-"

I gave him a knowing look, "You know why. And please, if Harry and I do speak again this evening, don't you dare try to do any of that Cupid shit."

Chris groaned, "Harry is beautiful! And a multi-millionaire. What in the world is wrong with you?"

"I don't want to be with anyone." I shrugged. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Um, yea-"

Harry and Benny's speech came to an end and everyone applauded loudly and so did I, hoping that it would get Chris off my back.

When the sounds of clapping subsided, Chris looked to me again and said, "Grace, hear me out-"

"I gotta use the bathroom." I cut him off, taking my purse in hand and standing from my seat.

"Grace-"

"Love you." I said as I continued to walk away.

I was out of the hall where the dinner was being held and I looked around, having no clue where to head to. I noticed a worker who was standing just a few feet away from me and approached her.

"Hey." I said to her. "Where can I find the bathroom please?"

"Just keep walking down that hallway, last door by your right." She kindly directed.

"Thank you." I gave her a small smile before I walked away from her, following her directions.

When I got to the end of the hallway, I pushed open the door to my side and made my way in.

I was shocked to see the back of a man who stood slouched over the counter, one hand on its surface and the other on the wall of the bathroom beside him.

"Oh, my bad. I thought this was-"

On hearing my voice, he turned to me almost startled and I was shocked to see Dean's eyes staring back at me.

"Dean?" I couldn't keep the shock out of my tone.

I had no idea what was going on but I knew for a fact that he didn't look okay. His hair was messy, like he had ran his hand through it one too many times. There was this troubled look in his eyes and there was panic written all over his face. His hands were shaking frantically and he looked completely out of it.

"Oh, my God, Dean." I rushed to his side, my heart racing rapidly in fear and worry. "Are you okay? What happened?"

I don't know if he didn't want to say anything or he really couldn't bring himself to. He just kept breathing raggedly while his body trembled.

I was worried.

I was worried and scared for him.

I had to force myself not to panic but I didn't even know exactly what to do.

"Uh, wait right here, okay?" I said, almost terrified as I placed my hand on his. His entire body seemed to stiffen at that single action. "I'm gonna go get Amber."

I was already about to bolt out of the door when he placed his other hand on mine, stopping me.

"No, Chip, wait." His voice sounded so shaky. "D-Don't, please."

My breaths came out ragged as I look at him confusedly.

"Just-" he managed to let out. "J-Just..."

"It's okay, it's okay." I tried my best to sound calming. "Everything's gonna be fine."

I didn't know if it was the right thing to do but I had no idea what else to do so I hugged his body close to mine. His head immediately fell to my shoulders and he wrapped his arms around me. My heart hammered against my chest as I rubbed his back in a soothing manner, continuously whispering the words;

"You'll be okay."

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