***I didn’t go to the site with Luke the next day. I stayed in my room, and fortunately, I needed to make a gazillion calls and check the paperwork for the new hotel. I had breakfast and then ate lunch by myself. Luke and Adam would be working together at the site until the next day. My boss did not call, so I guessed it was fine.
It was five o'clock when I finished the paperwork. I was suffering from a backache, but I still needed to prepare for the awards night in the evening. Henry hadn’t called yet, but I was preparing for the event anyway.
I opened my suitcase and unfurled the only dress I could bring. It was a strapped, long, crimson red dress. The neckline was a low V cut. I only wore it once, when Claire celebrated her twenty-first birthday. I would match it with my nude heels.
I did not care if I look pretty in front of Henry, unlike before. However, he deserved a friend to be with him, and I didn’t want to embarrass him. He might be expecting an award, and I would be walking on the stage with him, so I needed to look attractive. I also did not want to look depressed since I did not get enough sleep last night for thinking about Adam all night.
A call from Luke came a minute later that snapped me out of my thoughts. I answered right away, putting the loudspeaker on.
“Julia, are you done with the spreadsheet? I need to email that later to my father,” he queried.
“I'll forward it to you. How was the site tour?”
“It was great. Are you getting ready for the awards night?”
“I'm still preparing. Why?”
“Someone just invited me at the last minute, but you already agreed to come with Adam's brother. I guess I'll just take Nina. Is she busy?”
“I don't know—wait a sec, Luke.” I grabbed toiletries from my bag. “I haven't been out of my room since morning.”
“I guess I'll just ask her then. I’ll come by to get you so we can go there together.”
“Hmm,” I hummed. “Sure. I'll see you later.”
He hung up, then I stepped into the bathroom.
Luke came to my door an hour and a half later, and Nina was already with him. I always knew that she had a crush on our boss, but who wouldn’t? Luke was as gorgeous as hell. Damn, right now, he looked like a movie star in his tuxedo. Nina wore a long fuchsia body-hugging dress. She had also curled her short, raven hair.
“Wow, look at you. You are beautiful, Nina. I'm glad you came.”
“I can't say no to the boss, can I?”
I nodded, then gazed up at Luke. “And you, I always see you in a suit, so I guess you look fine,” I joked.
He laughed. “And you are perfect in that dress, Julia.”
“Thank you. Now, shall we?”
“Of course.”
Luke offered both his arms for Nina and me as we moved to the elevator.
We came down the great hall, and I still hadn’t heard from Henry, but I was sure that he was already inside. I stopped at the hall entrance.
“What?” Luke asked.
“I’m supposed to wait for Henry here.”
“Julia, it’s ugly to wait here alone. You can wait for him inside.”
“Okay, you are right.”
Stepping inside, I was stunned at the sight in front of us. The great hall was filled with ornamented tables with white and black motifs, and the people were in their fancy designer outfits. I did not expect that it was going to be a big event. It was as if I came to watch the Oscars or something. Not to mention, we were also in Los Angeles. Thankfully, I matched the dress code.
“This is huge,” I whispered to Luke as we strolled the walkway. There were cameramen snapping pictures of the guests walking on the red carpet. There were also reporters interviewing celebrities.
Luke waved confidently in front of the cameras. I smiled as well, so I wouldn’t look shocked in the photos. Nina kept her hand on Luke's arm.
“Is this for real?” I breathed in astonishment.
“I attended last year, too, and it was a great experience.”
Luke took us to a VIP table reserved under his name and his company written in a beautiful script font. Sweet jazz music was playing by the live orchestra on the left side.
“I guess there's a table for Henry, too. Do you mind if I just look for him?”
“Trust me. You don't want to do that. No one here does that. You can sit here with us and wait for him until he sees you,” Luke said in an authoritative voice.
I simply nodded. He knew about the event more than I did.
Cocktail drinks and appetizers were the first served on the tables. I was a bit thirsty, so I just sat on an empty seat beside Nina.
“Oh, there's the cupcake.” I noticed and picked the cutest one. I guess I would hang out with them a bit.
“Do you want wine, Julia?” Nina asked.
“Sure.” She gave me a glass of red wine. I took a sip and nibbled on the cupcake.
I caught Luke staring at me.
“What? It’s delicious,” I told him. “You're supposed to eat this if they put it here, right?”
He chuckled. “I didn't say anything.”
“Try one, Nina.” I picked another one. “Say ah,” I said. She opened her mouth, then I fed it to her.
“See? It’s delicious.”
“Yeah,” she agreed while chewing. “It’s sweet.”
“Hey, make sure that I get to dance with both of you later.”
“There’s a dance?”
“Yes, there’s a party after the awarding,” Luke said and then drank his scotch.
“Sure.” I nodded, then I took another sip of my wine. I realized that I wanted real food.
“Nina?” Luke called.
“Of course, sir. Let’s dance later.” She giggled.
I smiled at her, realizing that I was just like her when I first met Henry. I smiled at the thought as well.
Another minute later, Nina and I cheerfully spoke about the current project, then she began talking about herself. She was a year younger than me, and she had already worked for Luke for three years.
Nina thought that she wasn’t beautiful. She only wore oversized clothes and unmatched colors of skirts and blouses in the office—just like me when I started working as an intern. I used to not care about what I looked like until Henry and Adam Cavendish.
A slight squeeze on my shoulders interrupted our laughter. I glanced over my shoulder and found Henry grinning sweetly at me.
“Hey!” I greeted him. Nina squealed quietly but swiftly clasped her mouth in surprise, probably captivated by how good-looking he was.
“I'm sorry. I'm late.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Oh, you have company.”
“Yes, this is Luke Alejandro, my boss, and this is Nina. She also works in our hotel.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alejandro,” Henry greeted him, then Luke immediately stood from his seat and shook his hand. “The pleasure's mine. Congratulations on your restaurant. I used to eat there when I was near the town.”
“Oh, you should visit again sometime, and we'll have a drink,” Henry answered, then smiled back.
“Sure, why not,” Luke agreed.
“Am I looking at Mr. Cavendish's doppelganger or something? My name's Nina,” she said, then she extended a hand to him. Henry gave her hand a quick squeeze and laughed.
“It's because you're looking at one. I'm Henry Cavendish.”
“He's Adam Cavendish's brother,” I informed.
“Oh, I guess that's why. You almost look like twins,” she said.
“You don't mind if I take Julia now? My table's over there. It isn't too far.”
“Sure, Mr. Cavendish,” Luke agreed.
“Let's meet on the dance floor later,” Nina reminded me.
“Yes. I'll meet you later. You too, boss.”
“You owe me a dance,” he whispered in my ear, then he let me go. I stood then Henry helped me carry my purse.
“You look ravishing in that dress,” Henry complimented as he was checking me out from my nude heels to my face. “You’re beautiful.”
“You look handsome, yourself.” I was sure the black three-piece-suit he was wearing was brand new. “Are you getting an award tonight?”
“Oh, how I wish. It could give a good image for my restaurant,” he said. He walked me to the other side of the hall.
“Julia, wait.” He stopped before we could find our table.
“Yes?”
“Adam's here. He's invited. Since we're brothers, his table is next to ours. You don't mind, right?” His expression was quite worried. He did not know that I just had a conversation with his brother last night.
“Sure. It's okay,” I lied. It would not be fine if he brought Bianca along since he seemed so eager to marry her.