30
Nathaniel
"I'm going on record saying this is not a good idea," I grumble under my breath as we stand on the outside of the crowd at the event hall.
Yesterday afternoon, Adriano called Georgina's assistant Jane and sweet-talked her into telling him where Georgina would be tonight. As it turns out, Jane is more skilled in negotiation tactics than my cutthroat agent, so the price of that knowledge was donating to tonight's auction to support Georgina's father's re-election campaign: dinner with two of Colorado's "golden boys."
"Yeah, well she left because of your bright idea not to tell her anything about your negotiations. Let's go apologize. We were idiots and we screwed up. Georgina is reasonable. She'll understand."
You made me fall for you - for both of you.
Her words have run through my head all night.
I'm on edge. I've been on edge since Georgina walked out the door after I told her about the bidding war. To be honest, I was on edge the second my agent called with the news about Dallas and Miami in the first place. Before Georgina, the only thing tying me to Colorado was my family. I love them, but they understand that my plan has always been to go where the best team is. Playing for the best team has never been about the money, though; it's always been about my desire to play the best football I can, to be part of the best team I can.
I've never had any loyalty to a place. Hell, I never had any reason to before Georgina, before whatever the hell is happening between the three of us, before she somehow became our girlfriend and I somehow became unable to picture a future that didn't involve sharing her with Adriano.
"This is anything but discreet," I hiss. "You think no one is going to notice us talking to her?"
Adriano shrugs. "So? We'll wait until she's alone."
"She's the president's daughter. She's never alone."
Adriano gives me a look. "She's been alone with us plenty of times."
Suddenly, there's movement in the crowd, and I catch a glimpse of Georgina looking breathtakingly beautiful in a long black gown, her hair pulled up on top of her head.
Talking to a man.
A man who's leaning in close to her, his hand on her arm, looking like far more than just an acquaintance.
Adriano sees them at the same time I do. "Should we kill him?" he growls.
"She's not with that guy," I tell him, sounding far more casual than I feel right now. Right now, I feel like walking up to them, punching him in the mouth for talking to her, and throwing her over my shoulder like a caveman so Adriano and I can show her exactly who she belongs to. That makes me a pig. I know it does. The rational part of me knows it does. Which is why I stand there, not throwing anyone over my shoulder or punching anyone.
"Look at him. He's a suit."
"We're wearing suits, in case you haven't noticed."
"We're wearing tuxedos because this is a black tie event," I say. "We're not suits."
The guy leans in close again, and adrenaline and anger course through me at the sight of her and another man. I clench my hands into fists at my side. He's standing there, with his mouth near her ear and it's all I can do to not walk over there and stake my claim on her – our claim on her – right in the middle of everyone. "Yeah, killing him sounds good," I admit.
But we don't get to kill – or even tackle – anyone because right then, Georgina's gaze meets ours, and her eyes go wide.
Then she turns and disappears into the crowd.
I'm about to follow her, but Adriano stops me. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"You were about to go after her," he says. "Don't be obvious about it. You know her parents are supposed to be here tonight, and her security, and a million people with cell phones and cameras. Don't be stupid."
I shake off his hand on my arm. The irritation with the man standing near her is making me jumpy. "Fine. Then I'm going outside for air."
I edge through a couple of people and pretend not to hear Adriano’s or my names being spoken.
Then I feel a hand on my arm.
"Nathaniel Ashby!" a voice says brightly. I look down to see Georgina's friend, the one I met at the charity event before - the one who saw me and my boner in the back room with Georgina. What was her name? Something to do with flowers. Daisy?
"Hi -" I start.
She turns to a couple she's talking with, her hand still on my arm. "I'm so sorry, I'd love to chat more, but I've been looking all over for my dear friend Nathaniel!"
Dear friend? I give her a puzzled look as she steers me away using my arm. She smiles broadly, looking ahead.
"Just keep walking, doll," she says. Doll? "Thanks for getting me out of that conversation. Can't stand that guy."
"Okay."
"I take it you're looking for Georgina?"
"Nah. I mean, just to – because Adriano and I donated something tonight and so that's all we're doing, I mean – if we see her here – I mean, tell her we, you know –"
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I sound like a bumbling idiot.
