Lost Soul Mates

Chapter 31

Laura Grace/Gracie/LG – POV

I agreed to deal with CiCi, of course. I got dressed quickly, I only had to do my make up and put on my dress. Which Charlie did my make-up, who knew she was so masterful with a blending brush? I had a dark smokey eye and my normal red lip stain. With the red dress it matched perfect. My hair was half up with waves down my back. It was a little after 4 and I had told Max to meet me at 5, but I had to get to CiCi so I the girls said they would take care of Max. As I opened the door to Lizzie's room Alexis and Anna, who are both dressed in black shift dresses looking fierce, turn to me. Anna gasps, "Oh Ms. LG you look amazing."

"Thank you, Anna, and remember it is just LG." I say patting her hand. As I turn to Alexis tells me the same. "Remember girls no one gets in there, got it."

"Oh, no worries Sarah made it clear." Alexis said waving her hands.

"Perfect! I have to go deal with some issues." I say walking down the stairs. I link CiCi as I get to the bottom telling her I need to talk to her, and I will meet her in the Ballroom in 10 minutes. She instantly replies that she is already there. As I turn to go to the back hallway, I smell him. Why is he down here? Shit! I lift my dress and take off towards the hall turn and make it to the kitchen and turn left to go into the ballroom from the kitchen doors. I don't smell him behind me or feel like he followed. I walk in and see the room has been transformed.

There is a dancefloor in front of a small stage that has a DJ. Around the dance floor there are almost 100 round tables. All with soft pink table cloths and large standing flower arrangements in the middle. There are tea light candles on the tables giving a soft light as well as small white lights strung across the ceiling making it look like stars. Along the walls are food tables with chaffing dishes not yet filled, but ready for the food. And on the back wall there is a bar that has 6 bartenders. I look out and see CiCi running to me, she doesn't look happy. More like stressed.

"Please tell me we don't have a code black?" She says with a headset on.

"Um, what is a code black?" I ask her furrowing my brows.

"Code black means the party is cancelled. I know what happened last year and..." I cut her off with a smile.

"Oh no, no Code Black. Lizzie and I moved on and don't let that ruin us." I say patting her hand. As we walk to the stage we get to the middle of the room and I am about to tell her the change when I hear the doors from the kitchen open and see Max. My stomach drops. I put a hand up for him to stop. And then an index finger indicating give me a minute. I turn back to CiCi and look at her intently and link her. "We are going to be announcing a new Beta and I am stepping down..." CiCi cuts me off.

"I know it will be Alpha Liz's mate." She is nodding. As I start shaking my head.

"No, we will announce a new Beta at that time. Don't worry. We have this. It will be around 6 or 6:30, sound good?" I nod to her as she agrees.

"I trust you Beta, I wish you wouldn't step aside. We need you." She links me and rubs my arm.

"I am not going anywhere." I close my eyes and smile as she looks over my shoulder to Max.

She says out loud, "Does he know?" I smile and shrug my shoulders. She pats my cheek gives me a hug and walks towards the kitchen nodding to Max as she goes past.

I stand in the middle of the dance floor with my hands at my side but holding a black clutch just for my lip stain and by phone. I look over at Max and he looks damn hot and incredibly sophisticated in his black Armani suit. I have to look away as my insides start to melt and the pull due to our mate bond is killing me. I hear him walking to me and he stands a few feet away. I swallow hard and look over at him. He takes a step toward me and I step back.