Tainted Me

Chapter 26: Saving Grace

This never got old.

I looked up at the Plaza hotel, where the annual Secretum Ordo party would be held tonight.

"Ready?" Arisa asked, turning to me.

"There's nothing like kissing ass to old rich people."

Arisa rolled her eyes. "It's an open bar, though."

I snorted. "Why do you think I'm here?"

A little smile appeared on her face, before she tugged me forward. "Come on. Duty calls."

We walked in, and were escorted to the event hall. We were offered glasses of champagne as soon as we entered the room. There were round tables on all sides. But most people chose to stand up, going around to mingle and make connections. Byron came in our line of sight and walked up to us.

"Busy night tonight," he said.

"No shit," I replied, as I looked around the room and saw many notable alumni. Most of them were big names in the tech industry. I didn't fail to notice the number of politicians here tonight as well.

"Since elections just finished, everyone's trying to get along well with the new administration."

"No surprise there," Arisa muttered, before taking a sip of her champagne.

"Go network," he urged. "Yash and Gwen already have their hands on some pretty heavy investors."

"For their research?" Arisa asked.

Byron nodded.

She let out a little laugh, shaking her head. "I don't even want to compete."

"Scared?" I teased.

"I don't want to lose a limb."

Byron and I chuckled.

"Good news, you don't have to." Byron slightly turned her body around to face the other side of the room, and leaned closer to add, "Someone wants to meet you. They said they're interested in what you have in mind for the next industrial evolution."

Her eyes widened. "That's—"

Byron grinned. "Yup.

She looked up at me in excitement, making me smile. She looked beautiful.

"Go," I mouthed.

She bit her bottom lip, before leaning up to kiss me on the cheek. "I'll be back!" With that, she hopped off to meet the tech mogul.

"Your turn."

I turned to Byron. "What?"

"Someone wants to meet you."

"I didn't submit any proposal."

Byron looked at me incredulously. "Do you think the alumni need a proposal for them to talk to you?"

"Why would they be interested?"

"Uh, I don't know—you're a big deal in collegiate football and now you're proving to be someone to watch out for as soon as you finish law school and pass the bar?"

"You give me too much credit."

"I see your potential," he said firmly. "I have no doubt they see it, too."

"Aw, dude. You're making me blush."

He rolled his eyes. "Just go. Don't keep Senator Adder waiting."

I blinked and stared at him. "Senator?"

"Yeah." He gave me a light push. "Behave!" my roommate added in a hiss.

I glanced at him over my shoulder. I almost stuck my tongue out at him, but I stopped myself. We weren't in Boston. We were in New York City, surrounded by renowned Secretum Ordo members.