Roses and Flames (ongoing)

11. Tyler

"Wow. This looks enchanting!" Ana breathed, looking at the expanse of gardenias and white tulips decorating the ivory-themed hall and the podium in the centre.

We were at The Horizon, hosted by the great, Marilyn Kane of the fashion industry. I picked up Ana half an hour ago and we spent the drive discussing work, which helped me understand Ethan was somewhat right. Ana doesn’t want to be romantically involved and expects business benefits. As it was mutual, we agreed to discuss the deal the very next day.

We entered the crowded ballroom together where we gave our coats to the attendants nearby. I asked her while settling into our seats, "Are you coming to the Grandville auction?" 

"No, I'm not. But, I guess Ivan will be there," she replied her gaze everywhere but me.

All of a sudden, she looked at me smiling widely and correcting my tie, which made me stunned until she explained, "Look slowly behind me, do you see a man with a white button-up?"

I looked and said, "Yeah?" still not understanding the situation.

"You don’t recognize him? He's from the Star Daily," she said, shooting a look, like she couldn't believe I didn’t know a mere reporter from a daily.

"Oh!" recognition hit me. Star Daily was the main contributor to most of the rumours and scandals.

She continued, taking her hands off my tie, still smiling widely as if we were having the best conversation in the world, "Ivan thinks we're actually dating after our first date. He's trying to make me date someone as he thinks it's time for me to settle, have a family and all those things. But I'm still on my run to make a worthy career. When I told these to whom I've dated before, obviously they don’t want to continue it. I'm glad we're on the same page on this." she paused for a moment, "I know you want something from Ivan, and I'll help you."

"So, it's a win-win." smiled at her, delighted that everything was going the way I wanted it to, except for one thing. I still can't decipher what happens to me when I see Thea. When I'm not near her, I desperately want to see her. When I see her, I want to look at her forever. When I look at her, I want to listen to her voice. When I listen to her voice-

"Tyler?" Ana's voice made my thoughts shatter. Ana excused herself to talk to her acquaintances and I stood up, breathed deeply a couple of times and started connecting with other people who were present. There was nothing more advantageous than collecting intel slipping from drunken tongues. I went from one to another until I found a familiar face. Looking gorgeous as hell in her dark red satin dress, it made my heart ache. She is laughing. Laughing with a blonde guy. Logan, the design department head. She's laughing at something Logan was saying. She has never laughed like that when she's with me.

"Shooting eye daggers, Tyler?" an amused Michael appeared from nowhere and stood beside me. But I was too invested in looking at them, looking at her, laughing at someone else's joke. I want her laughs just for me.

I didn’t care whether it was Michael or the reporter from earlier, when I said, "Why is she laughing so much? I bet it wasn’t so funny."

Michael came and stood in front of me blocking the view, breaking my trance and said, "Because, she thought what he said was funny."

Everything rushed into me. I was at The Horizon.

Wait.

Shit.

What did I think just a minute ago!?

I want her laughs just for me.

I shook my head and concluded. I'm not in my right mind.

"Jealous?" he asked, amusement glinting in his eyes.

"Jealous!? You better be joking, Young." I scoffed and glanced at the server for another drink.

"Then why so furious?" he asked, provoking me to punch his smirking face.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself, Michael. It was my first time seeing her laugh. That too to someone like HIM. She hasn’t laughed even a single time looking at-"
"As I said, Jealousy." he laughed and took a drink from the server and handed it over to me and said, "Deny it again, Anderson. I'll tell this to Ethan."

I shut my mouth the very second he said Ethan's name. If Ethan gets to know this, I'm done. If he was the one who caught me glaring at Logan, he would've literally gone to Thea and said everything. I've never been happy that Ethan was late to arrive today.

"Good." he laughed more, taking my silence as his answer. I rolled my eyes when Marilyn came to the podium, excitement in her voice, announcing that it was time for dance. The song shifted to a more melodious rhythm. Everyone started pairing up and I turned to where Thea was, hoping they weren't planning to dance together. When I looked at her, I saw her shaking her head in agreement and before I could realize, I was walking towards them.

If this is what Michael called jealousy. Yes, I am jealous of someone else dancing with her. Yes, I am jealous of someone who gets to hear her laughter. Yes, I am jealous when it comes to Thea.

I said with a polite smile, as I reached, "Apologies, Mr. Fischer. Thea is coming with me."

A shocked-looking Thea stared at me while I took her hand and walked to a more spacious area of the ballroom. I turned to face her and said, "Dance with me, love."