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The committee's meeting had been undergoing for a while, and James was still nowhere to be seen. Honestly, it was probably for the best if he stayed away.
Kieran was enthusiastically presenting his idea for the theme's poster. "Last time, we talked a lot about elegance and simplicity," he began, his eyes lighting up. "But the 'Black and White' theme promises much more."
I listened intently, although I found his idea a bit bland for my taste.
"Light and shadow, truth and dishonesty, good and bad," Kieran continued, his voice gaining momentum. "It's a theme that embodies contrast and balance, making a powerful statement."
He paused for dramatic effect before revealing his design. "I worked on my laptop until 3:00 a.m. last night, and this is my design for the poster," he said, holding up his creation.
The room fell silent as we all learned in to see the poster. It was meticulously crafted, with sharp contrasts and elegant fonts, but it felt... uninspired to me. I tried my hardest not to make a weird face.
"It's interesting," I said diplomatically, trying to find the right words. "But maybe we could add something to give it more of a wow factor? Something that really grabs attention and makes people excited about the gala."
Kieran looked thoughtful, then nodded slowly.
"Seriously?" A voice called out from the door. There stood James, leaning casually against a table, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Your theme for the donor gala is black and white?" he asked in an amused tone, his eyes scanning the room. I glanced over at Ruby, who looked utterly exasperated.
"Do you have a problem with that, Beaufort?" Lin asked, turning to face him, her tone challenging.
"Your funeral, not mine," he shrugged, stepping forward with an air of nonchalance. "I thought you wanted to impress Lexington for that letter of recommendation," he added, directing his comment at Ruby as he took a seat in front of me. "Lexington really wants me to engage with your work. He must've thought the strippers were exciting," he tried to joke.
Kieran looked taken aback, clearly offended. "We don't need prostitutes to make an impression," he defended, his voice firm.
"At least people still talk about it," James shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Do you have anything productive to say, or can we ignore you now?" Ruby asked, her patience visibly thinning.
James looked around the room, a smirk playing on his lips. "Maybe, you just have to ask me."
"I think I just did," Ruby shot back, clearly not in the mood for his games.
James' smirk widened. "I don't think I like your tone," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"My tone is normal, but you just complain," Ruby responded casually, not giving him an inch.
"Be happy that someone tells the truth," James commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"And we are so grateful for you," Ruby said, her tone equally sarcastic.
Sensing the rising tension, I decided to intervene. "Any more input about Kieran's poster?" I asked, looking around the room in an attempt to steer the conversation back on track.
James leaned forward, his demeanor shifting. "The main hall would be the perfect setting for a Victorian party," he suggested.
"See, this is what I said we were missing," I pointed out, trying to keep the momentum positive.
James smiled at me, a mysterious glint in his eyes. "Dress code appropriately classy and decadent," he continued, his tone more serious.
"We can get table settings from the period, napkins with lace," I suggested, feeling a bit more hopeful about the direction of the discussion.
James nodded at my suggestion. "Candlelight only. A friend can organize an orchestra for Victorian music."
Ruby crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "We're not discussing the theme. We have one," she pointed out, her voice tinged with irritation.
"What, that one?" James replied, amused.
Kieran, Lin, and Ruby looked taken aback by his dismissive tone. "Imagine Victorian dresses, suits," a girl said, her eyes lighting up at the idea.
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I couldn't help but feel bad for Ruby; everyone had sided with James's idea, including myself. As the meeting ended, the excitement about the Victorian theme was visible, but Ruby's frustration lingered in my mind.
However, implementing the Victorian theme meant I had to swallow my pride and ask James for help. His family's collection of Victorian items far outstripped anything mine could offer. As much as I disliked it, we needed his resources.
I spotted him walking in the courtyard, his confident stride making him easy to pick out among the other students. Taking a deep breath, I quickly trailed behind him. He must have sensed my presence because he glanced back, his eyes immediately landing on the cut on my lip.
"Where'd you get that from?" he asked, his tone unusually soft, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
"I bumped into a door," I lied, hoping he would believe me. The truth was far too complicated.
James raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Really? A door?"
I maintained my composure, nodding. "Yes, really. It's no big deal."
He shook his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. "You know, if you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
I rolled my eyes, deciding to change the subject before he dug any deeper. "Listen, James, I need your help."
His smirk widened. "I thought you'd never ask. What's up?"
I took a deep breath, hating how I had to rely on him. "Your family's collection of Victorian items. We'd like to take some pictures, for the poster."
James glanced back at me, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Sounds like a really good idea."
"Can you ask your parents for access to the collection?" I asked, hopeful that he might cooperate.
His smile faded into a more serious expression. "Sorry, I can't do that." With that, he turned and walked away, heading inside a nearby building.
