Client Confidentiality

(15) Carlie

Emerging from the bathroom with Hannah in tow, I paint a smile on my face. 

I take another glass of champagne and fight to pull a face when it reacts with the breath mint I'd just eaten in my mouth. Nevertheless, I need the liquid courage to get through the night so I down the glass in one and place it on a nearby table. 

As I join a conversation with one of my employment clients, I can't help but feel eyes burning into me. 

My fear is confirmed when I scan the room to see the three Ashford brothers all staring at me. 

Instantly, I return them a professional smile and turn back to my conversation, silently willing them to stay away from me. 

Zach doesn't seem to get the memo and tries to walk towards me. Luckily, my sidekick, Hannah, intercepts him and lays on her charm. 

I smirk down at my new glass of champagne, secretly thanking god I hired her to be my assistant. 

I try to ignore the relentless stares from the other two brothers who seem to have no interest in socialising. 

As the night progresses, I seem to down more and more champagne until I have a comfortable buzz going, but before Hannah can stop him, Liam finds his way to my side. 

"You look hot, Lee," he whispers in my ear, his hand finding the small of my naked back to rest on. I fight the urge to shudder at the mix of his hand on my skin and the strong smell of whiskey on his breath. 

"Thanks, I guess," I try to move away from him but stumble in my heels slightly. He catches me and grins as if he's my knight in shining armour. 

"Woah, easy there," he smirks at me and I roll my eyes before removing my arm from his grip. 

"See you later, Liam," I fake-smile at him and walk off, feeling more stable now. The thought of being in Liam's arms in public must have sobered me some-what. 

Scanning the room for Hannah, I see her chatting to another assistant of the firm and decide to leaver her to it. 

My heels clack against the empty hallway as I make my way to the bathroom, only to be intercepted by a strong arm grabbing me and pulling me into a dark side room. 

Before I can register what's happening, I'm pressed against a wall and a hard body. The smell of his musky aftershave intoxicates me into paralysis and I find myself not resisting against him. 

"Why did you let him touch you, trouble?" the voice is low and familiar. It takes my drunken brain a few moments to register who it is, but as soon as I do, I try to push his hard chest away from me. 

"Callum, what are you doing?" I ask, my voice coming out shakier than I want it to. 

"Answer my question first," he grabs both my wrists and pulls them above my head, pressing me further into the wall so I can't move. 

"I don't have to answer you about anything I do tonight or in my personal time," I retort. My annoyance at his entitlement to ask about Liam with me seeps through my tone and I can tell he noticed from the way he tightens his grip on my wrists. 

He lets out a low humming sound and I feel myself growing hot against him in this compromising position. 

"You don't know what you do to me, trouble," he whispers in my ear, the sound going straight to my pulsing core. 

"No, I don't," I breathe out, the tension between us palpable. 

His lips skim just below my ear, making me jump at the contact. He shifts my wrists into one hand and keeps them held up whilst his other hand grips my chin and pulls it up to him. 

"You're trouble," he whispers. His breath is hot on my lips and, although I can't see him, I can tell he is only about an inch away from me. 

I take a bated breath as I close my eyes, the haze of the night clouding my mind.

His lips gaze mine as he strokes my chin with his thumb before fully pulling away and leaving me alone in the room. 

I take a deep breath, my nerves on fire, and leave the room shortly after him to continue on my original quest to the bathroom. 

When I return to the ballroom a few minutes later, my eyes search for Callum. He's stood with his date, Zara, his arm securely around her waist and his lips kissing her shoulder. 

He lifts his head as he sees me staring, only to smirk at me before continuing to peck his date's shoulder. 

I roll my eyes and turn to find Hannah, grabbing a glass of champagne for the both of us. 

"Slow down, girl," Hannah laughs as I hand her the champagne flute, "how many have you had tonight?"

"Not enough," I grin cheekily before taking a sip of my drink. My eyes can't help but scan the room for the Ashford brothers, only to see that they have left. 

"Shall we call it a night?" I ask Hannah who nods. We say goodbye to the group she was speaking to and go to grab our coats from the foyer. 

As we step outside, the cool and crisp air hits me like a ton of bricks. I feel my champagne haze lifting as I take deep breaths of the London air. 

As we wait for a taxi, I look around the pavement, gasping quietly when I see the Ashford brothers piling into a blacked out Mercedes. Callum is the last one to climb in, after helping his date inside, and he gives me an evil grin before shutting the door. 

I roll my eyes at his arrogant attitude. 

Fuck men.

From now on, I choose to be celibate.

Happy update day <33