Kissing Mr. Bradley

Chapter 21

I met Ethan underneath the bubble tent wrapped around in warm, twinkling fairy lights and a red carpet leading up to the entrance of the Villa scattered with red rose petals.

"I must say," Ethan said from beside me. "You have remarkable taste in event planning."

"Thank you for trusting me," I said, lightly bumping his arm.

The guests arrived all dressed in diamonds, lavish gowns and suits in crisp black or white to match the affair.

"Here come the Albright's," he announced, folding his hands in front of him. "They run a very successful financing business."

I used my dearest hellos to the Albright's and made conversation with them about their business which they seemed to adore. I learned from Ethan that the key to successfully engaging in conversation with the wealthy was to make them feel even more important than they already were. They got a high out of being the center of every conversation. If they weren't, they wouldn't pay you any mind.

Another key was to ask questions, many of them. Anything centered around money, power and the next business deal was sure to be a good start at networking with some of the most privileged.

I shook their hands and called them Mr. or Mrs., Ma'am and Sir. This brightened the smiles on their faces and boosted their egos a bit higher.

"You're learning the ropes," Ethan said. "I might have to promote you to the next level, Ms. Hastings."

"I'm looking forward to that," I said.

I met with the Hampton's and the Rothschild's, complimented their work in business before sending them inside to the event. I remembered names, professions and even received a couple of business cards in the process of it all. The night had just started and my head was already spinning from knowing too many people all at once.

There was a short break in between when the guests arrived a few at a time, slowly trickling into the event which was starting to become a huge hit.

"I saw Bronwyn," I said as she popped into my mind. "She was with Andrew Cunningham."

"Typical," he responded.

"She was drunk," I continued. "She wasn't making much sense but I think she knows about us."

Ethan was careless about it.

"Bronwyn is always drunk at these events," he said, ignoring the second part.

"She called me your mistress."

Ethan let out a soft laugh.

"That's actually a turn on," he said.

"I'm serious."

"Look," he started. "I know my sister. She won't tell. She'll probably use it against you but she won't go out of her way to spread it around like news."

I let the conversation go the moment a black limousine pulled up.

"Wow," I said. "Who is that?"

Ethan stood straight, his body tense as he watched Katherine and the Windsor's step out of the vehicle.

"Wow, Saffron," Katherine said blankly. "I can't believe your dress."

I couldn't blame her for the lack of words. I wondered what went on in her mind as she stared at the man who was supposed to be her future. The same man that bought his personal assistant a provocative dress for the occasion. If I were Katherine, I would kill him.

"Thank you," I said, looking down and trying to cover the garter with the open slit. "And your dress looks very elegant on you."

She looked down at her simple, silk white dress and touched the pearls around her neck. She was a classic beauty with her blonde curls pulled up at the top of her head and the white dress an obvious nod to the marriage she strongly believed in.