Virtue and Vice

Chapter Seventeen

A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you so much to those of you who'd been following this story. The comments are so entertaining. I love them so keep them coming... There's definitely a lot of mixed reactions now to how things are coming together (or not) in the story so here's more...

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***

I woke up with a headache and a very stiff back.

That was my reward for having too much to drink and falling asleep in a dry tub last night.

I had no appetite but I was feeling faint that I eventually stuffed some crackers into my mouth before pushing it down with some scalding coffee.

I showered, popped some muscle relaxant and lied down on a heating pad for an hour until the stiffness subsided.

Gabe was picking me up at two so I started getting ready no matter how uninterested I was in the entire process.

Fall in Cobalt Bay was still warmer than other parts of the country but I passed on the summer dresses and put on a gray sweater dress that still flattered my shape and paired them with classic riding boots.

My eyes were tired and had circles underneath but dabbed with a bit of concealer, I looked passable.

Gabe arrived in a sleek, blue Porsche. 

When he saw my face, his bright expression dimmed swiftly.

“Cassie, what’s wrong?” he asked as we stood by the front steps of the apartment building. 

I looked away but he cupped both sides of my face and studied me closely.

“You don’t look well,” he observed. “Are you sick?”

I snorted. “This is what I get for overimbibing in spirits. It’s nothing some greasy food and rest couldn’t cure.”

He frowned. “There must be a pretty good reason for you to have overimbibed in the first place. You told me yourself you barely drink.”

“I can when the occasion calls for it,” I retorted, slightly annoyed at the interrogation.

I had to remind myself that Gabe was a friend and was legitimately concerned and I shouldn’t snap at him for caring.

“I’ll be fine, Gabe. Don’t worry about it,” I reassured him, gesturing to his car. “Now let’s go. I don’t want to miss anything.”

The barbecue was held in White Shores Resort and Country Club. It was no backyard barbecue. There were dozens of buffet tables that served gourmet food with some ‘barbecue inspiration’. The tables were draped in pristine white cloth, the food servers were dressed sharply, the music and entertainment supply was endless thanks to a local band, and even the drinks bar was generous.

I hadn’t seen any sign of Sebastian and I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to see him at the moment. I distracted myself with the company of Gabe and my other work friends. It was nice to see everyone in a different, more relaxed environment, and even those from higher ranks rubbed elbows with everybody.

I was feeling a bit tired and dizzy that I decided to freshen up.

I excused myself from our table and walked to the main building that housed the indoor facilities and hotel. The entire population of the company headquarters had pretty much taken over the place that there weren’t that many people currently staying in the hotel.

I was just about to turn into a smaller hallway that led to the washrooms when a distinct voice caught my attention.

“I told you I need time to think. It will be okay, Natalie, don’t worry.”