When the day met the night

1

God I hated these things, I was so not into the whole fashion bullshit, but I promised my friend Antonio I'd attend. He was an up and coming designer in the fashion world and was causing quite a stir and since I was an up and coming actress, my agent pretty much forced me into doing it. He wanted as much publicity by famous faces and since I was kind of famous I got the job. I had arrived early to get my hair and make up done and then to be dressed. I was to wear what he'd picked out for me, i had no idea what to expect but I was fairly certain it wasn't anything I would have chosen for myself. "Harper!! Thank you for coming bella, wait til you see what I've got for you!" He gushed hugging me and kissing me on both cheeks enthusiastically. He dragged me through the throng of models in various states of undress, yelling at make up and hair artists as he went, correcting some of them, praising others. Finally we reached a private dressing room, his assistant was already in there, he closed the door made me sit on the sofa while they disappeared into the makeshift closet to grab my outfit. "Tada!!" he said with a flourish, I stared at it for a moment, they both waited anxiously for a response, I bit my lip and looked at him. "You know I can't wear a bra with that" was the first thing I said. They both laughed, "that's okay, that's why we tape them up" said Marco his assistant, in his gorgeous Italian accent. It was beautiful, blush colored, floaty chiffon with a halter neck and string straps that went round the neck but the back was completely open and if I moved too quickly my boobs would definitely be on show. "Come on let's get it on" they urged, i reluctantly stood up and started undressing. I stood patiently as they Hollywood taped up my breasts, there was no embarrassment between us, we'd known each other for eons and they were around naked women all day, but had very little interest in the female form in any case. Antonio had dressed me for a few public appearances the last year or so and he knew exactly what to do to make me look great. They slipped the dress on me and turned me to look in the mirror, I raised an eyebrow. As much as I hated to admit it I looked good, I turned to check out all sides. "Don't complain, the side boob is in and yours look spectacular" said Marco firmly, Antonio agreed nodding. "Thank you, I really love it" I said finally smiling, they whooped with laughter practically jumping around. We went through the nights proceedings, I had a front row seat, next to some high profile celebs apparently. Then there was cocktails and the usual mingle and suck ups! "Harper please be nice and smile, I know you hate these things but this will be good for you" said Antonio in a pleading voice. "I know I know, I'll be on my best behavior, I promise" I said kissing him on the cheek.
Two hours later I entered the main ballroom, the catwalk was stunning, red lighting and velvet. Antonios new line was gothic chic couture, it was amazing, like walking into Count Dracula's parlor. He walked me in chatting and waving to guests as we made our way to my seat. "Here you are darling, your seat is here right next to Jared, have you two met before?" I turned to look who he was talking about and froze for a moment, I quickly recovered and said shortly, "no we haven't" I looked back at Antonio and whispered furiously, "please can you put me somewhere else?" he smiled nervously, "no, why?" he whispered, "you know why! How could you put me here? I don't want to sit next to him" I said. He suddenly remembered, "Too bad, you're making scene sit down and smile" he hissed in my ear. "Enjoy bella I'll see you after!" he said cheerfully and dashed off before I could say anything else. I carefully sat down and took my phone out of my clutch intending to fully ignore him. "Hi there, are you sure we haven't we met before, you look familiar?" he said extended his hand, I reluctantly took it, it was warm and soft as he squeezed gently. I quickly snatched it away, "no, as I said before, we haven't" I said quietly about to look away. "Well you know my name, and you are?" he said smiling, "Harper" I said simply, "how do you know Antonio?" he said, I sighed, he was intent on conversing. "We've been friends for a while" I said, there was no way I was making chit chat with him. "How did you meet?" he said, he had turned fully in his chair toward me and was waiting for an answer. "Ah we met in London, long story really but have been friends since" i said finally looking at my phone and standing up, "excuse me I need to make a call" he nodded and watched me as I walked away. I didn't need to make a call I was hoping for a quick getaway, Marco saw me heading to the door and rushed toward me. "Harper where are you going?" he said panicking, "I'm not sitting next to that asshole! I'm going to wait behind the stage" I snapped at him. "But why? What's he done?" he said surprised, Antonio came rushing past, "oh my God, please Harper I have enough to worry about go sit next to him then you can never speak to him again" I stomped my foot like a toddler and walked off back to my spot. He smiled at me as I sat down, I forced a smile and thanked God the show started and that I wouldn't have to keep talking to him. During the show I caught him looking at me several times, curiously, almost studying me. The show was over and I quickly dashed off to lose myself into the crowd, I found Antonio and congratulated him on the collection. To my dismay I felt a hand on my arm, it was Jared, "I thought you might like a drink" he said handing me a champagne glass. "I'm not really much of a drinker" I said but I took it politely thanking him, all the while looking for a way to escape his presence. "So, I have this nagging suspicion that we've met before, I just can't think where" he said smiling. I gritted my teeth, "I couldn't imagine where unless you watch British tv" I said, "oh, yeah Antonio mentioned you were an actress, quite well known in the U.K." he said, "yeah that's right, not too big" I said, I was being as cold as possible in an effort to shake him but the more I tried the more he wasn't getting the hint, or he was just hanging around to annoy me. I'd finally had enough of the forced chit chat, "well it was nice meeting you, but I'm leaving, so.. bye" I said and started to walk away. To my dismay he started to follow me, grabbing my arm "hey Harper wait, please, I'd really like to maybe get together again, catch up for a drink, or a coffee, something" he said. "Ah thanks but no thanks" I said sharply, he looked taken aback, "why not? you've been rude to me and practically ignored me all night, what have I done to you?" He said with a frown. We were behind a huge pillar at the bottom of some stairs leading to an alcove off to the side of into the staff quarters. I looked at him incredulously, i finally had to blurt it out. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I said with a sarcastic laugh, "yeah we've met before, last year, fashion week at the Versace and Prada show, I was introduced to you both times and both times you barely had the courtesy to be civil to me, you ignored my presence despite the fact that we were pretty much sitting a seat apart, so forgive me if I've been a little standoffish, I don't like being treated like riffraff" I snapped at him. He looked shocked and embarrassed, "Harper I'm really sorry, I had no idea, I'm often introduced to so many people I kind of tune out after a bit, it must have been one of those occasions, I would never have been rude on purpose" he said looking genuinely apologetic. "You know I could believe that once, but this was twice in the space of 24 hours, I don't think it was a coincidence" I said, "now goodbye" I said about to move away, but his hand whipped out to grab my arm. "Please let me make it up to you, I'm so sorry I.... really am sorry" he said looking shamefaced. "Just forget it okay" I said trying to shake his arm away. Without warning he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the alcove so no one could see. He gently pushed me against the wall and his hand went up into my hair holding my head, while the other one went around my waist and leaned in kissing me, soft at first, I gasped and he thrust his tongue into my open mouth, kissing me harder, I met his tongue with mine and grabbed his hair holding him tight. After a couple of minutes he pulled back, I was shocked not only at his brazenness but at my lack of resistance. "What the fuck did you do that for?" I groaned, "because I've wanted to do it all night and since you're intent on leaving I didn't think I'd get another chance" he said a sexy smile on his face. "You're an arrogant prick, so leave me the hell alone" I snarled and quickly made a run for the exit leaving him standing there, a shocked expression on his face. As I sat in the car on the way home, I went over the events of the evening, especially the kiss. If I was being honest, I found him incredibly sexy, which was why I had been so pissed that he totally blew me off last year, but couldn't keep his attention away from me this year. Asshole, well hopefully seeing that we lived in different countries there would be very little chance of me running into him again.