The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 14 - The Gala

When our limo finally joined the slow shuffle of other limos and supercars, waiting patiently to drop off their occupants, Fliss and I had fallen completely silent.

I was nervous. More than I thought I would be; I mean nerves weren't something that usually bothered me. But, fear of making an idiot of myself in front of someone famous, or spilling wine down my front, or worse – someone else's, was make my knees shake. But, that wasn't the only thing on my mind. As soon as Fliss had mentioned Evan my anxiety levels had gone through the roof and they still hadn't come back down. By the time our car door was opened, instantly flooding us with flashing camera lights and a wave of excitement, I could barely breathe.

Thankfully, it took so long for us to navigate our way inside, all the while concentrating hard on not falling out of Fliss's borrowed heels, that I somehow managed to regain some composure. Besides, it was all such a spectacle that my eyes roamed around widely; barely blinking for fear of missing something.

Telstar certainly lived up to its extravagant reputation. On the outside of the grand building was a wide red carpet; a huge gathering of paparazzi all jostling for position behind the barriers. Fliss and I were directed around the back for non VIPs, but we couldn't help but stop and stare as we caught sight of a couple of the A-listers stopping and throwing their well-practiced poses. The yells from the photogs trying to get their attention was deafening.

Inside, the grand hall itself was utterly breathtaking. Large crystal chandeliers hung from the high vaulted ceiling; an enormous sweeping staircase at the far end of the hall instantly drew your eye, and dozens of large round tables, all dressed in silver and black, circled the open space. Everything just looked so elegant.

Not that I stared for too long. I quickly began scanning the room for Evan. Not an easy thing to do when all the men are practically dressed in the same outfit. Snazzy penguin suits filled half the room.

"I don't see Cole. Do you see him?" Asked Fliss, before I had the chance.

"No, I don't. Good. Let's go and get a drink."

Now we were safely inside my nerves were steadily creeping back up on me. Besides, I didn't want to get caught in the act of searching for him.

There were throngs of waiters whizzing about with full trays of champagne. Fliss neatly netted a couple, which I downed far too quickly. I caught the surprised look in her eyes but ignored it and darted my hand out as another waiter passed, safely holding onto a fresh glass.

The evening soon became a blur of star spotting and giggling. Fliss and I made slow progress across the ballroom; every now and again bumping into others who were looking as overwhelmed and awestruck as we were feeling. They were the only people we had the guts to chat too, and the conversations quickly became an exchange of notes on who we'd all seen and where to head next. Fliss was bowled over at an apparent sighting of Kate Middleton, and I gasped uncontrollably when someone said they'd seen Johnny Depp. The excitement was so diverting I nearly forgot all about Evan, until Fliss suddenly did a sharp intake of breath, and turned to stand directly in front of me.

"What? Who is it now? Who've you seen?" But, the mixed look of panic and glee made Cole's name leap back to the front of my mind. I gulped, quickly dropped a hand to smooth out my dress, and breathed deeply to steady myself. Slowly, Fliss moved back to my side, and then there he was.

As stunning as the other people in the room were, nothing ever prepared me for the breathtaking beauty of Evan Cole. He was physically stunning, but more than that, he held himself with an air of natural confidence that set him apart from anyone else.

The moisture in my mouth totally dried up as he came closer and closer. He was dressed in all black, in a suit that fit so perfectly it seemed to ripple with the muscles that moved beneath it. He was smiling warmly, and his eyes looked more alive than I'd ever seen them before.