Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 49

We pulled up to the downtown party, and fun music floated in through my car's open windows. Flashing lights, and a throng of dancing people took up the center space in the park where the community had set up the arrangements. Around the dancers there were tables and chairs set up for people to sip the non-alcoholic beverages that were being sold at a large white tent at the opposite side of the park. Though it was a non-alcoholic environment, parents were asked to leave children at home, and by the looks of the crowd, hardly any of them were old enough to have kids anyways.
I parked the car as far out in the parking lot as I could, because the parking spaces at the front of the lot were small and cramped. As soon as I turned the car off, Kenya reached over and clicked the lock button on the doors.
"Okay, before we go, we need to lay down some rules-"
"Have fun!" Soma cut in with a mischievous grin.
Kenya frowned, "I was going to say something more like, let's agree to stay nearby each other or someone we know, and meet back here at midnight." She raised her eyebrows, looking more at Soma than at me. I was pretty sure Kenya knew that I would likely be back at the car in less than an hour. However, I didn't bother voicing my complaints, because I knew Soma would protest.
Soma said, "Midnight? Isn't that a little early?" Kenya gave her a look, and Soma backed down. "Okay, we meet back here at midnight. Let's go!"
I climbed out of the car, reaching down to pull my dress down again, and balancing myself against the car because of my heels.
I knew I would regret wearing these.
I thought with a sigh as I followed Kenya and Soma towards the music.
I hate parties. Why am I here?
I hesitated and watched Soma and a Kenya walk away from me, and my eyes scanned the scene.
There's no alcoholic drinks, Oana. You can't get a safer party!
But why do I need to party at all?
Because you know they're not all bad!
My feet moved forward another few steps before I glanced down at my dress. Had it been this short when I'd left the house? I pulled down the hem of my dress again and clenched my jaw. Just as I was about to turn back, I heard Soma calling to me.
"Oana! You coming?"
I forgot something in the car.
I almost said it, but I didn't.
"Yeah, I can only walk so fast in heels." I muttered, forcing my feet to move forward again. I promised myself that I would stay for an hour, before I let myself go back to the car.
When Kenya, Soma and I made our way to the entrance of the park, two young women smiled and handed us our night passes, after asking us to sign the attendance sheet. According to the girls, if over three hundred people attended, the mayor would donate three thousand dollars to the expansion of the park. That helped ease my mind about attending this party. I told myself that I was just helping pay for a park expansion. Expanding the size of nature in the city was good.
Once we were past the park entrance, the concrete paths that lead to where a large, white tent was set up, was lined with tree lights. The white tent was filled with people swaying and laughing above the music, and on the opposite end, there was a small stage where a DJ was managing the music. As soon as we arrived at the tent, Soma shouted something incoherently over the music and took off towards another woman who was dancing and waving frantically at Soma. Kenya smiled and shook her head, gesturing to the drinks just outside the tent. I didn't need to hear what she said to know what she meant. I nodded, and both of us walked over to the drinks table. Here, the music was a little quieter, but not much. After both of us had poured ourselves a drink, we turned and stepped off to the side to observe the crowd. We hadn't stood there long when a familiar woman approached and embraced Kenya, then turned to me with a bright smile. Her bright red lipstick stirred my memories and I started to recall where I'd seen the woman before.
"Oana, right?" She smiled, half-shouting over the loud music. I nodded slowly, wracking my brain for where I'd seen her before.
The elevator during my first week at work!
I stepped forward and offered the woman my hand, "Yes, it's nice to see you again, Malia." I smiled professionally, and the woman's beautiful sea-blue eyes lit up under the lights.
"I can't believe you remembered my name!" She laughed, and I marveled at how bright her smile was. Actually, she was a beautiful woman on all accounts.  Her cropped, black hair offset her blue-green eyes, and she had a tall, slender form, with a wide smile and an easy laugh. The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled reminded me of the Caribbean on a sunny day.
I mentally shook myself, "Where have you been? I haven't see you at work." I asked, avoiding the topic of her name. In truth, I'd nearly forgotten it.
Malia blushed, and clasped her hands together in front of her quickly, "I've moved up a few floors above Mr. Lawson- and I normally take the stairs." She cocked her head to the side, brushing some of her hair quickly off her shoulder.
I noted the fact that she mentioned taking the stairs and smiled, "I should take the stairs more often." I laughed, pausing to sip my drink.
"Why's that?"
I froze. Malia's eyes darted behind me towards the drink table where the voice had come from, and her cheeks flushed again. It was Damon.
When I didn't answer, Malia offered, "Hello, Mr. Lawson, how are you?"
Damon stepped into my field of vision, his eyes switching quickly from me to Malia as he accepted her gentle handshake. "I'm well, Malia. How have you been?" Damon asked politely, Malia rushed over a quick explination of what she had been doing at work, and Damon listened quietly, nodding and waiting for her to finish. Only once, did his eyes stray from her and flicker in my direction, before his attention was focused back on the dark-haired beauty in front of him.
"...how's your brother?" I tuned back in to the conversation as Malia dropped her eyes away from Damon and smoothed the bodice of her green dress.
Oh.
I glanced at Damon to see his reaction, but his face remained passive and he offered Malia an easy smile.
"He's across the tent over there, why don't you ask him yourself?" He said, and Malia's head turned to try to catch a glimpse of the older Lawson brother. "I'm sure he has some advise for you regarding your promotion," Damon told the woman when she glanced at him uneasily. It was clear that Damon knew exactly what he was doing.
"In that case, maybe I should go say hello..." Malia smiled nervously, and glanced between Kenya and I. Kenya made a shooing motion with her hand, before Malia smiled at both of us and turned to go find Greyson. I stiffened when Damon turned to face both of us, and when I felt his eyes on me, I glanced over to Kenya. She was smiling.
"I'm gonna go dance," She said suddenly, and I blinked, narrowing my eyes at her when she winked at me.
I hate you.
I glared after her, until she disappeared in the crowd of people. When I couldn't see Kenya anymore, I turned back to Damon, facing him and meeting his gaze. He was already looking at me- or half-way, his eyes kept wandering over my dress and down to my shoes, then back up again.
He met my gaze again and gave a minut shake of his head, "You look amazing..." His green eyes swept over me again, and for the first time since high school I suddenly felt self-conscious.
I lifted my chin a notch and gave Damon a once over, shrugging one shoulder, "You don't look terrible either." I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
Damon chuckled, holding his eyes on my face now, "How's David?" He asked, his face turning serious for a moment.
"He's doing fine now." I glanced away from Damon to catch a break from his intense gaze, before I returned my eyes to his.
"I'm glad to hear that." Damon let the conversation drop, and I scanned the area for any means of escape.
I did not want to be here alone with him any longer than needed.
After seeing Damon every day for nearly three weeks, I should have been able to ignore how insanely attractive he was in a plain white shirt and black slacks. But I couldn't. And it made me uncomfortable.
"Oana," Damon started, just loud enough for me to heard him over the music. I looked at him again, waiting for him to finish, "would you like to take a walk?" He asked, raising his voice and glancing at the swell of people under the tent.
Yes!
Wait, no.
I started to shake my head, but Damon just smirked and reached over to take my glass from my hand. He set his drink and my own on on of the tables nearby and gestured that I walk with him. I frowned, watching him take my glass with narrowed eyes.
My mind was spinning, "I think-" I started to form an excuse, but Damon cut me off.
"Just walk with me, Oana," He murmured, and the look he sent me made me feel like he could see right through my chest and into my heart. I hesitated, glancing back in hopes of seeing Kenya or Soma, but feeling Damon wrap his hand around mine brought my attention quickly back to him. He gripped my right hand firmly in his hand and cocked an eyebrow at me in challenge. Not a single smart remark would come to my mouth. Slowly, I took a step forward, staring at Damon hard, but he said nothing. Instead, he gave my hand a gentle tug and led me down the nearest park path without a word.