Don't Break The Rules

Chapter Three

I don't know if any of you has ever been to a charity silent auction dinner event, but in case you haven't I can tell you now, it's boring as all hell. To make it worse, this was something that was being put on by Clayton's law firm which meant it was full of boring suits and the women and men who clung to the secure future the job seemed to promise. There were also a few of the more affluent client's of the firm there as well as employees and more clients from some of the other law firms in the area.

What struck me as weird though, was that it seemed like many donors loved to see well behaved children of their lawyers. Go figure. So, all in all, I was kind of built for this. When I was young my mother basically drilled etiquette into my bones and it never seemed to leave unless someone like Nate managed to pissed me off. Or if we were doing anything else. Okay, no that's a lie. Honestly I can just kind of turn it on for adults, that's why my dad always asked me to go to these events with him.

For Nate this was always more of a form of punishment. And, unlike myself, he was terrible with things like table manners and such. I smiled politely at the client my dad was introducing me to and glanced across the room. I had to stifle a snicker at Nathaniel. I spotted him at the horderves table. He had spilled the contents of his plate onto the platter of mini cupcakes and was frantically trying to clean up his mess before anyone noticed. Of course I wasn't about to let this golden opportunity pass me by. I excused myself before weaving my way across the room to where Nate stood, "Nate, I don't think that mini quiches are a great topping for cupcakes. If you want to be a master patissier you'll need to put more effort into it."

Nate sent an annoyed look my way before dumping his plate onto the refreshment table. "God why are you so annoying?" He grumbled.

"Because it's just so entertaining to mess with you." I flashed him a grin, knowing full well there were too many people around for Nate to really retaliate. Seeing as though his retaliation would probably be more physical.

"You're the worst." He glared at me while I just stood there with a gentle grin on my face as if we were having a totally normal conversation. "What's with that stupid look on your ugly face, Walker?"

A throat cleared behind Nate and he stiffened while I just smiled up at my father, "Hi dad, how's the auction going?" I asked, ignoring the panicked look on Nate's face. Sure, my dad loved Nate like he was his own, but that didn't mean my father had illusions about his best friend's son.

"It's going well, sweetie." He clapped a heavy hand onto Nate's shoulder, the boy turning white as he turned around.

"H-hi Mr. Walker." He stuttered, running a nervous hand through his hair. I was probably enjoying this way too much. But, there was just something about seeing Nate get knocked down a peg that I really enjoyed.

"Nathaniel, I do believe you know how to speak to a young lady. Especially in a public setting where there are many important clients of your father, don't you?" My father, Henry Walker was a rather imposing man. Standing around six foot three inches, and still very much in shape even though his glory days on the wrestling team were far behind him, he could unintentionally or with very much intent, scare the living crap out of any boy that dared to go near his daughter.

"Yessir." Nate nodded rather quickly, even he had to tilt his head back slightly in order to look my dad in the eye.

"Good, then put some of those manners I know you were taught to use and apologize to my daughter." My dad spun Nate back around to face me, and captured both of his shoulders with his hands. There was no escape for Nathaniel Stokes.

I couldn't help the small smirk that lifted the corners of my mouth as I looked at Nate, who was still rather pale, "I'm sorry, Iris."

Figuring my father had done a good enough job of scaring him I replied, "Apology accepted. Would you like to dance?" I threw the guy an escape route which he gladly took.

"You know I'll get you back for that, right?" Nate whispered in my ear while we danced.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll be waiting for it." I said with a grin.