Cam

Chapter 1

I sipped my glass of champagne, quietly chatting to the throws of people at the ball, while making my way through the crowd. I'd gotten quite used to the socialising thing. Networking was a way of life - you couldn't really get beyond a certain point without it.

The music was light, classic, and it definitely didn't give me a headache. Tonight I was draped in a rather elegant turquoise gown - floor length with a lace back, and it had an empire waist. The material flowed against me like liquid, it was as light as a feather.

In a quiet corner, I tipped back my head and downed the rest of the liquid ambrosia.

"Easy, baby," I heard him chuckle. My cheeks tinted, and looked up through my eyelashes at him, Max.

I snorted, "You know I can hold my alcohol better than you do, right?"

He wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed my cheek, "I know. It still might give you a head rush. Not to mention, we do have the odd board member about."

I grumbled, but I know he's absolutely right, my company is my life. I pretty much killed myself to get to this point in my life. I pretty much gave up everything too. My heart ached for a moment, but I set it aside and pushed it back.

I have gotten this far.

"Come on, let's dance," he suggested, parting from me and tugging on my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor. Max wrapped his arms around me waist, "Did I tell you look gorgeous tonight?"

I smiled, "Not in those exact words, but something along those lines."

The music was now a light jazz, he twirled me, and pulled me right up against him. Max was the safest person I know. I could trust him with almost everything.

"Everyone has their eyes on us," he whispered into my ear, and tipped me slightly backward and then back into him.

"Well we make quite the couple I'm told," I smirk, "Partners in every sense of the word."

Max was not only my confidant but the VP of our company. He was there from the beginning, through the days we had to work eighteen hours. It took us more than our fair share of hard work to get here, and build something that we were truly proud of.

"Indeed," he affirmed, moving us around the ballroom floor.

Tonight wasn't completely business. The networking was usual, keeping up appearances, as well as genuinely having a good time with our network-made friends in the past couple of years. Tonight was the celebration party of a company, whose founder Max is very close to, going public.

"I haven't seen Jeremy since we've arrived," I mentioned to Max, referring to our host.

"Knowing him he's probably basking the light of womanly attention," he chuckled, "You know he's not the world's finest gentleman."

"I have to admit though, he does have a nice ass," I remarked.

Max pursed his lips, though I could see the glimmer of a laugh in his eyes, "That's nasty, Aspen."

I scoffed, "As if you don't look as woman and their assets, and you're not exactly subtle about it."

He shrugged his shoulders, still moving us to the rhythm of the smooth jazz, "I never proclaimed that I'm a gentleman. Though, saying that, I haven't copped a feel of you since I saw you in that dress today."

I blush, but only of the thought that others could hear his declaration, "It's good to know you have high powers of self-restraint. But seriously, shut the fuck up." I said the last words in a less-than whisper so he had to literally strain his ears to hear me.