Chapter 43

She believed she liked her, Chantal. She seemed not the typical rich snobs she had met before. And honestly, she had met and dealt with quite a handful of them in her previous job.

She guessed she would know more about her if she saw her again. Chantal took her friend's number, asking if they could meet again. And she invited her to come along on their business date.

"Where is Damon? Do you see him?" Jules asked her friend as her new acquaintance returned to the celebration.

She also scanned the room, looking for her husband. But she also noticed how Chantal fitted so well with the rest of the guests. The stunning woman truly belonged in this crowd.

"I think I spotted him by the stares earlier, but I don't see him anymore," Thalia told her as they walked further into the room toward the bar.

Her friend recommended they get a drink before looking for her missing husband. She guessed she could use one if she had to deal with all these people.

She knew no matter how much she tried, she would never be one of them. She would always be an outsider in this gathering.

"I want something that doesn't have much alcohol." She ordered from the man tending the bar. Although she needed the liquid courage, she did not want to get intoxicated. 

The man gave her a sherry full of the refreshing orangey taste with a tinge of alcohol. It was perfect to wet her parch lips without the fear of making her drunk.

The last thing she needed was to humiliate her new husband with unruly behavior. Besides, she had learned her lesson about drinking too much alcohol. 

A hard lesson she did not intend to repeat.

"Hey, there you are?" A mannish voice that did not belong to her husband spoke behind her, although she recognized the man. "I have been looking for you."

But then again, she realized she was not the one the man was talking to as he walked straight ahead to her friend, mildly ignoring her presence.

"Why, Travis? Am I missing?" Thalia answered the man philosophically. "I don't think so since I am right here."

It would seem her friend had not warmed up to her husband's best friend's strong personality. If Damon was serious, his friend was the opposite. 

Travis had an odd sense of humor that might take her and her friend some time to get used to. But in a way, she liked it. Somehow, she enjoyed his company.

"Well, you are missing from my side. And you are supposed to be my date." Travis vocally expressed his interest in her friend.

Nonetheless, her friend seemed to have misplaced the memo as she appeared surprised by his claim. And then Thalia started laughing.

"And who gave you that impression? Not me." Her friend said, clearly mocking him. "I am not going out with you even if you are the last man standing on this planet."

"Ouch! That hurts." Travis held on to his chest, pretending to be in pain. "I don't think you mean that." He kept a boyish smile on his lips, charming his way to her friend's heart or pants.

From what she heard from the grapevine or the internet, Travis was quite a ladies' man. He had been dating most of the eligible bachelorettes in town.

She was bored. Besides, she had time to scroll on her phone and do background checks on the people she met. She just wanted to familiarize herself with the people she had to deal with.

"I meant every word. Now, if you will excuse us, we are having a nice girly chat until you come along." Thalia dismissed Travis, hoping he would go away.

She never saw her friend as the type who would be rude to someone. But then again, she had no idea what might have transpired between Thalia and Travis when they were alone. 

She could see the irritation in her friend's eyes as Travis persisted in pushing her buttons. But Travis seemed undeterred, seemingly more determined to win her over.

"You know what. Why don't I let the two of you work this out while I check on my husband." Jules had no plan to referee whatever was going on between the two. 

In the meantime, she had her situation she had to deal with. And it seemed her husband was still nowhere to be found.

She could already feel the curious glances of their guests as they stared at her. She had no plans of dealing with them on her own. She needed Damon at her side for that.

"By the way, have you seen Damon?" She decided to ask the person who might know where her husband would be.

"Oh! Damon. I have no idea. I have not seen him since I arrived." Travis appeared to be genuinely clueless like her.

She guessed she had to search for him by herself. However, with this crowd, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But at least he was a big needle who would stand out, even in a big crowd.

"Seriously, you are going to leave me with..." Thalia protested, but she stopped her.

"I am sure Travis doesn't bite." She patted her friend on the arm before turning to their other companion. "Right, Travis? You will behave and take care of my friend. Right?"

She did not wait for an answer since those two were grown-ups who could handle their differences. Whatever that was going on between them. 

She intended to find out what it was. But that would have to wait until this party was over. She could not deal with that and this at the same time.

She moved along the crowd, peering her eyes open for any signs of her husband. She knew he should be somewhere out there. But still no luck.

"Where are you, Damon?" She asked again when she saw someone familiar was looking her way.

The last thing she wanted was to deal with that woman by herself. Therefore, she tried to escape, pretending not to notice her as she walked faster in the opposite direction.

She was not afraid of her. However, she did not want a confrontation either, especially not with this crowd. So, it would be better if she just avoided her for now.

But as she turned into a corner, she felt her body colliding with a brick wall. Then, she fell backward, but an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back before she could hit the floor.

"Are you okay?" A concerned voice she had not heard for a long time echoed in her ears. Suddenly, she realized she was in a man's arms, stabilizing her back on her feet. 

Frankly, the fall did not shock and paralyze her on her spot. Instead, it was those familiar eyes that were staring back at her.

She could not move as flashes of her past transported her back in time. It was as if no time had lapsed since she last saw this man.

It appeared those memories she had hoped to forget had never left her mind as they resurfaced, plaguing her with different emotions she could not fully understand. 

At least not yet.