7 • The Mess

Just before Dylan can get to me, Cain intercepts him and they start talking closely in very low voices, obviously fighting as discreetly as possible, although several board members still in the room watch them curiously.

"What the hell is going on with those two?" I ask Sam as she stands next to me.

"It's complicated... Dylan hates Cain," she begins, leaning closer to gossip quietly, "Actually, he hates all of Chicago society. And I understand that they're difficult and elitist, but Dylan has a personal vendetta against most people around town. I don't understand what his motives are but he even hates me and I'm just an employee, not part of this group."

"Which group are you referring to? The rich people group?"

"Yeah, you know, the usual. The powerful families in Chicago have a strong community and they never interact with common people, only with each other," She starts explaining and I nod, understanding, "You'll realize soon enough, the Lambert name is one of the most important, of course."

I'm about to say something else, but Charlie Lambert himself approaches us and we both shut our mouths immediately.

"Stop whispering," he whispers, mocking us, "There's an event this Friday, Beau. It's just a dinner at the Gia Park Ballroom, I want to introduce you to some people."

"Of course, Sir. I'll be there," I nod many times, though inside I'm shaking. Charlie pulls away to go grab his son by the arm, making Dylan shut his mouth immediately, "What's this dinner like, Sam? I'm nervous now."

"Don't be. You're a stellar Lambert employee, it's going to be fine," she reassures me, "It's really just a big formal dinner for the company, there's one at least once a month. You'll meet other important families, too."

"Will you come with me to buy something decent to wear to the dinner?l I ask and Sam agrees immediately.

-I have to find a dress, we can help each other -she raises her little fist to bump it with mine and when I do, I find Cain's eyes on our interaction.

➿➿➿➿

"You can take a date to the dinner," Sam says as we're walking inside the mall, "It's not necessary, but it's something most people do, so it's kinda expected."

"Oh. I don't know anyone yet. Do you have to take a date, too?" I answer and she nods but squints her eyes at me as if she's trying to see if I'm hitting on her.

"I could but it's not expected of me since I'm no one important. So I won't.

"No funny business, but we should just be each others dates. Just so we're not the only lame people with no dates."

"Hmm… yeah. You're right," she accepts once she realizes I'm not actually flirting.

I find an outfit in ten minutes, but Sam is a hard sell. She needs to see all the options before she makes a decision and so we wander around all the stores in the huge mall.

Once we see everything, it's been two hours and my legs hurt, but it's been quite entertaining watching Sam analyze each dress as if they have the answers to the universe. We sat down at a cafe to rest for a moment.

"Here are my favorites," she shows me her cell phone, where she has just created a document in less than five minutes with photos of her three favorite dresses with the prices on the side and some notes under each photo, "Which one looks the best to you?"

This woman is prepared. Now I understand why she is the assistant to someone so important.

"According to your report, number two is the best. It's not that expensive and you feel comfortable, plus they match your favorite heels," I say, reading her notes. Sam nods slowly, absorbing my every word and taking a sip of her cappuccino, "However, in my personal opinion, dress number seven is the best."

"Really? Elaborate your answer," she orders and I stop a chuckle.

"It's nothing logical that I can explain, it was just the one that impressed me the most when I saw you wearing it," I explain sincerely and Sam opens her lips in surprise, "If you want to impress someone, I think that one would be the right dress."

"And who is this 'someone' you're talking about?" she asks, feigning confusion.

"I think we both know, Sammy," I answer and she understands who I mean immediately. She narrows her eyes at me and snatches her cell phone out of my hands, "Hey, I know how to keep secrets."

"There's nothing to keep. I don't even know what you're talking about," she lies, determined to stay in denial, but she gets up from the table and starts walking towards the store where we saw dress number seven. I grab my cup to follow her, "But since you're my date, I'll treat you to your favorite dress."

"You're very kind. And I'm a very understanding date, I wouldn't mind if you left me alone in the middle of the event to go with Cain. I mean, with someone else," I let out, pressing my lips together as she tries to burn me with her eyes, "Sorry, it just slipped out."

"I hate you," she mumbles, returning her gaze to the front and walking with more force on her feet, like she's killing bugs with every step.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll keep your secret," I assure, entering the store behind her like I'm her pet, "We don't even have to talk about it anymore."

"There's no secret to keep and nothing to talk about... Do I think he's cute? Obviously," she answers herself, snatching the dress off the rack where she left it a few minutes ago, "but that doesn't mean anything. There are millions of handsome men in the world, even you with your annoying voice."

"It's funny how people only find my voice annoying when I'm saying hard truths," I murmur in a sweet voice that doesn't do much to make her happy, "Okay, now I get it. You don't care about Cain at all, you just think he's cute."

"Exactly," she replies, taking out her card to pay, "You're insufferable, Beau."

"And yet you took my advice," I add, with an annoying smile. Sam just raises her middle finger at me.

I tend to provoke that reaction in people.

➿➿➿➿

Sam lives in a building downtown and when she approaches Samuel's car, there are a lot of people looking at her like she's a movie star. And she does look like one. The dress in question is black with long sleeves and completely clinging to her slim body, the only skin visible is her back. With her hair styled in long braids that she definitely didn't have yesterday and heavy makeup, she looks beautiful.

"Hi," she says shyly as I get out of the car to greet her with a hug and open the door for her, "Good evening, Samuel."

"Good evening, Samantha. You look beautiful," he says from his seat and my friend smiles, "Are you sure you want to have Beau as your date?"

"I'm the second choice, actually," I mumble as I get into the car after her, making my driver laugh.

"He's the only choice, but we're only going as friends," she clarifies, taking a deep breath as we start driving, "I'm overthinking things, Beau. I shouldn't have bought this dress, it's too much. Option number two was more discreet."

"Option number two was boring. This one isn't. Honestly, I thought you were Rihanna for a second when you came out of your building."

"Shut up!" she complains, hitting me with her little purse and covering her flushed face for a second, "It's a work event, I have to be boring."

"No. You shut up," I reply, "You'll see I'm right when we get there and you're the sensation."

Sam wants to keep fighting but just rolls her eyes and plays with her fingers nervously the rest of the way.