“Glad you both could make it,” she said after she did her compulsory red carpet photo session and pecked us on the cheeks. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
“May we just take a moment and pay you a compliment before we start networking?” I said, kissing her hand. “You look amazing.” I looked at Christpher. “Doesn’t she?”
“Absolutely,” he said and took his turn to kiss Natasha’s hand.
“Thank you,” she said and looked at someone behind us. “Oh, that’s the gentleman I’d like you both to meet.”
We turned.
“He’s a billionaire from the States who moved to the City a few months ago,” Natasha explained. “His names is –”
“Jared Shannon,” I finished.
“You know him then,” Natasha could not hide her disappointment in the fact that I had just ruined her surprise and pursed her lips.
“How do you know him?” I asked, watching Jared waving to Natasha, and beelining towards us.
“Oh, we met at a thing a few weeks ago. You know, I must meet this kind of people to … Oh, hello Jared.” She opened her arms for a hug and greeted the man in a fine tuxedo who I’d been hoping to become my way out of the approaching financial abyss. The fact that they were already on a first-name basis felt a tad unsettling.
“May I introduce my friends to you?” Natasha said, after she finally released Jared from her hospitable embrace that looked a tad clingy to me.
“I think I know at least one of them,” Jared said and extended his hand for a shake. “How are you, Alex?”
I shook his hand. “Fine, thank you.” I pointed to Christopher. “This is my friend Christopher Deven.”
“It’s baron Christopher Deven.” Natasha corrected me with a friendly but slightly judgmental shake of her head.
“Christopher’s fine,” Christopher saved me from the introductory faux pas and shook Jared’s hand with a smile.
“How are you doing, Christopher?” Jared asked and looked at Natasha. “I didn’t know you’d be bringing guests tonight.”
“These two needed a bit of fresh air.”
We all laughed politely; the way people do when they have nothing to say.
“I’ll just escort my friends to the table,” Natasha said and took Christopher and me by the hands. We’ll see you later at the after party, won’t we?”
“There is an after party after this?” Jared asked, laughing.
“There always is.” Natasha smiled.
“Enjoy the event,” Jared said. “I don’t think I’ll be joining the party.”
He nodded to us with a smile and walked away to a group of twittering young people who met him with exciting greetings. I was glad he had not mentioned our little deal because I was not ready to make it public just yet.
“You seem to know him quite well,” I said when we reached our table, and I helped Natasha to take her seat.
“It pays well to get to know people like Jared Shannon,” she said and opened the menu. “Let’s see what we’ll be paying for tonight.”
“Speaking of which, what is this charity for anyway?” Christopher asked, sitting down.
“And where is that open bar?” I asked a more important question, looking around.
The event went well. We left the place a couple of hours later. We took advantage of the open bar, but we did donate some money to… I could not even remember what that blasted charity was for after we went to the after party. I did remember one thing. I did not particularly like the way Jared looked at Natasha. But I could not blame him for being smitten by her beauty either.
