Chapter 19 - Lex

Hosting the party at the newest and trendiest rooftop bar and restaurant was a great idea. The weather has been lovely all day. As daylight fades, the skies are still clear, promising a great night for an outdoor party. The rooftop venue looks marvelous. It is lit only by an abundance of fairy lights, lending it a surreal feel. The open bar is in the center, with the dance floor on one side and the buffet on the other. We decided to forgo the DJ since it is a formal event. Instead, a live orchestra is going to be providing the entertainment for the night. The staff insisted on a formal dress code, claiming that it would give them all an opportunity to dress up.

The guys and I had arrived early to ensure that everything was in place. This celebration is our way of thanking everybody who works at Druk Technologies. We have expressly forbidden all of our staff, including all our exec assistants, to work today. They have done an excellent job putting the event together. We want them to relax and have fun today. If something needs to be taken care of at the last minute, we have assured them that we will handle it. Most of them gave us dubious looks, but we insisted.

Soon, the guests start arriving. We greet many of them personally. Our respective parents should be arriving any minute now. Mom and Dad flew in yesterday. They are leaving directly after the party for their annual Paris trip which they're taking early this year, so they insisted on staying at an airport hotel. I offered them the use of my private jet, but Mom especially likes to fly commercial. She is a people person. It gives her great pleasure to just to be amongst people. And Dad is more than happy to accommodate her. Two people more deeply in love I haven't seen.

Thinking about them takes me back to the question Nic had asked me in Paris. Do I want what they have? Of course I do. It's a pity that I can never have it. I wonder if Dad ever feared losing Mom. I wish I could talk to him about it. Of late, I have begun to wonder if my fear is irrational. But then I think of the Carnelian dragon who threw himself to his death. That is enough to bring me back to my senses.

I spot Mom and Dad getting out of the elevator into the well-lit corridor that leads to the rooftop. Having them here chases away all unwanted thoughts.

"Lex!" Mom rushes forward with outstretched arms.

"Mom!" I gather her up in my arms, lifting her high, making her laugh. She is a tiny little thing, my mom, but only an extremely foolish person would make the mistake of thinking that Mrs. Eva Hutchison is weak or helpless.

"Put me down!" she says, smacking my shoulder with her clutch.

"You look stunning," I say, looking down at her petite figure encased in a classy copper gold gown that matches her hair. Her blue eyes are bright with unshed tears when she looks at me.

"Look at my handsome boy," she says, cupping my cheek.

Dad is standing behind her with a huge grin on his face.

"Dad!" We hug briefly. My dad and I look almost exactly alike. His hair is graying at the temples and there are a few laugh lines around his mouth and eyes, but other than that, we could pass for twins. It might have something to do with the fact that we are both dragon shifters whereas Mom is a human.

"Uncle Alex! Aunt Eva!"

The guys soon surrounded us, and they are each hugged and kissed by my mom. Dad gives them all a one-armed guy hug. Although the guys are not related by blood to my parents, we have always addressed each others' parents as aunt and uncle. We are family, after all.

Damon's parents, Julie and Ethan Hunt, are the next to arrive. On the heels of the Amethysts, The Onyxes, namely Henrietta and Jude Cummins, Pat's parents follow. There are hugs and kisses all around. The Agates: Rosa and Albert Rubens who are TJ's parents, and the Citrines, Jane and Frederick Townsend, arrive shortly after. It feels amazing to have all my family around me. Well, almost all. The four of us, me, Damon, Liam, and TJ are the only children of our respective parents.

But Pat has a sister who has cut off all ties with him and his parents. There are identical expressions of longing mixed with pain on the faces of Pat and his parents. Liam looks out of sorts as well. But the momentary awkwardness is soon overcome by having all the people we love around us. Our fathers took over the reins of Druk Technologies from our grandfathers and grew it several folds. We, in turn, took over from our own fathers, and I am really, really proud of how far we have come.

Our parents, after their retirement, have bought retirement homes all across the country. My parents have a sweet place in the mountains of Virginia where they spend most of the year when they're not traveling. Since they don't meet as often as they'd like, our parents soon huddle off to a table in the corner. They have a lot of catching up to do.

The rooftop venue is soon getting filled with guests. But Nic isn't here yet. I hope she didn't change her mind about coming. My eyes keep darting between the elevator and the Rolex on my wrist every few minutes.

For the most part, things between Nic and I are now better. Though there is still a little of the awkwardness, we are getting along fine. But Nic is still feeling that she's being watched and my gut feeling about the lurking danger has only strengthened. The guys are all feeling it as well. My dragon still keeps grumbling about Nic from time to time, but I remind him of the Carnelian. He doesn't always see reason, but we have reached an agreement of sorts. I have also resorted to taking a herbal remedy to help me sleep better. And wonder of wonders, I am actually sleeping better. But the waking hours in the office when Nic is around me are still nothing short of torture. The creator, if there is one, has a twisted sense of humor. I have a great woman in my life who likes me, and I like her back, but we can never be together.

My eyes dart to the elevator yet again. This time when the doors open, Nic steps out. She looks stunning! I know my jaw is hanging open and I'm staring wide-eyed, but I don't care. She's wearing an emerald silk gown that clings to her curves and goes all the way down to her knees, leaving her shoulders bare. The slit on the side of the gown gives a tantalizing view of her gorgeous legs when she moves. Her gorgeous red hair is piled on top of her head in a loose bun from which a few stray strands have escaped. Other than the gold studs at her ears, she isn't wearing any other jewelry. I can tell that she feels my gaze on her. When our eyes meet across the room, the air around us sizzles. Neither of us is able to look away. I am totally oblivious to everything around me, and I think so is Nic.

She finally looks away from me when the older woman who is accompanying her tugs on her arm to get her attention. The older woman is dressed in blue and looks a lot like Nic. She must be her mother.

I hurry forward to meet them.

"Nic, you look stunning." I am unable to keep the note of awe from my voice.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself," she says, flashing a smile at me, straightening the bow tie of my tuxedo.

"Who is this handsome young man?" the woman standing next to Nic demands.

"Mom, this is Lex, my boss. Lex, my mom, Pamela Roberts."

"Now I know where Nic gets her stunning looks from, ma'am. I thought you were Nic's sister," I say with a grin, shaking Pam's proffered hand.

"You are a charmer and a sweet-talker. I had Nic when I was terribly young, so I can understand why you confused me for her sister. And call me Pam. Ma'am makes me feel about a hundred years old," Pam says with a wink.

"Lex, who are these wonderful people?" My mom is standing behind me with a glass of champagne in her hand, smiling at Nic and her mother. Dad has also broken away from the group and is heading towards us.

"Mom! I thought you were still with the others," I say, narrowing my eyes at her. I haven't told either my mom or my dad about Nic yet. Because there is nothing to tell. My dragon whines. I wonder what caused my mom to come over.

"Hi, I'm Eva Hutchinson," she says, extending her arm towards Pam, shooting me a look. "Uh, Mom, this is Pamela Roberts and Nicola Roberts. Nic is my executive assistant."

Mom's brows rise up her forehead slightly as she shakes Nic warmly by the hand. Dad soon arrives and I make introductions again.

"Nic, why don't you introduce your mom to the others? Get a drink, both of you," I say, guiding them away from my parents. Nic looks at me strangely, but nods and walks off with her mother. When I return to where my parents are standing, Mom fixes me with a stare.

"What?" I say, stuffing my hands in my pockets. The tips of my ears go pink under her scrutiny. She knows.

"You didn't tell us," she says, raising one eyebrow.

"Tell you what?" I pretend innocence.

"You're in love with her!" she says, her eyes suddenly bright.

"No! I'm not!" I deny vehemently. Dad places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.

"It can be difficult coming to terms with finding your mate, but she is The One, son," he says kindly.

"I can never claim her," I say, turning away from them to lean on the parapet and fixedly stare at the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance.

"Why?" my dad asks, coming to stand on one side of me while Mom stands on the other. The top of Mom's head barely reaches above the wall. She leans her back against it, facing the crowd, whereas Dad and I are facing away.

"Dad, you're the one who told me the story of the Carnelian, remember?"

"You're focusing on the wrong thing," Mom says, placing her hand over my rigid forearm.

"What is the right thing, Mom? What could be more important than preserving my sanity? And it's not just the Carnelian. Liam is sane, functional, and well-adjusted today only because he didn't claim her," I say. glancing over my shoulder at Liam and his parents, who are laughing and having a good time. I rarely think about Liam's past, but seeing us all together has me think how cut up Liam was when she disappeared.

My parents are silent.

"Well? So what is the right thing?" I whisper, looking straight ahead.

"Love," they both say together.

After a few minutes, Mom and Dad are pulled into the throng of guests by Aunt Henrietta. I stand alone, mulling over what they've told me. Love? Could it really be that simple? Then I glance at Liam again. I am right and my parents are wrong.

When I turn to face the crowd, everybody seems to be having a great time. Laughter and conversations are flowing easily all around me. My gaze inadvertently is pulled toward Nic, no matter how hard I try to avoid looking in her direction. I want to dance with her. Hold her in arms, feel her soft skin under my fingers.

Will I be able to let her go after dancing with her? Surely I will be able to control myself enough not to do anything too embarrassing, like kissing her senseless on the dance floor? Especially with so many people around us?

I head toward Nic and her mother. They're talking to an older guy who I know works in our accounts department, though I don't remember his name offhand. But before I can reach them, Nic and her mother make their way towards the exit. I rush after her.

"Nic! Pam! Leaving already?" Nic whirls around, looking a bit startled to find me behind them.

"Mom has to catch an early flight tomorrow. I'm going to put her in a cab," she says with a smile.

Pam gives me a brief hug and a strange, knowing look.

"Look after my daughter," she whispers, giving my hand a squeeze. I can only nod dumbly as I watch them riding the elevator down.

Is it so obvious to everybody that I have feelings for Nic? Pushing a hand through my hair, I return to the party, pretending to make polite conversation with the people around me. But my eyes keep darting to the elevator again.

Why isn't she back already? How long does it take to find a cab?

After I glance at my watch for the hundredth time, TJ pipes up.

"Remember that very first time at The Sitting Duck? Didn't you intimidate her into running away from you?" he says with a wicked grin.

"Haha. You are a hoot. You didn't fare much better either. Weren't you hitting on her roommate?" I retort.

"But I'm not acting like a prize idiot." His grin gets wider.

"Go!" Liam says, reading my thoughts.

Without a backward glance, I quickly make my way down. It has been nearly half an hour since she went to find a cab for her mother.

The elevator ride down takes only a few minutes, but I'm tapping my foot impatiently. I rush out into the lobby the minute it comes to a halt, then stop in my tracks. I find Nic talking to a man. He is holding her wrists and her palms are placed on his chest. My hands and feet go numb. I am tempted to run to where they're standing and pull Nic away from him. But then what? I have no right whatsoever to stop Nic from seeing other men. I ball my hands into fists as I move closer without being observed. I want to know what they're talking about.

I stand behind one of the large pillars in the lobby from where I can see and hear them, but they can't see me. But the minute I take my position behind the pillar, I notice Nic's shoulders tense. Does she know I'm here?

The man is tall and good-looking in a slick way. One look at him tells me he's not the dependable sort of guy.

"… so you're not dating him?" he asks eagerly.

"For the last time, Manuel, it is none of your business who I date or don't date," Nic says with a note of exasperation in her voice.

"But I want to make it my business, Nicola. I want you to be my business. I made a terrible mistake letting you go. I was an idiot. A moron. I want you in my life, Nic. I will give you everything you've always wanted—a home, lots of children. Heck, we will even get a dog. Isn't that what you've always wanted? Come back to me please, Nic."

He is cupping her face now. I am tempted to rearrange his slick features with my fist. So this is her ex. The one who used her and then discarded her.

You're not doing any better, my dragon says sulkily.

But I never promised her anything, I retort hotly.

Don't go back to him, Nic, I say desperately in my head. She is still silent. Since she is facing away from me, there's no way of knowing what she's thinking.

"You are promising me everything I ever wanted?" she finally says softly.

She can't be seriously considering going back to the schmuck?

"Yes," she says with a hopeful grin.

I can't take it any longer. If she kisses him, I might really pummel his face. I get away from the pillar and head to the elevator. Have I lost her forever?