Chapter Four

Ford

The astrophysics convention had gone off without a hitch, and after the final day of speakers and breakout sessions, it was time to celebrate at the formal dinner. As I entered the grand ballroom of the hotel, the sound of clinking glasses, soft jazz music, and lively conversations mingled together to create an ambiance that was both sophisticated and electric. I adjusted my tie and took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. This was what Bonnie and I had been organizing all season, and tonight was the culmination of our hard work.

The ballroom was beautifully decorated, with shimmering chandeliers casting a warm glow over the crowd. Faculty and students from universities across the country mingled together, dressed in their fanciest attire. Their laughter and animated discussions echoed throughout the room like the rumbling of a soft rain. A long buffet table stretched along one side, laden with a mouthwatering array of gourmet dishes, while straight-backed servers weaved through the crowd carrying silver trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

I scanned the room, searching for Bonnie. I knew she'd be arriving soon, and the thought of seeing her in this elegant setting sent a thrill of excitement through me. It was rare for me to feel nervous, but Bonnie had a way of making me question my composure. She was magnetic, and the anticipation of spending the evening with her was both exhilarating and daunting. I was glad she'd accepted my invitation.

"Ford! There you are!" Alfred Winters called, breaking through my thoughts as he approached me with a glass of wine in hand. He was one of the esteemed physicists I respected, always full of wit and charm.

"Alfred," I replied, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "It's good to see you."

We exchanged pleasantries about the conference sessions earlier in the day, but my mind kept wandering back to Bonnie. She had promised to attend tonight, agreeing to be my unofficial date for the evening. It was a small favor, but it meant a lot to me. She was more than just my assistant; she had become someone I trusted and admired deeply.

The conversation with Professor Winters drifted on, but I found it hard to focus. My gaze kept darting around the room, scanning for any sign of her. Just when I was about to excuse myself, I spotted her across the ballroom.

She was standing near the entrance, looking breathtakingly beautiful in a royal blue dress that accentuated her curves. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, and a string of pearls adorned her neck, adding a touch of elegance to her ensemble. She wore a pair of heels that gave her petite frame a graceful lift, and I couldn't help but be captivated by the sight of her.

A small group of people were gathered around her, and I heard her animated laughter ringing out as she engaged them in conversation. Bonnie was the kind of person who lit up any room she entered, and tonight was no exception. She was completely unaware of how effortlessly she drew people in, her genuine warmth and charm creating a gravitational pull that others found impossible to resist.

I felt a surge of energy as I weaved my way through the crowd toward her, pausing briefly to grab two flutes of champagne from a passing server, determined to make a toast with her.

"Bonnie," I called as I reached her side, offering her one of the glasses. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, a smile spreading across her face that made my heart skip a beat.

"Ford!" she exclaimed, accepting the champagne flute with a grateful nod. "This is quite the party you've organized."

"Thank you, but I couldn't have done it without you," I replied, raising my glass to her. "To you, Bonnie, for all your hard work, and for being my date tonight. Well, not really, but you know what I mean."

She blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that made her even more enchanting. "Thank you, Ford. And I suppose I should thank Jonathan for sparing me for the evening. He's off with his programmer friends, having a virtual reality gaming night. I'm not really into that sort of thing."

I chuckled, relieved that Jonathan didn't mind her absence tonight. "To making all our dreams come true," Bonnie said, lifting her glass to meet mine. The soft clink of crystal echoed between us as we toasted, a sense of camaraderie and understanding passing between us.

As we took our seats at the head table, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. There was a lightness in her demeanor, an infectious joy that made everything seem brighter. The meal was an elaborate affair, starting with an appetizer of smoked salmon and avocado mousse, followed by a main course of filet mignon with truffle sauce and roasted vegetables. Each dish was a masterpiece, and the flavors danced on my palate, but it was Bonnie's presence that truly made the evening special.

We shared stories and laughter as we ate, the conversation flowing easily between us. Bonnie had a way of making me feel at ease, her quick wit and playful banter drawing me in. I found myself sharing more than I usually would, caught up in the moment and the comfort of her company.

"So, Ford, what's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you at a conference?" Bonnie asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she cut into her filet mignon.

I laughed, thinking back to my early days in academia. "There was this one time when I was giving a presentation, and I realized halfway through that I had left my laser pointer at the hotel. I had to use a chopstick I found in my bag to point at the slides. Not my finest hour."

Bonnie giggled, her laughter like music to my ears. "I bet you pulled it off with style, though."

"I tried my best," I admitted, enjoying the light-hearted exchange. "What about you? Any embarrassing moments in your MBA program?"

She thought for a moment, a smile playing on her lips. "Well, I was giving a presentation on market analysis a couple of weeks ago, and I accidentally mixed up the slides with a personal slideshow from a family vacation I'm putting together for my dad's birthday. Let's just say my classmates learned more about our trip to Florida when I was thirteen than they ever wanted to know. That awful perm I had that made me look like a poodle will probably follow me now for the rest of my life."

We both laughed at our mutual faux pas.

"So, Bonnie, what do you enjoy when you're not studying?" I asked, leaning forward slightly. "What do you see yourself doing in the future?"

Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she spoke. "I'm really passionate about my MBA studies. I want to make a difference in the business world, maybe even start my own company someday. Being an entrepreneur would give me the flexibility to raise a family and still have a career."

I listened intently, captivated by her ambition and drive. There was a fire in her eyes, a determination that was impossible to ignore.

"That's fantastic," I said, impressed by her vision. "What kind of business would you like to start?"

"I'm not entirely sure yet," she admitted. "But I want it to be something meaningful, something that makes a positive impact. I'm also interested in traveling the world and experiencing different places and cultures. I've hardly ever left Illinois, except for a couple of vacations to the Keys with my parents and younger brother when we were kids."

The sincerity in her voice resonated with me. "I can relate to that," I said, nodding. "I've always wanted to travel more as well. I'm afraid to admit I've been so focused on my career that I haven't had the chance to see much of the world."

Bonnie's smile widened, her eyes meeting mine with a warmth that made my chest tighten. "Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?"

"Somewhere warm," I replied without hesitation. "I've never been fond of the cold. Maybe somewhere like Greece or the coast of Spain. I'd love to live in a place someday where I can garden all year round, grow my own vegetables and herbs."

"You garden?" she asked, surprised.

"Not as much as I'd like to," I admitted. "But it's something I want to pursue when I have more time. There's something therapeutic about working with your hands, nurturing life from the soil."

"I can see that," Bonnie said thoughtfully. "It's like creating something beautiful from the ground up, much like building a business."

Her words struck a chord with me, and I realized how much we had in common. We both craved a life that was rich with experiences, a life where we could forge our own paths and create something meaningful.

As the evening wore on, I felt a growing sense of connection with Bonnie. It was more than just a professional relationship; it was a meeting of minds, a shared understanding that transcended words. I was drawn to her in a way I hadn't expected, captivated by her intellect, her passion, and her unassuming charm. What was most impressive was the fact that she didn't appear to have a clue how amazing she was. She was completely open and without artifice. I'd never met anyone like that before and being around her felt like more than just a breath of fresh air, but instead one that invigorated and renewed the soul.

But beneath the surface, there was an electric tension that simmered between us, an unspoken attraction that instead of dissipating was only continuing to grow despite my best efforts to ignore it. I couldn't pretend that it didn't both excite and unnerve me at the same time, and even though I knew I was treading dangerous waters, I couldn't seem to help myself.

After dinner, the dessert was served: a decadent chocolate fondant with a raspberry coulis, paired with heart-shaped cookies as a nod to Valentine's Day. The rich sweetness was the perfect end to a satisfying meal, and the room buzzed with contentment as the music shifted to a more upbeat tune.

The band began to play a lively big band number, the sound of horns and saxophones filling the air with an infectious rhythm. People started moving to the dance floor, caught up in the energy of the music.

Shall we?" I asked Bonnie, offering her my hand with a playful grin. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she took it, allowing me to lead her to the dance floor.

The upbeat tempo set the perfect stage for a whirlwind of motion. We laughed and twirled around the room, the joy of the moment sweeping us away. I spun Bonnie under my arm, her dress flaring out as she moved with surprising grace. I felt more alive than I had in years.

As the song transitioned to a slower melody, couples around us drew closer, and I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should continue. Bonnie met my gaze, her expression unreadable but open, and I found myself stepping closer, wrapping an arm around her waist as she rested her hand on my shoulder. We began to sway gently to the music and the world around us faded into the background. The soft notes of the ballad enveloped us, creating a bubble where only the two of us existed. Her body was warm against mine, her head resting just beneath my chin, and for a brief moment, everything felt perfect.

But as the song came to an end, reality crept back in, and I pulled away, the awareness of where we stood rushing back with startling clarity. There was an awkward pause between us, a charged silence filled with words left unspoken.

I cleared my throat uncomfortably.

"I hope I didn't overstep," I said softly, my voice tinged with regret as I searched her gorgeous brown eyes for any sign of discomfort.

Bonnie shook her head, a small, reassuring smile playing on her lips. "Not at all. That was...nice. Thank you, Ford."

The moment lingered, a fragile balance tinged with longing as I inhaled and offered her my arm, escorting her to the valet service at the hotel's entrance—our evening over.

The sliding glass doors opened, and we stepped out together onto the sidewalk, the crisp winter air biting at our skin.

"Will you get home okay?" I asked, concern lacing my words. The city lights glowed softly in the distance, casting long shadows on the snow-draped streets.

She nodded, wrapping her coat tighter around herself. "I'll be fine. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Ford. It was nice to have a break from everything."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," I replied, meaning every word. "I'll see you at the office next week."

The valet attendant drove up in her vehicle, a compact white SUV, and she handed him her ticket gratefully. With a final wave, she slipped into the car, the door closing with a gentle thud. I waved back and watched her pull away from the curb and merge with into the stream of traffic.

I made my way to my own car in the parking lot, my mind a whirlwind of emotions as I drove home. I couldn't shake the feeling of Bonnie's warmth, the memory of her laughter, and feel of her soft body against my hardened exterior. I could still smell her scent—something flowery like vanilla and rose petals. The evening had been unforgettable, but it had also stirred something within me, a desire that I couldn't easily dismiss. I knew the boundaries that existed between us, the responsibilities that weighed heavily on my shoulders. Yet, despite my better judgment, I couldn't help but feel drawn to Bonnie. The more I got to know her, the more captivated I became by her spirit and her dreams.

Arriving at my apartment building, I parked in my designated spot in the underground garage and rode up the elevator to the ninth floor. The silence of my apartment greeted me, a stark contrast to the vibrancy of the night. I hung up my coat, the echo of the door clicking shut resonating in the stillness. I sighed, suddenly feeling tired, and the familiar mantle of loneliness settled over me. Maybe I should get a dog or something. At least then I'd have some sort of companionship. But then again what was I thinking? I didn't have time to care for a pet right now. I had to focus on work. If I could just gather enough data to prove my hypothesis, I knew it would be enough to secure funding for a research center. I rubbed my temples as I walked through the living room to my bedroom suite. I probably just needed a good night's sleep.

Suddenly, my phone pinged with an incoming message, making me jump. Could it be Bonnie? Had she gotten home alright? Worried, I pulled the device from my pocket.

But when I glanced at the screen, I froze.

I'm in town, and I need to see you.

Greer Tolliver, my ex-girlfriend, the woman I'd asked to be my wife, was back.