Initiating Amy Read online

  “Not a lot,” began Amy, coyly. “Do you know Lance in Security?”

  “You mean Lance Ackermann? Of course I know him, I know all of my directors.” Alison paused before adding, “Why?”

  Amy looked away and grew silent, as if she no longer wanted to continue with the conversation.

  Alison prompted her again. “Why do you ask? Has he done something I should know about?”

  Amy looked at Alison, saying, “Nothing like that, no.” She paused. “Ackermann, I never knew his last name. It suits him.”

  Amy began to shift in her seat. Alison sensed where Amy was going with this. “Are you interested in him?”

  Amy flushed, getting up from the chair and moving towards the door before stopping, turning around, and moving back to stand behind the chair she just got out of.

  “I don’t know.” She wasn’t looking at Alison when she said this. “I don’t know. No. I really just met him for the first time. I know he’s worked here for a while, but funny thing, I never really spoke to him before. Before today. I ran into him in the elevator and he introduced himself to me.”

  “He’s been here for a couple of years. You two never met?”

  “Not really. I’ve seen him around, in the hallway, the cafeteria, but that’s about it.”

  Alison sat forward and smiled. “Maybe you should get to know him then. He’s a handsome guy.”

  “Alison.” Amy began to blush.

  “Why not?”

  Amy preferred not to answer. Amy looked around the office, searching for a way to change the topic. She then remembered the flyer, the real reason she came in to see Alison. She pulled it out from beneath her leg, tossing it on Alison’s desk.

  “What’s this?”

  “I found this on the office floor, after that couple left.”

  “The ones you spied on?”

  “Whatever.” Amy picked up the flyer, tossing it closer to Alison. “Take a look.”

  Alison pick it up and held it. She looked from the flyer and then back to Amy.

  “The Lover’s Ball?”

  “At the Dominion,” said Amy.

  Alison passed the flyer back to Amy. Amy took it and tucked it back under her leg.

  “Are you going?” asked Amy.

  “Why would I be going?” Alison was genuinely surprised by the question.

  “Because your husband owns the Dominion Hotel.”

  “Partially owns,” corrected Alison. “He’s got five other partners in the deal.”

  “Ok, partially owns, but he still owns it.”

  “Matt and I don’t attend every function that happens at the hotel.”

  “I just thought.” Amy stopped.

  “Even if I wanted to go, I don’t think baby would be up to it.” Alison rubbed her belly for emphasis.

  Amy laughed. “Yeah, what was I thinking? I just thought, given that Matt owns the place and he probably knows most of the people who would be attending, you guys would be going as well.”

  “No, we’re not. Besides, it’s a really expensive ticket.”

  Amy looked dejected. “Yeah, I guess it would be.”

  “I’ve heard Matt talk about it, it’s a big event. Happens once a year, always sells out. A pretty well-heeled crowd. That’s all I know really.” Alison paused. “That sounds more like Tony’s thing than Matt’s. Tony’s a part owner too, soon to be the General Manager. If any of us were to know anything about that event, it would be him. Why are you interested in it anyway? It’s a Lover’s Ball. You’re not.” Alison stopped herself.

  “In love?” Amy finished the thought.

  “Sorry.” Alison really was.

  “No, it’s okay.” It was okay, and it wasn’t. It stung a little. She wanted to be in love. Amy pulled the flyer out from under her leg and stood up. “It’s okay, I know. I just thought it might be fun. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a party, and never one like this one.” She waved the flyer. “If you guys were going, I just thought”—Amy turned towards the door—“I don’t know.” She paused. “Anyway,” she continued, a little less excited than when she came into the office. “Just an idea.” She paused again. “I’ll let you get back at it. I’ve got a ton of stuff I need to get to myself.”

  Whenever Evelyn Hendricks was in town, she stayed in the Penthouse on the top floor of the Dominion Hotel, the hotel she had owned up until six months ago before she sold it to Matt Warrington and Tony Marino. There were other partners in the group, the ones who joined Warrington in putting the money together for the deal, but they were minority owners. In her mind, it was Warrington and Tony who were the owners. The others were just names on the legal documents that she signed to close the deal. They were just signatures on a piece of paper, like so many other signatures on so many other pieces of paper that were signed to close the numerous business deals she had made over the years.

  Fittingly, the sale of the Dominion was her last deal, bookending her business career. The Dominion was the first business she bought and was the last one she sold. Originally, she had no desire to sell the Dominion. It was going to be the one business she was going to keep. Then Racocco came along and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse, and the hotel was in play. Evelyn learned early that everything has a price, and when an over-value offer presented itself, you took it. As much as owning the Dominion was sentimental to her, she knew there was no room for sentimentality in business.

  Selling the Dominion was difficult regardless. Apart from being the first business she owned, it was a special place for her. If it weren’t for William and the Lover’s Ball, she would never have bought the hotel. That’s where she met him, at the inaugural Lover’s Ball, in the Grand Ballroom of the Dominion Hotel over fifty years ago.

  That’s also where she lost him.

  When Evelyn first heard about the Lover’s Ball, fifty years ago, without question, she was going, but she couldn’t go alone. Back in those days, polite ladies of society did not attend social events unescorted. So she asked her sister Melissa to go with her. Melissa wanted no part of it, despite how much Evelyn begged her.

  “C’mon, Mel. Who else am I to go with if not you?”

  “Anyone else,” she replied.

  “It’s got to be you.”

  “No, it doesn’t.”

  Evelyn tried another tactic, her voice lowering, her eyes downcast. “I need you with me. I feel safe with you. I won’t know anybody there. I need you.”

  Melissa knew what Evelyn was like when she got this way, she would not take no for an answer. She could never deny her younger sister at times like these.

  “Why do you want to go anyway?” asked Melissa. “You’ve got it backwards. The ball is for those who are already in love.”

  “I disagree. In love, looking for love, does it really matter? It’s all about love; looking for love, finding love, being in love.” Evelyn loved the idea of love and was anxious to experience it.

  “It doesn’t work that way,” argued Melissa.

  “Mel, you’re always so negative.” Evelyn wouldn’t be deterred. By the force of her argument, Melissa knew she was going to lose.

  Evelyn continued. “It’s the Lover’s Ball, Mel. Besides, it’s at the Dominion Hotel. I’ve always wanted to see that hotel, to dance in the Grand Ballroom. This may be my only chance I get to do it.”

  The fact that it was at the Dominion did intrigue Melissa. She didn’t have the same romantic notions that Evelyn had, but she wouldn’t mind seeing the ballroom she heard so much about.

  “Fine,” she said, trying to hide her growing interest in the idea, “but I’m not dressing up.”

  “Of course you are. It’s a ball. You have to dress up.”

  The Dominion Hotel was as elegant, luxurious and romantic as Evelyn imagined it to be. As she walked across the lobby towards the staircase that lead to the Grand Ballroom upstairs, it felt like her head was on a swivel. She was constantly looking around, wanting to take in as much of the hotel as she could. Th
e crystal chandelier, the wall sconces, the elegant plush furniture in the lobby, the ornate flower arrangements that filled the room with fragrance, everything filled her with excitement. Being here felt so right.

  The two sisters glided across the hotel lobby. Evelyn wore a long, flowing, off-the-shoulder white gown, a sash of gentle pink and coral tied at her waist flowing behind her. In her left hand she held a black, feathered masquerade mask attached a long stick that would allow her to elegantly hold the mask up to her face, adding mystery. In her right hand was coral clutch purse. Her long brown hair was gathered and pinned at the back with a diamond and ivory hair comb she borrowed from her mother. Her mother had worn it on her wedding day, looking like a princess out of a fairy tale.

  Following Evelyn’s lead, Melissa wore a long black dress that flowed to the ground, the tips of her gold, sequined shoes peeking out from under her dress every time she took a step. She too had a feathered masquerade mask in her left hand, a clutch purse in her right. The mask and purse were both red.

  As Evelyn climbed the grand staircase towards the ballroom, the buzz of people and the sound of music rose in her ears. With each step upwards, the volume increased; with each step her excitement mounted. She held both her mask and purse in her right hand, sliding her left hand along the top of the bannister. Reaching the landing, Evelyn gently touched Melissa’s arm, delaying the moment they entered the room. Melissa understood the touch, knowing that her sister wanted to prolong this moment as long as she could, happy to stand beside her sister, gazing at the scene in front of them.

  Evelyn had never seen so many well-dressed, shiny, happy people all in one place at one time. The ballroom overflowed with masked, costumed partiers moving about the ballroom foyer. Others were still arriving, climbing the staircase, passing the sisters as the two stood, taking in the scene.

  There were masked people everywhere, so much so that there was little space between them, but no one seemed to care, such was the level of excitement in the room. Remembering her own mask, Evelyn shifted it back to her left hand, raising it up to her face, taking in the scene through the little eye slits of the mask.

  “Let’s go,” said an excited Evelyn.

  “How? There’s so many people.”

  “Like this.”

  Evelyn dove forward, snaking her way into an opening in the crowd, weaving her way through the bodies. She laughed and dove in deeper among the throng of people. Soon she was five paces ahead of Melissa. She looked back at her sister and hesitated but did not stop. Even if she tried, she couldn’t. Evelyn was carried forward by the crowd and energy around her.

  “Evelyn.”

  She heard her sister call out to her, her voice sounding so far away. She looked back, laughing, urging her sister on with a wave of her arm. She saw Melissa laugh as well, and knew she was all right. They were both all right. They were at the party of the year.

  Evelyn continued to weave her way through the crowd, in, out and around people as they moved and danced around her. She tried to keep her mask up in front of her face, but she couldn’t see very well through the tiny eye holes, so she dropped it to her side. Out of nowhere, a waiter with a full tray of champagne-filled glasses appeared. Evelyn found herself holding a glass of champagne, the passing waiter offering it to her and everyone else he came upon. Within seconds the waiter’s tray was empty. He dropped it to his side and dove back into the crowd, Evelyn watching him disappear as fast as he appeared.

  She heard a clink and looked towards the direction of the sound, at her wine glass. There was another glass tilted towards her. She focused on the bubbles that flowed up the inside of the two flute glasses before raising her eyes to see who was holding the other one. She raised her glass to her lips to take a sip, looking at the masked man standing right in front of her, staring and smiling at her. The champagne was cold and refreshing. She didn’t realize how thirsty she was until she noticed the champagne flute she held was empty in her hand.

  She continued to look at the man that was so intent on looking at her. While he wore a plain black mask that covered the bridge of his nose and his eyes, she could see his soft-blue eyes through the eye holes of the mask. His gaze was piercing and deep, although she felt very comfortable under it. His lips were full and ruby red, which amused her, as they looked like woman’s lips. However, his jaw was very masculine, square and solid, slightly-dark stubble trailing into his cleft chin.

  Remembering where she was, Evelyn brought her mask up in front of her face. This made him smile—such a beautiful smile, broad with slightly opened lips showing his white, perfect teeth. Evelyn looked over his shoulder and around the room, moving her head ever so slightly, trying to find her sister in the crowd. She could not. She brought her attention back to the tuxedo-clad gentleman standing before her. As if choreographed, without taking his eyes off her, he reached out his right arm and intercepted a passing waiter who handed him another flute of champagne. The man swung the glass towards Evelyn, offering it to her, taking away her empty glass. Where it went to, she had no idea, probably intercepted by the ever-moving, ever-flowing waiters. She lowered her mask and took the glass.

  He tilted his glass towards hers again. She tilted hers to his.

  “My name is William,” he said.

  The words washed over her as a warm, summer breeze. If there was such a thing as love at first sight, Evelyn imagined that this was what it would be like.

  Evelyn raised her eyes to look into his. “Evelyn,” she replied, lifting the glass to her lips, remembering to sip the champagne this time.

  William slid his mask up and off his face. Evelyn watched as he revealed his handsome features. He smiled at her. She noticed that when he smiled his whole face smiled, not just his lips but his eyes as well. She couldn’t help but fall into that smile, to smile back at him.

  “Surely you’re not alone?” His voice was deep, yet quiet.

  “No, I’m with my sister.” Evelyn looked around for Melissa, with more energy and determination than last time, not sure if she would need her to rescue her from this situation or not. She could not see her, so she turned her eyes back to William’s smiling face. What was she thinking? She wouldn’t need rescue. She felt safe in the warmth of his smile.

  “And you? Are you here alone?”

  “I am.”

  “I didn’t think anyone did that. Come to these things alone, I mean.”

  “I did, so I guess people do that.”

  This made Evelyn smile even more. She reached her hand around to touch the pearl comb holding her hair in place, giving it a little push, sinking it deeper.

  “Well,” William began, “we both seem to be without a dance partner tonight.”

  William reached for her wine glass and took it. He held both glasses out in front of him only to have them taken from him by a passing waiter. Evelyn marveled at how that always seemed to happen.

  William turned slightly, offering Evelyn his arm. She took it. He silently escorted her towards the dance floor. Evelyn was sure that she was imagining it, but it seemed that as they walked arm in arm towards the dance floor, the crowd parted for them. Or maybe it was just the way she felt on William’s arm; safe, confident and alive.

  When they reached the middle of the dance floor William stopped, letting her arm drop from his. He turned to face her, extending his right hand. She took it and he effortlessly pulled her into him. She slid into him naturally, with an ease and a calm assurance that this was where she was meant to be.

  William guided her over the dance floor, and she was content to follow his lead. As he held her close she could smell his cologne mixed with his own musky, masculine scent. She buried her face deep into his shoulder, trying to smell more of him. She breathed him in. She held him tight, feeling the muscles along his back under his tuxedo jacket. A flash went off. Someone was taking pictures of the dancing couples. Did they capture this moment?

  The smell of him, the touch of him, the feel of him under her fingertips
began to excite Evelyn. She held on tighter, trying to get more of him, not sure how much longer they would be together, wondering if this dance was all she would have of him. She hoped not. If it was, she could live with that. However, if this dance was all she would get, she was going to make sure she experienced all of it.

  As she held him tighter, he lowered his head onto her cheek. She felt the warmth of his breath on her neck and was loving it. She ran her hands across his back, daring to lower them from his shoulder blades to the small of his back. Dare she go lower? She did, sliding her right hand down to his ass—his rock-hard ass.

  William didn’t miss a beat, leading her in perfect time to the music. He moved her across the floor, guiding her from the center of the dance floor to back of the ballroom. Bravely she left her hand on his ass. She smiled to herself at the irony of this. Usually the man’s hand wandered. As she marveled at the tight muscles under her fingers, William pulled her closer, his lips a short distance from her ear. She felt his warm breath on her lobe before he opened his lips and planted a gentle, small kiss on it.

  The gesture caught Evelyn so off guard she released her grip on his ass. She heard him gently chuckle before kissing her ear lobe again, then her neck, then her shoulder. Evelyn was hanging on for her very life now, the one that was flashing before her eyes, racing to all possibilities and settling on none. She felt the room and the people slip away. It was just her and William now, dancing, his breath on her cheek, his lips on her neck and—what was that? Was he aroused?

  As Evelyn held on with all of her strength, pressing her body against his, she began to feel his arousal against her thigh. She eased her grip on him, allowing for a little space between their bodies. However, feeling him this way, his erection pressing against her, caused her to become aroused as well. She didn’t know what to do. Was it time for this dance to end? She began to slowly ease herself away from him, allowing more and more space between them. Yet as she did this, the erection in his pants grew to fill the space. Despite her efforts to calm it, it was becoming more and more evident how excited he was. As Evelyn sensed his excitement grow, so did hers.