“Sasha?” I confirmed. “This is a business party, not a frat party,” I said over the music. “Turn it down.”
The DJ grudgingly complied, and I walked away, thoroughly satisfied. That warm, fuzzy feeling from my small victory didn't last long. Sasha had Jared cornered a few feet from the punch bowl. He looked boredd and uncomfortable; she was giggling, gesturing to the mistletoe above them.
“Hi, Baby,” Jared said emphatically, pulling me to his side.
“Nina,” Sasha said, surprised. “What are you doing here?” I raised an eyebrow. “I mean…where have you been?” she hedged.
“With the DJ, insisting he lower the music to an acceptable decibel. Now, if you’re finished flirting, I’ll save my fiancé from beneath the mistletoe so you no longer have a reason to threaten him with your dry, clumpy lipstick.”
Sasha’s mouth fell open, but I didn’t give her enough time to fire back a reply. A slow song came over the speakers, and I pulled Jared to the center of the dance floor.
His fingers pressed into my skin, eager and anxious. “Would it be redundant of me to say that I enjoy it very much when you’re jealous and mean?”
“Yes, but say it anyway,” I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. Before long, more couples joined us, and we were lost in a sea of lovers swaying to the music.
When the song ended, Jared left for the punch bowl line, and I stayed behind to greet co-workers and guests. Some were retirees, men and woman that had been with my Titan since the beginning. Seeing them brought back hundreds of memories, and it was soon a relief to welcome the new faces of the company.
“You shouldn’t be standing around when there’s a slow song, Peanut,” Grant said. He undoubtedly wore his most charming smile.
“I’m here with Jared, Grant,” I sneered.
“Oh, c’mon,” Grant grinned. “Just one dance?”
“No.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You look,” he gave me a once-over, “incredible. Red is…wow.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking in every direction but his.
“Are you sure you—,” he said, trailing off. “Jared! Nice to see you.”
The pleasant expression on Jared’s face as he handed me the small, plastic cup faded abruptly when he turned to Grant. “I wish I could concur,” Jared said, noticeably restrained. “You might have better luck with the interns,” he nodded to a dark corner of the room, “who are spiking their punch, and might be more susceptible to your persistence.”
Grant’s smile didn’t budge. “Happy Holidays to you both.”
“Merry Christmas,” Jared said.
The people around us were beginning to stare, so I looked to the floor, attempting to downplay the spectacle Jared had made.
“What is with you?” I said, trying to keep my head down.
“I didn’t want him to be under the impression that I liked him.”
“You made your point. Now, can you please be the reserved, controlled Jared I know and love? I need to earn the respect of the people here.”
“I’m sorry,” Jared said, kissing my hair.
“Nina?” a voice called from across the room. I winced at the horrid sound, and then turned to see Sasha barreling toward me with someone in tow.
“Practice what you preach,” Jared said with a contrived smile.
Sasha's annoying smirk twisted her face in a way that made her already sharp features seem cartoon-like. She gestured to the brawny, dark-headed man behind her.
“I’d like for you to meet my date, Ryan Scott. Ryan, this is a fellow intern of mine, Nina Grey.”
I couldn’t hide the instant shock and dismay that came over me.
Ryan held out his hand. “Intern? Doesn’t she run the company?” he winked.
Sasha laughed once, caught. “Er…not yet.”
I took Ryan’s hand. “I believe we’ve met.”
“Oh?” Sasha said, genuinely intrigued.
Ryan glanced at Jared, and then back at me. “Could I…steal you for a minute?”
“No,” Jared said without pause.
I chuckled nervously, and then peered up at Jared from under my lashes. “Sweetheart, I’ll just be a minute.”
Jared frowned, but he didn’t argue.
“Well,” Sasha said to Jared in her high-pitched, irritating voice, “I guess it’s just you and me, then.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said, staring directly at Sasha.
Ryan held me by the arm, quickly stopping in a quiet corner. “I thought we had a deal.”
“A deal?” I hissed. “I agreed that I owed you for helping me fool Jared. I didn’t say I would help you talk to Claire. Ambushing her is not a good idea.”
He sighed. “Well, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now. My partner was murdered, and I think it has something to do with the other police deaths over the last year. I think they’re all connected. I need to talk to her before I can get my head on straight enough to investigate this. It’s big, Nina. Really big, and I can’t focus on it if my mind is always on Claire.”