13

Karter

As per ritual, I was late to my own ball. It sounds strange, I know. I'm the host and I show up after my guests but it's something I've been doing for so many years now. I arrive at the venue and immediately am greeted by several of my

workers. My eye catches Carl and Sophia so I walk over to them. I notice them standing with a few people whose back's are towards me so I can't really recognize them.

"What did I miss my own party?" I joke. The rest of the people turn around to look at me and I notice that they are none other then Marie and her friends.

Marie looks breath taking. I'm honestly speechless. She looks so bloody gorgeous. She's beautiful. After politely greeting Nina and her husband who's name I can't recall I move to Marie and Daniel. I roll my eyes just thinking about him.

I move to give Marie a polite side kiss and whisper in her ear, "You look gorgeous" and she simply smiles at me. I force a smile on my face and shake hands with Daniel.

I don't even know why I hate him so much. He just pisses me off how he's always with Marie, holding her, kissing her. What even is that? I can't help it! The man makes me furious. Marie and her friends are soon out of our sights but my eyes keep roaming the gigantic ball room looking for her.

While I was talking to Devin, I finally found her. She was talking to Nina. Well listening to Nina explain something to her. Thank God she wasn't with that Daniel. Marie briefly looks at me and catches me staring so I smile at her, she shots me a polite smile as well.

"Mate? Hello? You listening to anything I'm saying?" Devin asks waving his hand across my face. I avert my full attention to him.

"Sorry Dev. Just a tiny bit distracted" I say letting out a nervous chuckle.

"You don't say. Are you okay?" Devin asks with concern.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine!" I say with a weak smile. No, of course I'm not. I keep staring at my goddamn bloody assistant because she's beautiful! Since when do I pay attention to a woman that much? What on earth is wrong with me?

"So Karter , would you like to explain the real reason why you stole my assistant from me?" Carl asks. The five of us were sitting on our table trying to eat.

"Wait, there's another reason? Carl do tell" Liam says all excited.

"Well Karter , correct me if I'm wrong but I think you fancy Marie? To an extent that you stole her from me so you can see her all the time!" Carl says with a raised eyebrow.

All the guys were now looking at me, I let out a sigh. "I told you already Carl, it's because she's a good worker."

"Are you sure it's not because you don't have a thing for her mate?" Liam's face was plastered with an amused smirk.

"For God sake Li. I don't have "things" for people. I do not like Marie full stop"

"Then why have you been glaring at her boyfriend all night?" Alex smirks my way.

"You have?" Devin dramatically gasps and I roll my eyes.

"I haven't. Alex is making shit up!" I defend myself.

"Is that right? I'm not blind Kar. You keep on glaring at the poor guy, what did he ever do to you?" Alex asks jokingly.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing" I mumble.

"So what's the plan? You're going to break them up and then offer a shoulder for her to cry on then boom! Ask her out?" Liam asks.

I turn my head to glare at him, "No! Nothing is going to happen ever. No one is breaking anyone up. I don't do relationships and I don't plan on anytime soon. And I don't like Marie. Get that in your fat heads!"

"Well, okay. If you say so." Carl says.

After dinner, it was time for the dance. I was just standing in a corner with a glass of whiskey observing everyone slow dancing with their significant others. I was looking at my employees, my friends. However my eyes were glued to one specific happy couple. Marie and Daniel.

"Hey there!" I look up to see Sophia standing beside me.

I smile at her, "Hey. How come you and Carl aren't on the dance floor slow dancing?"

"Nah I'm not in the mood to dance. Plus Carl and Dev are having a great time!" Sophia says with a laugh pointing to Devin and Carl slow dancing on the dance floor.

How come I didn't notice them before? I let out a chuckle myself at how ridiculous they were looking. "Those lads are my best friends!" I say.

"So are you done creepily watching Marie and Daniel?" Sophia asks.

"Soph. Not you too!" I say slightly annoyed.

"Hey, I'm not here to make any assumptions. I'm just here to tell you two things!" She says.

I look at her and furrow my eyebrows, "And what are those?"

"One, if you're going to stare at a girl and her boyfriend, try to be subtle about it. It's not the most attractive thing seeing someone staring at you from the distance. And two, I'm not accusing you of liking Marie or anything, but if you do I don't blame you. She's honestly a lovely person and there's no denying she's gorgeous" Sophia says and smiles at me.

"And also. You can always go ask her for a dance. I'm sure Daniel won't mind and it's a very normal thing to do at balls. I mean if you want?" Sophia raises her eyebrows this time.

"Maybe I will. Not because I like her but because I don't want to be bored and lonely at my own ball!" I say with a smile.

"Then go already!" Sophia says slightly pushing me and I walk over to the dance floor.

I walk to Daniel and Marie. I smile and speak, "Daniel would you mind if I have this dance with my assistant?"

Daniel politely smiles at me, "Not at all Sir!" He says and moves away but not before kissing Marie on the cheek.

I hold one of Marie's hands wow they're really soft. As her other hand is placed on my shoulder and my other hand is placed on her waist.

"This is a surprise" Marie speaks up, I look at her to see her smiling at me.

"Well I didn't want to be bored and alone at my own ball so I decided to dance with my new best friend!" I say faking an American accent towards the end.

Marie lets out and adorable giggle, "Not bad Karter . Not bad at all!"

"So are you having fun tonight?" I ask.

"Of course I am. I mean how could I not? It was organized by you" Marie says with a chuckle.

"That's true. You look ravishing tonight, do you know that?"

"Thank you" Marie says with a smile and looks down at her feet. All the sudden the song ends and Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran starts to play.

"I love this song!" Marie says and starts humming the words.

"Same here" I say.

Marie looks up at me with an amused look, "You like Ed Sheeran's music?"

"Yeah. Actually Ed is a pal of mine!" I say.

Marie gasps, "No way! How?"

"Well we were neighbors all our life! Meaning our mothers are practically best friends so Ed and I are close." I smile.

"Wow. That's nice. Can you like help me meet him if he's ever around?" Marie asks with hopeful eyes. She's so adorable. Fuck.

"Of course." I smile at her.

"So tell me, are you having fun Mr. lonely?"

I chuckle,"Mr. lonely aye?"

"Yeah that name suits you!"

"Well I agree to disagree with you Marie but yes, I am having a good time!" I smile at her.

For the rest of the song we stay quite and just slowly move to the beat of the music until it ends and excuse myself from Marie. Almost Immediately Daniel is by Marie's side.