~Better When It's On You~

Not Second Choice

I sat, alone while I watched everyone else socialize. I had done enough of that for one night. Pluto hung by my side, his head resting between my legs looking up at me like a sad puppy. Ashton was wandering with Cleo probably or better yet, Dwayne. I was comfortable in my peace. Despite the music and commotion around me, I was just fine. "Well, well, well." I knew that agitating grating voice from anywhere. "Poor Cora sitting all alone."
"Poor Henry looking for somebody's attention again." I look to the man, a frown on his face. "What do you want."
"Well, to talk of course!" He pulls up a seat close to me, holding his head in his hands like the evil looking devil he is. "No, thanks."
"And why not? It's a night of socializing."
"Yeah just not with you."
"That's not very nice words, Coco."
"Wasn't intended to be." I look back to the open crowd, my eyes trailing following other people. I didn't care to look at him. He was a waste of my time. And maybe, just maybe we had a bit of history which made this interaction far more uncomfortably awkward. "We can be a team again, just apologize baby."
"Don't call me that." I say. Pluto began to growl as he outreaches his hand to touch my outer leg. "You don't miss me?"
"You have a wife. You have kids. Leave me the hell alone."
"I just miss you, miss us baby. Everything that we were, please. I can't live without you." He pleads. He has said this before. I will not fall for such words again, at least not now.   "You miss the thought of me. Two different things."
     "Ms. Kensington, am I interrupting?" Jack Warner, again. "No, you aren't!" I stood from my seat, Henry standing with me with his front pressed against my back. "I'd like to talk to you about your designs, privately."
"Of course." I tugged on Pluto that was just close enough to biting Henry's leg off and followed jack away into another secluded area. It was a long hallway. "So, Mr.warner? What is it about my designs would you like to discuss?"
     "Well, I heard that you design for a lot of figures of the Public. You come on highest recommended." He begins. "How long have you been designing, may I ask?"
      "Professionally, seven years." I say. "I try to keep a low profile but I guess Dwayne can't stop telling people about it."
      "He sure cannot." He smiles, a soft laugh leaving him. "But I do trust his judgment and I'd love to have you at Warner's studios. Just for a trial run."
     "A trial run? Is this some attempt of stealing me designs?" I raise a brow but by the way his jaw tightened he didn't take it lightly. "Sorry yeah, bad time to joke. The opportunity is amazing but I'd rather not. You took your pick. I don't like to be a second choice."
    "Of course. Thank you for your time." Jack nods, shaking my hand before walking off without another glance back.