HER

Part Twenty seven

Asa
It has only been thirty minutes into this thing, and I was already bored outta my fucking mind.

I wasn't new to events like these, but for some reason, I could never seem to get used to them.
Socializing can be tedious.

Kieran on the other hand seemed to be managing just fine. Not that I was surprised.

We've been approached by almost everyone at the party, they all wanted to meet the woman who managed to snag one of New york's most eligible Bachelor.
They tried to hide it but I could see the way most of them stared at me like I was something odd.
To them I might be, Seeing as how I got the heir to the Preston empire to settle down so early in his life.
Also, I was five years his senior.
Although Kieran did come off as older than he was.
I don't know what it was about him.
It's not that he looks older, his personality just makes him seem older.
There was something about the way he talked and acted. He just seems so...worldly and jaded.
And he was too comfortable amid powerful men who were four times his age.
Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen him with anyone close to his age. Except maybe his sisters.
Does he even have any friends or acquaintances his age?
I wanted to ask him but didn't know how, I mean how do I even start?
'Hi, Kieran do you happen to have any friends?'.
Huh...  I don't think so.

He was probably the weirdest person I've ever met.
I couldn't even begin to comprehend how his mind works.

#

I swear to God, I could not keep up with the number of hands I've shaken tonight.
I was so fucking done with all this.
Just the thought of doing this every other day makes me want to curl up in a tight ball and weep.
I was so bored.

"Excuse me," I interrupted Kieran's ongoing discussion with the mayor of New York.
Yes, I now rub elbows with the mayor, yay me. Not.
"I need to use the lady's room, I'll be right back," I said with a smile, before quickly turning away from them before.

I need a little moment of reprieve.

As I walked through the ballroom toward the back where the restrooms were located, I felt the hairs at the back of my neck stand on end. It felt like someone was watching me.
I turned my head looking around the room, and my eyes caught on a tall man who seemed familiar, but he was turned away from me.

Why did he feel familiar?
I couldn't tell if he was the one I felt watching me, because he wasn't looking in my direction.

Maybe it was just my hyperactive imagination.
I wanted to think so, but something was nagging at the back of my mind.
What was it?

I didn't even bother using the restroom, I just went straight to the mirrors to check my makeup.

A tall red-haired lady in a gorgeous black gown whom I'd been introduced to earlier stood there in front of the mirrors, applying lipstick.
Although for the life of me I couldn't recall her name.
"Hi", she smiled as she saw me.

"Hi" I returned politely as I stood beside her in front of the mirrors to inspect my face.
Although I wasn't too skilled with makeup, and I usually had a makeup artist over for big events, I did this myself and I thought it came out pretty well.
Maybe I should start doing my own makeup more often...

"You know, it came as a shock to everyone," She started suddenly, breaking me from my inner ramblings.
"Uh?"I asked turning to her
"Your marriage to Kieran" she replied in a tone that implied that I should have gotten what she was talking about.

Of course...
"Oh?"I asked turning back to the mirror "why was that?"
"Because...it was common knowledge that he was going to get married to Hailey"
"You just came outta nowhere" she finished with a laugh

Who the fuck is Hailey?...
"Hailey?"
She had my full attention now, although I tried not to show it.

Kieran was supposed to get married to someone else?

"Yeah," she laughed. She seemed way too eager to tell me, "Hailey O'Connor. she and Kieran were in a situation ship although I'm pretty sure it only seemed so to everyone else but her. Their families are close,"
"Everyone thought they were going to get married, but..."

I can't hear anymore.

"Excuse me," I interjected
I couldn't be here anymore. I needed to speak with Kieran.
"I really need to go," I added before moving toward the door
"Ok then, can I call your office?" she rushed out "maybe we could set up something for lunch?"
"Yeah that'll be nice" I called back while rushing out the door before she could say anymore.
There was no way in hell I was having lunch with her on a friendly basis.

When I walked back into the hall, Kieran was speaking with a blonde woman in a pink dress, The air between them seemed tense.

"Kieran?" I called stopping beside him
"You're back," he muttered looking at me, his gaze intense.
"Hi," the blonde greeted coldly, offering her hand to me.
She was really beautiful.

"Hailey O'Connor, nice to finally meet you" she added with a smile that didn't fully touch her eyes.

Hailey? This was the girl whom he was supposed to marry?
Explains the thinly veiled hostility on her part.