Page 39 of Fake It For Glory

JENSEN

The night was going remarkably well. My main objective of making an appearance with Merida by my side had been a success, and I had managed to do some valuable networking as well. Having her on my arm had a calming effect on the typically intense female attention I usually received at these events. She also gave me a sense of support as well, like I wasn’t out here alone.

I almost believed we were a couple. I had to admit I liked the attention she gave me. It felt good to have someone looking out for me. Someone other than my assistant or sister.

As the night progressed, Merida and I found ourselves sitting alone on a secluded balcony, overlooking the city skyline. The cool breeze brushed through her hair, making it dance around her face. She looked stunning, even more so than usual.

“Thank you for agreeing to come with me tonight,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

“Of course. I mean, you are kind of paying me.”

“Very true,” I said, laughing. “I always need backup at these events, and I have to admit, having you here with me made it easier.”

Merida smiled. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I smiled and nodded. “I’m good, thank you.”

We sat outside for a few minutes before it was time to go back in. The alcohol was flowing and the music had gotten just a little louder. This was the part of the night that different connections were made. The business was out of the way and now it was time for the inevitable hookups. It was the part of the night I hated the most.

One thing I really couldn’t stand about these gatherings was the constant barrage of advances from single women. A lot of guys thought I was crazy for not appreciating the attention, but it was obnoxious. I didn’t have anything in common with the women. A lot of them wanted to talk about shit I couldn’t care less about. I knew they didn’t want to hear me and my geek speak. That left exactly one thing for me and a woman to talk about and there was usually very little talk involved.

I had no problem attracting attention, but my work was my baby. I was passionate about it, and I knew I couldn’t change the world if I allowed myself to be distracted by a nice set of legs or a charming smile. The truth was, even if I had been interested in dating, I didn’t have the time for it. My new tech demanded my full attention, and I had made sacrifices to get it to where it was. It was my life’s work, my dream, and I couldn’t afford to let anything come between me and my vision for the future.

Merida looked at me and smiled. I knew she understood, but I also knew that she was different from all the other women here. She was smart, funny, and most importantly, she understood my passion for technology.

As the night went on, I found myself gravitating toward her more and more. We talked about our dreams, our goals, and our passions.

“Jensen Loxley!” A man approached me. I recognized him but didn’t quite remember his name.

“Hello,” I said, nodding with my arm going around Merida’s waist. It had become my default whenever I needed to talk to someone.

“We are all looking forward to seeing that tech,” the man said.

I was trying to remember the guy’s name. I could remember code I saw ten years ago, but names were always a weak spot for me.

Merida spoke up before I could embarrass myself. “We’re excited to show it. It’s been a long time coming.”

The man nodded and walked away. I turned to Merida and thanked her with a smile.

“You don’t have to thank me, Jensen,” she said. “I’m happy to be here.”

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was nice to have someone who understood what I was going through.

As Merida and I continued to mingle with the tech elite, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief that tonight, at least, the distractions were minimal. With her by my side, I was able to focus on the connections and opportunities that mattered most for my company and the groundbreaking AI program we were developing. I didn’t have to politely push away the advances. I didn’t have to claim to be busy for the next twenty-two Saturday nights.

Merida was very good at small talk. I sensed she was a little uncomfortable, but she played it off very well. She smiled, shook hands, and doled out compliments to the other women giving her the stink eye. I loved that she brushed them off without giving them the satisfaction of shrinking under their nasty glares.

As the evening progressed, I couldn’t help but notice Merida’s restlessness. The live band was playing some pretty old-fashioned stuff. The typical orchestra music I had come to expect at things like this. The dancing wasn’t the kind of thing you would ever see in a club today. It was more like the parties from three-hundred years ago. The kind of parties that included ladies wearing dance cards around their wrists and huge dresses with corsets on underneath.

Her foot was tapping to the rhythm of the music, and she was softly humming along, lost in the melody. I remembered her mentioning her love for dancing in the limo earlier, and an idea began to form in my mind.

I extended my hand. “Do you know how to waltz?” I asked her.

She laughed. “I’m embarrassed to say I do. When I was younger, my parents put me in ballroom dance classes.”

“Would you like to dance?”

She looked pleasantly surprised by the offer and nodded with a bright smile. “Do you know how to waltz?”