CHASING TROUBLE

The thought alone made the nausea in her belly bubble afresh. Caroline liked being with her baby because she felt more at ease knowing that he was alright. It was just for the evening, she reminded herself. In a few hours, she’d be back home with her son and would cuddle up with him and plan how to end her engagement without provoking or hurting Glen.

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The exclusive hotel’s staff had done a fabulous job of turning its function room into a glittering party pad. The guests chatting had a constant flow of champagne and canapes, the bar at the far end plentifully staffed so no one had to wait long to be served. The DJ played a medley of tunes to suit all ages and tastes and judging by the smiles, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Everyone except Caroline.

Her gaze kept falling on Kate and Santi, glued to each other’s sides. They’d finally gotten married two days ago and proclaimed their love for each other in front of their friends and families. Caroline had known for years that the two of them were meant for each other but suspecting something and seeing that love bloom before her eyes had been both heart-warming and heart-wrenching.

She wished she had someone to love just like that… Maybe just once. Someone to love with the whole of her heart. Swallowing the ache, she let Glen drag her around the room to talk to people together and tried to curb her irritation at his annoyance every time she checked her phone for messages from Elsa. How had she ever thought that she could make a relationship with him work? She must have been mad.

Once he started chatting with a group of his friends, Caroline escaped his clutches and found her own friends, Her respite lasted only until the end of the DJ’s first set.

She watched Glen move to the raised dais. He wanted to make a speech. Of course he wanted to make a speech.

She almost rolled her eyes as she snatched another flute of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. The music stopped. Glen took the prepared microphone and called for everyone’s attention. The floor filled, the people eager to hear what he had to say.

“On behalf of the company, Thank you all for coming tonight and for your understanding these past week,” he said. “We know it’s been a tough year, mostly for our staff as we had to push most of them to meet deadlines, especially because of the merger. It’s a good thing that the project has been concluded so we can all have some breathing space.”

He talked some more about the company and the achievements so far for a few more minutes, then he congratulated Kate and Santi on their recent wedding ceremony. Everyone nodded in agreement and Caroline almost choked on her drink when he added something about hoping that the both of them could have something as beautiful as what Kate and Santi had.

Caroline swallowed hard and stared at her friends, but they were silent…Which was weird given what Glen had just said. Usually, Kate would have some teasing comment about what Glen had just said, but then she realized that their attention had been taken by something behind her. Caroline followed the open-mouthed stares and turned to look behind her. In the newly created gangway stood a tall, solitary figure, and he was looking directly at her.

Heart suddenly racing, prickles ran up her spine and over her skin. Certain she was hallucinating, Caroline blinked hard and tried to catch her breath, fought to keep her shaking legs from collapsing beneath her. It couldn’t be.

The prickles infected her brain, reduced it to fuzzy mush. The room felt like it was spinning. Something distant smashed. She had only the faintest awareness it was the glass she’d been holding before she suddenly turned away.

“Oh my God, Caroline!” Kate said as she reached out to hold her, “Are you alright?”

Caroline nodded, clearly embarrassed as the noise caused by the glass hitting the floor had attracted a lot of stares in her direction. “I’m fine,” she breathed, “The glass suddenly slipped,”

Kate didn’t look convinced. She had seen the look on Caroline’s face and she knew her friend well enough to know that she had been startled by something, and she had a feeling that it had something to do with Nicholas Connelly. The man Caroline had refused to talk about ever since she went on that trip with him. She had always suspected that their relationship had been somewhat personal, but since Caroline insisted that she never wanted to talk about it, she never pushed her to.

Caroline straightened as the glass was being cleared up. She had to leave. Now! Seeing Nicholas had come as a shock to her. She had known that there was a chance she’d see him again, but she’d never planned for it to happen so soon, and especially not today… With Glen around.

Glen appeared by her side as he was done with his speech. He held her hand tightly, and the feel of his skin on hers made her flesh crawl. “Are you alright?” he asked her. “What happened,”

She nodded, “I’m fine,” she replied, and her tone was harsher than she’d intended. The look on his face made her feel guilty. He was only trying to help, she told herself. It wasn’t his fault that she had kept such a secret and was now going to have to deal with it. Judging by the way Nicholas had been staring at her, she had a feeling that he knew. The look on his face had been that of determination…. Or even anger.

She had to get out of here. The party was almost over. Nicholas was at one end of the hall, surrounded by people who wanted to talk to him, but she could feel his eyes on her like a hawk stalking its prey. She knew Glen wouldn’t let her leave now without an explanation and she had no time to come up with one because she could barely think.

“I’ll be right back, Glen,” she said hastily, “Let me go use the restroom and freshen up a little bit. I think I’m just a little tired, that’s all,”