Chapter 184: The Gala III: Hannah
"Everything okay?" Roman asked.
"Yeah," I breathed. "Just a second. I think I see someone I know."
Moving away from him, I moved through the crowd, peering all around in hope of spotting the face again.
It had been such a quick, passing glance ... yet the face had been so very familiar. I knew that face. Where did I know that face from?
The question haunted me as I looked around. Why was I drawn to the face? What if it was someone I shouldn’t trust? Was it possible it was someone from the Auction House?
No, no. Our security would have noticed that, surely. And I don’t think my instinctual reaction would have been to go nearer to the voice. It would have been to alert Roman, security, and maybe run. No, this guy had to be someone I knew.
Maybe a real estate agent? Or perhaps one of the suppliers Roman and I had talked to in order to set up a supply chain for the nonprofit? Those were the only people I could think of that I had any sort of interaction with that wasn’t someone on our staff or family.
Right?
Something about them made my mind feel hazy. Suddenly I wasn’t at a charity auction, I was merely on a mission. A mission to find out what in the hell was going on, to figure out who that person was.
It couldn’t have been a figment of my imagination, I wouldn’t have felt so personally moved if that was the case.
Something was off, but not in a bad way. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so magnetized by something, or if I ever had.
My mind was racing, despite the fog that had rolled through my tender head. I did my best not to look lost or alarmed as I moved through the crowd, not wanting to draw attention to myself. The last thing I wanted to do was make a scene while on my search.
I looked at everyone in the face, wanting so badly to catch another glimpse. Not knowing who it was was like an itch I couldn’t reach to scratch. Searching for them was like over extending my arm in attempt to get to the spot.
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I spotted them again. When I turned, however, I couldn’t make out any of the faces.
As a waiter passed by, I grabbed a flute of champagne. Maybe I had just worked myself up. It could have been that someone looked familiar without me knowing.
Taking in a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. The breathing nor the champagne seemed to help my mind let go of the thought.
"There you are," Roman purred as he looped an arm about my waist. "I lost you. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "I just... really thought I recognized someone and was curious to find them."
"Who was it that you thought you saw?" he questioned.
"I have no idea," I sighed. "I don’t even know who it is I’m looking for. I must sound so silly."
"Nah," he assured me, giving me a little reassuring smile. "I think it happens to everyone every now and then. Let’s have another dance, and then we can look together?"
"That’s a good idea," I agreed.
Tossing back my drink and swearing to myself to switch to water for a little while, I put the glass aside and moved with him.
That time, it was a faster song. Fast songs never failed to make me feel a little goofy, completely uncertain that my bones had any sort of rhythm to them. It felt more like I was swinging in liberation rather than on a certain beat.
Still, dancing with Roman was always a treat. He made me not think about what I looked like and just have fun. It was the night out clubbing that we had never gotten to experience together, but a little classier than what we could experience at any of the local spots.
Not to mention, it wasn’t exactly grinding or twerking music. Just the thought of those sort of dances brought a light heat to my cheeks.
Thankfully, in the presence of Roman, the thought of the familiar face faded a bit. Just as always, the rest of life faded into the background as we stared into one another’s eyes and touched one another lightly as we swung to and fro with the music.
It didn’t leave my mind completely, though. Not that time. I found myself looking about occasionally, trying to see if I spotted them again.
As soon as the song came to an end, I gripped Roman’s hand and began my rounds through the crowds again.
"What did they look like?" he asked.
"Dark hair, and pale," I commented. "That’s all I know."
"That describes nearly half the people here," he frowned.
"I know, I know. But that’s all I can remember. It’s one of those things that I know once I get another look at them, I’ll recognize them."
"Okay," he nodded. "Let’s get to looking."
We moved through the crowd methodically, looking at every face.
Many people recognized Roman as we did, and would try and stop him to talk. He was so smooth in his dismissal, giving them a little wave and making comments like they should get together soon. I was thankful for it, even though I felt a little bad about it all. After all, we were the hosts and we were supposed to be looking after our guests and mingling with them. I promised myself that once we found the guy, we would go back through and talk a little more. I didn’t want anyone getting the impression that we were being rude.
As we moved through the people, I was starting to think that we wouldn’t be able to find the person. It was starting to feel like a lost cause. Still, I didn’t want to give up. Not yet.
Just then, I saw something in the corner of my eye. Turning my head, I noticed a tuff of dark hair, and something about even the back of that guy’s head seemed familiar.
I tugged Roman along as I followed after the person. They passed through the doors, and I cursed in the back of my mind. I picked up my speed, but it was hard to do in heels. I just had the sinking feeling that was the person I was looking for, and that they were going to get away.
Getting outside, I was immediately chilled by the autumn air but I did my best to ignore it as I kept on. I wanted to catch up. No, something in me felt the NEED to catch up to them. Nothing about it felt or sounded rational, but I did it anyway.
When we made out way down the sidewalk outside of the event center, I noticed a beat up old Honda zooming down the road, having been parked on the side of the street.
That had to have been him.
As I watched, I found myself thinking that the person really needed a new car.
Something about that car looked very, very familiar.
A chill shot through me.
"Was that them?" Roman asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, but I’m thinking that it isn’t as positive as a familiar feeling as I thought."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I..." I began, but my voice died. Shaking my head, I thought about it for a long moment. I didn’t want to say the next words that were coming to mind unless I was sure.
Playing the last month back in my mind, I was pretty sure that I was right. The more
I thought about it, the more sure I became. It wasn’t a coincidence, was it? Even though the person hadn’t sparked fear in me, there was no denying that I knew that car far too well.
Sighing heavily, I came to terms with it internally before I looked up to Roman.
He was peering down at me with such concern and sincerity that my heart squeezed in that way it did when I hurt from making him hurt. I didn’t want to be the source of stress, but I knew that I had to come clean with what it was I knew.
"That’s the car that was following Nick and I around," I finally managed to say.
My eyes looked up to him and made sure to hold a look that let him know I was sure and I wasn’t questioning. That had been the car.
I watched as his eyes widened. Things were about to change again, I could feel it.
Only this time, I would accept it. I wouldn’t fight it, I wouldn’t question it. All that mattered was we were safe, and hopefully being so proactive would prove to work in our favor.
Who was that, in that car? Was it the guy who tried to grab me?
Something had told me it wasn’t a threat, but there was no denying the car.
I was confused and left with that familiar hazed feeling.
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