“Hang on,” I told Bret, turning back to go check on the drunken woman.
She wasn’t there. No note, nothing. She must have gone when Bret and I were playing in my bedroom. I worried momentarily for Mary, but it washed away quickly when I looked up and saw Bret looking at his watch. I wasn’t her keeper.
The ride over was short. Bret drove a sleek looking black two-door sports car that I couldn’t name. The inside was leather and filled with light blue led tinted gadgets and things. It sat low to the ground and the engine purred as he pulled into the parking lot.
A man outside took his keys and gave him a slip. I hadn’t ever been to an event where there had been a valet.
The charity for the Animal Wellness group was hosted at the city’s community center. A big event center that was often unused. Inside, tables had been spread out along the walls and covered in glimmering tablecloths, on top were items you could bid on.
Along the walls were posters of various animals that were available for adoption in the surrounding counties. Near the center in front of a podium set up on stage were round dining tables and small placards that had finely printed names.
It was filled to capacity. I was only to sort through the crowd by clinging to Bret’s hand. We were stopped several times by people wanting to say this or that to Bret before he found his reserved seat.
A waitress shimmied close by Bret and eyed him. He glanced her way and motioned for her to come over.
“Two please,” he told her. I watched the dismay on her face after she walked away.
It wasn’t long before Collins had found Bret and parked himself in the seat next to him. Collins looked at the placard and then slung it across the table.
“So, have you bid on anything yet Harlow?”
Bret took a sip of his drink and squeezed my hand.
“No, and I most likely won’t.”
There was silence between the two men as they looked at each other. Bret daring him to say more and Collins eyeing him hoping for a change in tone. I had drunk the entirety of my glass of champagne at this point and wanted more.
Bret glanced over and saw my glass empty.
“Let’s go find you a refill babe.”
I got up without question. When we were far enough away, Bret stopped me.
“What’s the deal between you and that guy?”
“I knew you would ask. He’s just a leech that’s all. I used to donate quite frequently to this program. At the beginning of my career when I didn’t know how to properly find out where the expenses went. I stopped giving when I found out he took such a high salary at the cost of the program. I can’t do anything about it, he’s a pretty big name in the community and I’ve only been here a few years. It’s part of the reason I’d rather not be here and am getting rid of my place in this town. There’s a lot of small town scandal that I have no time for.”
I had forgotten that Bret had planned to leave. And within the day I knew as little about him as when we first met that morning other than why he was trying to leave. I didn’t know what he did for a living, who he knew, if he had children or was married previously. Even his middle name was a mystery to me.
When he told me his reasons though, I felt comfortable around him. He had conscious. Most likely a rare thing with the ultra-wealthy. I had plenty of questions, but there wasn’t enough time. A waitress swung by and again Bret grabbed two full glasses and handed me one.
“Bret, why are we here? Why am I here?”
He took a sip and looked me dead in the eye. “I thought you were quite beautiful, and the way you listened to me when I spoke of my house. You had no interest in the material things really, you simply wanted to do a good job for me. It was refreshing. The last real estate woman I had at my place was rather unprofessional and took a dip in my pool when she found out I was away most of the time. The one before that tried to sleep with me on our tour. Besides all that, in this short time with you, I’ve grown to like you. There could be more here and I’m not one to pass up on chances. I feel the chemistry. Do you?”
“I do. I’m afraid your lifestyle won’t mesh with mine though Bret. I live simply and only want to find my purpose in life. You seem to already have yours. We know nothing of each other and you’re trying to leave the town where I live permanently. What more could come of this?”
The noise of people clattering around the crowded place rose in waves around us.
Chapter Five
It was there between us now. The truth that I was nothing but a quick lay. It shouldn’t have mattered to me but it stung all the same. I’d enjoyed our day together, and for the few fleeting seconds when I’d been alone of course my mind had wandered into a fantasy future between us.