Page 49 of Up All Night

“Need I remind you that you are a Vanderhall?” he said. “We are a respected family in this city. Showing up to an event as important as this one without a date makes you look like you’re not taking life seriously. A bachelor who is sowing his wild oats and living life frivolously. How do you think that looks to our associates and clients?”

I coughed at his word choice. I was definitely not sowing my wild oats.

“Dad, you know I’m serious about work. I’m not out partying, being with a different woman every night. My personal life has nothing to do with my work life.” Not that I really had a personal life.

“I know that,” he said. “But it’s all about the image you portray. They see a wealthy, successful man still single as a sign that he isn’t ready to settle down, which means he’s not ready to handle something as important as their business.”

This was ridiculous. What did having a significant other have to do with how well I could do my job?

I rubbed my temples. “So you want me to bring a date to prove to everyone that I take my career seriously?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “It’s a simple request that could have big dividends for your career.”

Great. Now I had to find a date in less than a week. That should be fun.

“Fine,” I relented. “I’ll bring a date.”

“Perfect.” My dad stood. “This is good for you. It’s time you started looking for someone you can begin a life with.”

My stomach churned at the thought. How had we gone from finding a date for the gala to finding a woman to spend my life with? I couldn’t even think about that right now. Finding a wife was the last thing on my mind.

But it was pointless to argue with him, so I said, “Okay, Dad.”

“I’ll be looking forward to meeting whomever you bring.”

I only nodded as he walked out of my office.

I leaned back in my office chair. I had five days to find a girl whom I could take with me to the gala. A girl whom I would have to meet, like enough to spend a few hours with, but also not give her the impression I was looking for anything serious or romantic to happen between us. A girl who would be okay with this being a purely business transaction, whom I only needed there to help with my image. Yeah, that didn’t come across rude at all.

If only I had a friend who was a girl who wouldn’t mind being my fill-in date.

I sat up straighter. Wait, maybe I did have someone like that. Had Halle and I transitioned enough from enemies to friends? Friends was a strong word, and I wasn’t sure if we’d fully reached that level in our unlikely relationship. Would she be willing to do me a favor this huge? I’d helped review her business plan, but being my date to the gala would be asking a lot. And really, I hadn’t helped much since her business plan had been done so well.

Nerves bubbled under my skin at the thought of asking Halle to be my date.

Would she hate the idea of spending an evening with me? Our relationship was shaky at best, and I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to spend the evening together without annoying one another or getting in a disagreement about some competition we’d started.

Or would she take me asking her out the wrong way? I didn’t want her thinking I wanted more than friendship with her. As beautiful as she was and as much as I had enjoyed spending time with her recently, that didn’t mean I was interested in anything more. Work was my number one focus, and I had no plans to change that, even if my dad was breathing down my throat to settle down.

And how did I go about asking her? How did I ask my semi-friend to be my date, but not like a real date? Was that something you texted, or should I show up at her door to ask her in person?

This was already giving me a headache. I was definitely overthinking things. I’d just be up front with her about my reasoning and hope that she’d say yes so I wouldn’t have to go find someone else.

I paced back and forth in my living room, looking down at the phone in my hand. Should I text her? Or would a phone call be more appropriate?

I’d told myself I wouldn’t overthink this, but it was all I’d thought about for the last twenty-four hours. I needed to ask Halle sooner rather than later. If she did say yes, she’d need time to find a dress.

“Would you just ask her already?” Cannon’s voice cut through my thoughts. He was watching some reality TV show.

“And how would you suggest I do that? I don’t want her thinking I want to go on a real date with her.”

“Go knock on her door, tell her the situation, and then see if she wants to go,” he said, like it was the most simple thing in the world.

“That’s easy for you to say,” I said. “You already have a date for the gala—one who doesn’t live in this building and hasn’t hated you for months.”

“That’s because I’m smarter than you,” he said, not taking his eyes off the TV.

“You’re a punk,” I said, striding past him and toward the door.

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