Page 25 of Serving the Couturier

FIFTEEN

LONDON

As the yearcame to a close, I was in awe of the transformations that had taken place in my life. The start of the year had presented its own set of challenges, but somehow things had fallen into place. My friend Gin had predicted it all along.

After our successful rehearsal, I spent a joyful Christmas in California with my family. There, I received some amazing news: my older brother Alec had finally proposed to his girlfriend, Lumen. We had started a friendly bet to guess when he would pop the question, and my brother Sean had won, gloating about it until Alec threatened to post some baby photos of him online.

But the excitement didn’t stop there - my brother Brody announced that his wife Freedom was pregnant. We had a similar bet going on, which my brother Xander had won.

A few days after Christmas, I headed back to the city for more rehearsals. The only thing that kept everything from feeling perfect was Spencer’s absence. I knew from Stan that he wouldn’t be back until after the holidays. But I had been hoping that he’d return in time for New Year’s Eve. Apparently not.

It surprised me how much I missed Spencer. Sure, he was incredibly attractive, with a charming smile and a talent for making me laugh like no one else. And I couldn’t deny the amazing sex we’d had. But there was more to it than that. I missed his presence, the way he made me feel just by being near.

“Are you ready to party?!” Mercedes bounced into my apartment, her cleavage nearly spilling out of her dress - or was it a shirt?

“You’re going to freeze your ass off,” Rocio said. “Or maybe your boobs. It’ll depend on whether you pull that thing up or down.”

“We will not be outside for long,” Mercedes said. “I’m springing for an Uber.”

“Where are we going again?” I asked. “You just said to wear something nice.”

“I said to wear something that’ll get you laid,” Mercedes said with a wink. “And it’s still a surprise.”

“As long as we’re not going to Times Square again,” Gin said with a groan. “I had to throw out my new dress shoes last year because I couldn’t get the puke smell out.”

I nodded, knowing the story all too well, but I was usually spending New Year’s with my family in California, so I hadn’t seen it happen firsthand.

“Nope.” Mercedes threw her arms around us. “It’s so much better than Times Square.”

* * *

The line toget into The Velvet Rope, the exclusive and trendy Manhattan club, stretched around the block, as party-goers dressed in their finest attire eagerly awaited their turn to enter. Mercedes, who had somehow secured us a spot on the coveted guest list, led the way as we bypassed the long line and made our way straight to the bouncer.

After checking the guest list, he stepped aside and let us through the velvet rope and into the club’s luxurious interior. The glittering chandeliers, plush furnishings, and state-of-the-art sound system were even more stunning than the exterior. We were finally here, ready to ring in the New Year with style at one of the city’s hottest clubs.

As we made our way through the crowded dance floor, my heart raced and a grin spread across my face as I took in the sights and sounds of the bustling club. The throngs of people were a pulsating, vibrant sea, the music a driving, electrifying force that seemed to flow through every vein. The bass was a physical presence, a deep, relentless rhythm that shook the very foundations of the building. It was a seductive call that drew me in, making my body move to the beat. The lights were a dizzying display of colors, flashing and strobing in time with the music, casting a hypnotic spell over the crowd. The energy in the room was electric, a wild and frenetic energy that was both exhilarating and dangerous. I was completely caught up in it all, every sense alive with the excitement of the music, the crowd, and the moment. We laughed, talked, and let ourselves get lost in the rhythm as we danced together. Time flew by as we enjoyed the night until it was finally time to ring in the New Year in style.

As midnight approached, my friends drifted off, searching for someone to kiss and make the night even more memorable. I, however, had opted to move into the shadows, taking a break from the chaos.

Surrounded by couples eagerly awaiting the countdown to the new year, a twinge of unease came over me. I didn’t want to have to explain why I would not grab just anyone for a New Year’s kiss.

Because I simply couldn’t.

My mind was a jumbled mess every time I tried to make sense of my feelings for Spencer. Despite being drawn to him, I knew nothing could happen between us. It would not only be unprofessional, but could also ruin the show, leading to headlines like “Broadway show caught up in a sex scandal! Producer seduces the lead actor!”

Tim, my co-star in the musical and the object of many women’s affections, had been flirting with me since rehearsals started. While dating between the leads in a romantic musical could add to the show’s realism, Tim was just as off-limits as Spencer. Besides, I suspected that his flirting was more about creating stage chemistry rather than a genuine interest in me.

So, I decided to spend the last moments of the old year alone, sipping my drink and pondering the past and future. I realized that, while I couldn’t have the man I desired, I was content with my choice. I was elated about the role I had landed and eager for the opportunities that the new year would bring.

Lost in thought, a familiar voice interrupted me.

“I was terribly worried you had gone.”

My heart skipped a beat. At first, I thought it was my imagination playing tricks on me, but then he stepped into view and my gaze met his.

Spencer.

The sight of him took my breath away, and I couldn’t help but gawk. Standing in front of me, he was even more handsome than I remembered, with his dark hair falling in a wave across his forehead and his eyes sparkling with a touch of mischievousness.

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