Van did not hear what Ash said after that. There was a ringing in her ears as everything else went silent, the ballroom melted away and there was just the two of them.
"Hello, nice to meet you." He gave her that disarming smile of his and stretched his arm out for a shake. Of course Ash knew who he was it was his obligation but she doubts he knows their history.
Van reluctantly took the hand he offered but he held on for longer than was necessary. His gaze locked and held hers and Van almost sobbed at how much she missed him.
Van burst through the French doors of the hotel and let out a breath of relief when she found herself on the terrace. The atmosphere in the ball room was suffocating and Van swore she was going to die from all the attention people were giving to her after grandfather announced that she was his granddaughter and not all the whispers going around were compliment but that's okay because she'd never gone all out on impressing people anyway. And grandfather's voice when he'd introduced her was sure, almost reverent one would think she was some business mogul, almost like he was proud of her but she knew better.
She sighed and placed both her hands on the stone railing and stared at the starless sky that suddenly she wished she'd brought a jacket as she shivered from the cold breeze that swept over her once clammy skin.
She looked around her at the flower pots beautifully displayed on the edges of the balustrade. She gave a rueful smile because the flowers reminded her of the garden at the Diamond mansion and it seemed like ages ago she missed her friend so much and wished she was here. When she first met Jake Calloway she thought he was the most gorgeous guy she'd ever met.
He was a smooth talker alright and he'd managed to charm the pants off her, so to speak. Van had thought then that he'd found her so attractive he was willing to do anything to sleep with her but it had been something more, something twisted. Looking back at all the mistakes they'd both made, Van felt a dull ache in her chest and seeing him tonight caught her off guard, it made her realise that she wasn’t ready to face him just yet.
Of all the parties in the city he had to attend this one.
"I knew i'd find you here."