Page 20 of Once Upon a Beast

I looked over at them and shook my head. “No, that’s okay. It will be fine. I’m fine. Let’s stop this moping and get dressed, we have an event to go to.”

Chapter 11

Nicodemus

I could almost hear Steve chastising me for touching my tie, but I couldn’t help it as I adjusted it one more time. Layla had suggested that we meet outside the event but I had told her no. We were a couple and we needed to look like we were one, that included me picking her up.

When she told me that she was going to be at Ella’s apartment getting ready with Ara, I understood why she had suggested our meeting location. It was going to be nerve racking enough being with Layla for the evening, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the scrutiny I was going to get from her best friends. Layla had alluded to how upset they were with me. I was going to have to explain myself, I just hadn’t wanted it to be so soon.

Still, I wanted to go to the event with Layla. If it meant I had to deal with her friends sooner than I wanted, then so be it. I would do anything for Layla and to show her how much I cared. I dropped my hands down and made a fist to prevent myself from touching my tie as I stood in front of the door.

“Thank goodness, another man,” Dax Moore said as he opened his door. “Scotch?”

“Please,” I replied.

I followed him into his apartment. I hadn’t had many interactions with Dax but I knew that he was a shrewd businessman who had recently taken over as CEO of his family’s company. Not soon after that, he and Ella had announced their engagement. I had thought about reaching out to Layla and telling her congratulations. She had wanted Ella to come and live in the city with her since they were kids. I was happy to know it had happened and it had worked out so well for her.

“They should be out in a few minutes. Women always take longer than they say.” Dax handed me my glass of Scotch.

“Thank you.” I lifted my glass in a half toast and Dax did the same.

Dax leaned against the liquor cabinet and looked down at his glass. He was taller than me, looking to be easily over six-feet five inches tall. He wore a shawl lapel tuxedo suit and with his jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, he reminded me a lot like James Bond.

I took a sip before saying, “But worth the wait.”

Dax let out a deep chuckle. “That they are. Have you been to this event before?”

“No. I’ve been a supporter for years but never had the opportunity until now.”

“They do a good job. Food is decent, has a good crowd, and supports a good cause.”

I nodded and took another sip of my drink. I hadn’t been in many social situations in the last ten years and I was finding it hard to make small talk. It made me nervous about how the rest of the night was going to go.

“Ah, I saw you are now CEO of Moore Enterprises? Congratulations,” I said.

“Thank you. I’m not sure I deserve it, but I’m working to live up to my family’s name and legacy. Congrats on you and Layla. It seems ah, a bit sudden. Ella never mentioned you before.” Dax gave me a wary look as he finished off his drink.

“Ella didn’t tell you about me and Layla?” I had told Layla she could tell her friends what we were doing. I assumed it meant Ella would tell her fiancé.

“Yeah, that’s the thing. I hadn’t heard about you at all before a few days ago and if there is one thing that Ella likes to talk about it’s her friends. I’m wondering why you hadn’t come up before.” He put his glass down and stood up. The move was done to intimidate me.

I let out a slow laugh. “Layla and I grew up together. Our fathers were best friends so we were inseparable as kids. I heard a lot about Ella and Ara almost to the point that I was jealous of their friendship with Layla. I haven't been around Layla much lately but I’m glad to see that she has people who care about her and worry about her welfare.”

“She matters to Ella. Ella matters greatly to me,” Dax said.

“I feel the same way. I would never do anything to hurt Layla or Ella or Ara.”

“Good to know. See that you keep it that way,” Dax said.

I liked Dax immediately. He had a no-nonsense way about him that got to the heart of the matter. I respected that. I could see he cared and was protective of Layla and it only made me like him more. I finished my Scotch and was about to tell him exactly what was going on when there was a commotion behind Dax. We both turned around to see Layla and her friends coming toward us.

At least I was pretty sure Ara and Ella were with Layla, but all I could see was Layla. She was a vision in her asymmetrical ruched wrapped dress in a deep red. The dress hugged her body in a way to show off her curves but still made her look professional and conservative. Layla wasn’t one to show off her body but she looked spectacular. As she moved toward me, I could see a long slit that went past her knee. My mouth dropped open as I saw her leg being exposed and then going behind the dress.

“You can close your mouths gentleman, though we do appreciate your approving looks,” Ara said as she stood in front of us.

I had never met Ara or Ella but I had heard enough about them and seen pictures to know who they were. Ara wore a deep purple velvet dress with a plunging neckline that left little to the imagination. Ara had always been the more outgoing one of the three and liked to be noticed. She certainly would in that dress.

Ella looked beautiful in her sheer blue floor length dress with a slight train in the back. Her sleeves were sheer and looked like there were clouds surrounding her, not material. I looked over at Dax who was smiling at Ella and only had eyes for her. He walked up to her, took her hands in his, and said, “You are beyond beautiful.”