Round 7 Fanfiction Happy New Year's Challenge Assignment
Assigned pairing is: Rossi/Prentiss
Assigned prompts are: Ball drop in Times Square, unexpected meeting, formal evening wear
Disclaimer: *I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ITS CHARACTERS!
Emily Prentiss stared out the glass door, tapping her Jimmy Choos impatiently against the white marble tile of the vestibule of her apartment building. She was pissed! She couldn't believe the car the Ambassador sent for her was late. Normally she would have driven to one of her mother's events but tonight was New Year's Eve and she knew that she was going to need more than one drink to get through the evening.
She had wanted to skip this year's event, stay home with a bowl of popcorn and a bag full of rentals but Elizabeth Prentiss gave her no choice. This was an election year and when the Ambassador summons you to an event, even on New Year's Eve, you have no choice but to go.
Emily told her mother that she would show up but she wouldn't guarantee that she would stay for the countdown. Elizabeth had begrudgely agreed; secretly hoping that Emily would be interested in staying longer if she met the right man. It wasn't a surprise to Emily that the real reason the Ambassador insisted that Emily attend her events was so that she would meet the "right" man and hopefully fall in love. Tonight was no different.
In fact, Emily could guarantee that there would be introductions to at least 10 single, influential men tonight. Rolling her eyes she wished the car would hurry up and get her to the event, so that she could politely shoot down each attempt and get it over with.
Tired of waiting, Emily stood up and threw her black shawl over the fabulous one shouldered designer evening gown sent to her by the Ambassador. The gown hugged her in all the right places and the colour complemented her fair skin and dark hair. While her mother certainly had good taste in clothes, her choice in car services was terrible. Emily walked over to the doorman and asked him to get her a taxi. Just as he whistled for a taxi, the car service finally pulled up.
"Rodney thanks so much. It appears that I won't need a taxi after all." Emily smiled as she quickly walked over to waiting car. The driver, Charles, held open the door, apologizing profusely for his lateness due to a flat tire. "I've already informed the Ambassador that we would be delayed."
Muttering under her breath she replied, "You should have let me know first". Hearing her comment, he only nodded. "Yes Ma'am". Making up for his lateness, Charles seemed to know all the short cuts and he got Emily to Georgetown in record time. He assured her that when she was ready to leave he would be waiting in the parking lot. "Thank you Charles, I'll page you when I'm ready." Emily nodded to him as he stood beside the car door.
Smiling at the doorman, he opened the door for Emily. "Good evening Ma'am. Welcome to the Four Seasons".
"Good evening" she whispered as she took in the beautifully decorated lobby. "Nothing but the best for politicians!" she smirked under her breath. The hotel was beautifully decorated with garland and poinsettias and sparkling lights everywhere. Even the elevator that she took up to the top floor where the ballrooms were located was decked out in full style. Emily felt like she had been transport to a winter wonderland.
After dropping off her wrap to the coat check, Emily stood in front of the door, not really ready to go in. In fact she would rather be at the dentist, getting her wisdom teeth removed without any pain medication. Or maybe a meeting with Strauss...
Emily came up with several other things she'd rather do than walk through those doors but somehow her hand reached out for the handle and pulled it open. Just as she suspected there were several thousand people at this soirée. She already knew her time there was going to be short. A pint of Ben and Jerry's was waiting for her at home. Taking a deep breath she looked around the room for her mother.
The Ambassador knew the moment Emily entered the room. She immediately waved Emily over to introduce her to the Head of Administration in the Ukraine. "Emily Ann, please meet Mr. Aleksander Panasenko."
Emily plastered her 100 watt smile and held out her hand. "з Новим роком, Mr. Panasenko." Emily fluently greeted him in perfect Ukrainian.
Surprised Aleksander lifted her hand to his lips. "And a Happy New Year to you too, Ms. Prentiss. What a vision your daughter is, Madam Ambassador. "
Elizabeth Prentiss chuckled. "If you will excuse us, there are some other people that I must introduce Emily to."
"Of course. However you will save me a dance later won't you Ms. Prentiss? "Aleksander asked graciously.
"Of course, Mr. Panasenko I will see you later."
Elizabeth placed her arm in the crook of her daughter's. Whispering to Emily she teased, "He's right you know."
"About what, Mother?"
"You are a vision tonight. Look at all the attention you are getting."
Emily looked around to see both men and women turning their heads as they walked past. Indicating the dress, Emily said, "Well Mother, you do have exquisite taste."
Taking her daughter's chin in her hand, she said something so out of the ordinary for the Ambassador. "Darling, it has nothing to do with your dress."
Stunned Emily didn't know how quite to respond. Luckily, the Mayor of New York joined them to make Emily's acquaintance. The Ambassador's group grew as they continued to circle the room, where Elizabeth dragged her daughter from one dignitary to another among other "important" people Emily just had to meet.
Just as Emily suspected, Elizabeth introduced all the single men to her daughter hoping that sparks would fly. She was surrounded by hundreds of people but she had never felt so alone. The people talked around her, about her and on some occasions to her. To her credit, outwardly Emily was the perfect daughter. She smiled, was engaged, laughed when appropriate and looked as though she was hanging on every last word. Inside, Emily was cringing and looking for a waiter to bring her drink. 'Where is the damn waiter?' Emily screamed in her head. 'If I don't get a drink soon, I'm going to take Mr. Fancy Pants' white wine spritzer and chug-a-lug.'
Mr. Fancy Pants was in the middle of telling Emily how his family has hotels throughout the world. He tries to convince her that he's in charge, but as a profiler she has heard enough bullshit to know the truth. Emily tries to be polite but her eyes begin to glaze over when she finally notices the bar. Excusing herself from the group to go to the powder room, Emily beelines straight over to the bar. "Excuse me can I have..."
"A vodka martini, very dry, hold the olive." A deep voice cut in. "Make that two."
Emily whipped around towards the man who knew exactly what she wanted. "David Rossi! Am I ever glad to see you!" She cried throwing herself in his arms.
Smiling, David replied, "Well I'd have come over sooner if I knew I'd be getting this response." He grabbed their drinks and handed one to Emily. "Come, let's go to the terrace. You can tell me why you are so excited to see someone you just saw a few hours ago."
He placed his hand on her elbow and gently guided her out the door to the covered terrace. It was beautifully decorated with poinsettia plants dyed a sparkly blue and white. Snowflakes hung from every corner and iscles completed the winter wonderland theme.
Leading them over the oversized wicker chairs in the corner which were covered in white chenille, David whistled "This is quite the shing-ding."
Emily laughed as she sat down. The chair seemed to cocoon her and she had to turn her body to face Dave. He couldn't help but notice that as she crossed her legs, it revealed a large portion of her shapely legs. His eyes followed the slit all the way up, over the dress as it swept over her flat stomach and highlighted her ample cleavage. A subtle throat clearing snapped his eyes to hers where see saw that they were twinkling. "Agent Rossi!" Emily tsked
Shrugging his shoulders he told her that he was a man after all. As he sat down opposite her, he thought about what had just happened. He certainly appreciated the beauty of the woman who sat in front of him however this was Emily Prentiss, Agent Prentiss, and his colleague who was off limits. Clearing his throat, David took a sip of his drink. "So tell me Prentiss, what put that smile on your face?"
"You."
His heart stopped. Trying to regulate his voice he uttered, "Oh?"
"You just saved me from all the "suitors" my mother has lined up for me." She smiled not realizing that his shoulders slumped as she spoke. "I don't think anyone will bother me now that I'm in your company."
Tipping his glass to her, he responded, "Glad I can be of service to you."
"What brings you here, Rossi?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he explained, "As a author, sometimes you have to smooze with the right people. My editor insisted that I attend. Now I'm happy that I did and that I came alone."
"Rossi, you flirt!"
"Well Prentiss, I'm just a man who is sitting in front of a stunning woman. Who wouldn't be happy about that?"
Stunned Emily just nodded. They continued to sip their drinks until the silence became slightly awkward. Putting her glass down, Emily stood up suddenly and blurted out, "Rossi, would you like to dance?"
Rossi looked up at her and then down at the hand she held out to him. Why not? he thought. How much trouble could they get into dancing?
He placed his large hand in hers and lead her back into the ballroom towards the dance floor. The sweet sounds of Michael Buble played as he placed one hand on her lower back and the other held her hand. As they circled the dance floor, he pulled her closer to him. She shivered slightly at his touch. "Are you cold?" he whispered close to her ear.
Shaking her head, she tilted her head closer to his warm breath. Hesitantly she leaned further until it rested against his broad shoulder.
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
It seemed like the ballroom had disappeared and all that was left was herself and David swaying to the gentle music. She could almost forget that somewhere in that room was her mother who was going to be furious that she wasn't in Mr. Fancy Pant's arms instead.
Suddenly they stopped moving. Puzzled she looked at David. Simply, he stated, "Prent...Emily, were leaving".