My name is Anushka and I work as the brand manager of one of the new and emerging UK fashion labels. Although the company I work for is considerably new it has been named one of the most promising brands by several magazines and my job was to ensure it stayed that way. I was the youngest person to hold an executive position at work but Emily, my boss and founder of the brand, had put her foot down and ensured that all her managerial employees are substantially people with fresh new approach and ideas if not very young by age they were all an enthusiastic bunch of individuals who had a very unique point of view on everything. I learned something new from them every day.
I entered my office heading towards my cabin and I saw Abigail, my assistant, waiting outside with a new long list of something or the other I was sure about that.
"Good morning Abby sorry that you had to wait, what do you have for me on this fine Friday morning?" I asked as we both entered the cabin. Abby was just a few years younger to me so we were on quite friendly terms. We addressed each other by first names and outside work the professional line vanished altogether, since she was one of my good friends but something about Abby that never changed was her constant state of worry over something every time.
"You had not picked up your dress yesterday but don't worry I will get it sent to your home by the time you reach. Emily and Dillon wish to see you in 15 minutes to go through the event details one final time. Make sure you reach home by 5 today because I have made an appointment for your hair and makeup and they would be at your doorstep at 5:30. The clutch and accessories that you ordered – "I looked at her as my eyebrows shot up, "fine. The clutch and accessories that I ordered for you are here and I will bring it to your office right away. I have a few mails and proposals that arrived last night regarding the next collection launch and I drop them at your table by the time you return from your meeting. Is there anything else you need?"
I smiled. "Just relax a bit will you? I get worried seeing you so worried, and you are so efficient at what you do Abby I have no idea what you fret over. How are your preparations for the evening? I hope you didn't waste all your time over me."
"Oh, I am fine. Somebody has to babysit you. You stop over working yourself and I would stop with the fretting. Seriously, one of these days I will have to start scheming to make you go out." She said teasingly.
"Let's refrain from extreme steps" I laughed as I took event details from her and made my way to Emily's office.
The event that we were all going on about was a charity ball and fashion show organised by our company every year for underprivileged children and countries around the world in association with several NGOs and the proceeds were combined with a part of the annual earning that our brand did each year. The event is a grand affair and so are the people who are invited. Politicians, actors, musicians, socialites, authors, etc. are all a part. Each one has to donate a personal belonging along with the money they wish to give for the cause which is later auctioned online.
My dress, as Abby had promised, was waiting at my door. I collected it and continued with few last minute calls followed by a quick 15 minute shower before the makeup and hair expert showed up. I have long thick dark brown hair and a slightly dark olive skin so it was decided after a short discussion that my hair would be put in a loose low braided bun with my layered bangs in waves and the makeup would be light with dark eye makeup for my dark brown eyes. Once they left I went to change into my dress and realized that I had not even seen it so far. Abby had gone on and on about how I can't wear black or white to every event and mailed me a few pictures that I never got time to go through so I told her to go ahead with what she thought was best and arrange for everything to along with it.
As I unzipped the dress bag I was awestruck. It was a dark golden gown, backless with side slit. It was elegant and beautiful. The cap sleeves were embroidered with crystals and I was in love with it. I donned the dress and made a mental point of gifting Abby something as a token of gratitude. The pickup car arrived and I left for the event.
The guests had already started to arrive so I was in a little hurry as I entered and being my usual clumsy self, bumped into someone and felt a hand around my arms to steady me.
"I am so sorry I was in a bit of a hurry are you fine?" I apologised and looked up embarrassingly into the pair most gorgeous blue eyes I had ever seen.
"Oh please no. I should apologise, I was in the way. I am quite alright but are you?" there was both amusement and concern on his face.
"Yes of course. I better go, you have a good evening." I said to him and made my way inside. His face was so familiar that I turned back to look at him before entering the doors. He had stopped to talk to the press and reporters "Must be some model or actor." I shrugged
"Anushka! There you are. You look gorgeous. Come, those are our seats for the fashion show. What happened, you look lost?" Abby asked as we made way to our seats.
"All thanks to you. Abby who is that man talking to media right there? I have a feeling I have seen him before he looks quite familiar." I looked at her.
"You must be joking! Anushka, you have seen two of his movies and two of his BBC film series and love all of them. He was in War Horse and Avengers as well as The Hollow Crown the telly series of your beloved Shakespearean dramas."
"Prince Hal and Loki! He's an actor then." I said as I finally recalled.
"Yeah his name is Tom Hiddleston and he's quite a world sensation mind you. He has a horde of fans worldwide and is a thorough gentleman." She said as a matter of fact.
"Why do I have a feeling that you are one of those fans? Alex should be worried." I laughed nudging her lightly.
"Be quiet, Alex has nothing to worry about." She grinned.
"Speaking of which, where is he?
"Well Alex has gone to get us a drink and should be back any second." As if right on cue, Alex arrived.
"Here you go" Alex said handing us our drinks.
"Come on darling sit down show is about to start." Abby said to Alex and l turned to look at the stage but sitting across me I spotted Tom who was in a deep, animated conversation with one of the popular socialite of London and rest of the fashion show passed in a blur as subconsciously my eyes kept turning towards Mr. Hiddleston and twice, I could have swore, I felt his gaze on me.
The charity ball was always the highlight of the event. Except for me it was the time when I usually hung around the periphery of the floor occasionally talking to the other guests or colleagues. I loved to dance but the trouble was that I never came with a date except once with my ex boyfriend. Due to my work commitments and not being much of a fan for casual dating I choose not to go out much. Instead I invest my free time in reading and other hobbies. Abby and Alex were already on the dance floor so were Emily and Dillon. So that left me here and I decided to get a drink and then head home in a while.
"Hello, I don't think we officially met"
I turned in my seat to see Tom standing next to me at the bar counter. He was wearing a classy midnight blue suit, looking extreme suave and handsome. There was a twinkle in his eyes and a warm smile on his lips and I realised he was waiting for me to say something.
"Yes well bumping into and injuring people does not count as introductions yet I am afraid. I am Anushka." I smiled and extended my hand towards him. He laughed and took it. His laugh was very unusual and infectious, I found myself laughing too.
"I am Tom. So considering your previous haste I assume that you are one of the organizers?"
"I work for the organizers. I am the Brand Manager of this company." He gave a surprised look and I continued, "I know I don't look the part but my bosses insist on having young brains and outlooks at work."
"Well you are definitely the most exquisite Brand Manager I ever had the good fortune to meet." He said smiling and I blushed.
"And you are very generous with your compliments but thank you. So you are an actor." My statement sounded more like a question even to me and I realized my head was getting slightly incoherent. Strange, I didn't even drink much tonight.
"I see, so you have heard of me." He grinned. "I am honoured. Well yes, I am a small actor trying to make my place in this amazing industry but tonight I am attending this event as a representative for UNICEF. I happen to be their Junior Ambassador."
"And he is too modest for his own good." I laughed again. "Well the honour is all mine, very pleased to meet you Mr. Hiddleston."
"You make it sound like I am some poor old sod. Call me Tom." He said laughing.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to…well, to do whatever I did wrong" I grinned.
"Your apology shall be accepted if I may have a dance in return." He said extending his hand towards me. I felt a fuzzy feeling in my whole body and I realised it had nothing to do with the alcohol. I was him and his presence that was having this effect on me. I placed my hand in his as he led me towards the dance floor.
"Then let me apologise in advance for any toe stepping that might happen as we dance. I am thoroughly out of practice" I whispered to him.
"I will take care of that, just follow my lead." he reassured me.
His hand came around to rest at the small of my back and I felt a jolt of current as my head jerked up to look at him and pulled me closer to him. His eyes were devoid of all the humour from our previous chat, were still warm and gentle, but there was an intensity in them that gave me strange nervousness and just a small smile playing on his lips as we swayed and danced to the music.
"Relax. You are being too conscious. Just concentrate on the music and you would be perfect." Tom whispered in my ear and I gulped. My throat my turning dry, my knees were wobbling and he wanted me to relax.
I tried to look around at other people and spotted Abby looking wide eyed at us, well this was going to be a discussion. I looked at other people who were oblivious to us and enjoying themselves, one of the guys I saw with Tom when I ran into him earlier in the evening was looking at us with very patient expressions, Tom followed my gaze too.
"That's Luke. Luke Windsor, my publicist." He smiled answering my unasked question. "I shall introduce you two once we are done dancing" and with that he gently spun me once.
"You seem to be doing all the dancing on both, yours and mine behalf" I told him.
"Nonsense! You are a fine dancer and I love dancing so even if you weren't, I wouldn't have minded it one bit."
"I am glad but that's enough dancing for me tonight I guess. My throat is quite parched and I think a lot of your friends must be here tonight who would be looking forward to your company. I don't want to occupy all your time."
"Oh please don't even think like that. Come on, I will get your some water and as for my time and friends, I am having a time of my life and my friends would like me to continue." My heart did a little flip.
Abby and Alex came by my side as soon as Tom left to get water.
"What is going on? I thought you didn't even know his name and next thing I know, YOU were dancing at our annual charity ball and with none other than Tom Hiddleston." She had wide grin on her face.
"You know what they say – go big or go home." She wasn't buying it. I sighed. "Well I bumped into him accidentally before, while entering and then I was having a drink when he came by to introduced himself and while we were talking asked me to dance."
"That's so wonderful! Didn't I tell you he is a thorough gentleman?"
"Yes, you sure did." I smiled as I saw Tom make his way back with Luke right behind him.
"Tom meet Abigail Ward, my friend and assistant at work, and her boyfriend Alex Rukin. Alex is pursuing his Ph.D."
"Hello I am Tom and this is my publicist Luke Windsor and Luke this is Anushka one of our hosts tonight."
"Employee of your host tonight" I corrected Tom again as I shook Luke's hand.
"Anushka, we were just heading home for the night. Are you staying long?" Abby asked. I sensed a hint in her voice and mentally shook my head at her desperation to find me a boyfriend.
"What time is it? I should be leaving as well." I said as Tom showed me the time on his watch. "Yes, I should leave, it's later that I intended to stay tonight." I looked at Tom directly and smiled, "all thanks to you."
We bid goodbye to Abby and Alex and I went to meet Emily before leaving.
"Well I think we should leave as well Tom." Luke said as I returned, "I will ask to bring the car around."
"Let me walk you out" Tom offered me his arm as I took it hesitatingly. "I didn't expect to have so much fun tonight. Thank you!" He said as we walked out.
"I should be the one doing all the thanking on behalf of the company as well as personally. If you don't mind, for curiosity's sake, what personal belonging did you donate tonight?"
He laughed, "It's a scarf."
"A scarf? Why a scarf?"
"Well I am quite fond of them and it happens to be one of the props from the set of my film. I am sure your bidders would identify it and I hope it would be a good help for the cause."
"I am sure it would be. Well that's my car. It was good to meet you Tom."
"It was good to meet you too and here, that's my card and my number. I hope I would see you again sometime. Good bye and have a good night." With that he kissed on my cheek and then on my hand and turned and walked away to where Luke was waiting for him.
I kept the card in my clutch and smiled like a loon all the way back to my flat.