It had been two weeks since the momentous downfall of the Graysons, and so far things were all quiet on the Hampton front. Too quiet, as a matter of fact. The ease of it all was driving Emily crazy with suspicion. She'd been keeping tabs on Victoria from a distance, but as far as she could tell the woman hadn't even tried to make a move against her. Not yet at least.

Regardless, Emily needed to keep up appearances. Tonight would be the first time that the names Victoria, Conrad and Daniel Grayson didn't appear on the guestlist for one of the seasons' major events, and she was sure as hell going to be there to mark the occasion. It was another charity gala, and frankly, if it weren't for the free champagne and continual excuse to play dress up, Emily would've gone mad with the monotonous superficiality of it all. Every event in the Hamptons gave her an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.

Having decided on a pale blue evening gown- something much more delicate than her usual attire- Emily admires herself in the mirror.

"Mmm," Nolan purrs playfully, leaning against the doorframe. "Is your name Elsa because you are rockin' the ice queen vibe with that dress hun."

"Shut up Nolan."

"Ooooh," he hisses, feigning offence at her coldness. "I rest my case."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way and thought I'd give you a ride?" he replies, thinking it was obvious.

"I told you I'd meet you there," Emily says sternly, pushing past him to get to her jewelery.

Rolling his eyes, he mocks her ungratefulness. "'Thanks Nolan, how thoughtful. I'm so lucky to have a wing-man as dapper as you are in that suit,'" he narrates in a self-satisfied, high-pitched voice. She doesn't respond.

"Here's a crazy idea," Nolan throws out lightly. "Since I'm already here, what if we went together? Come on Ems, be my date," he whines sportively.

"Nice try, Nolan," she says passively, continuing to get ready. She was barely listening, let alone considering his comment. Nolan however, is particularly sensitive to her dismissive attitude this evening.

"I see..." he muses, watching her put in her earrings. "You once married a man just to spite his family, and yet even pretending to grace my arm for an evening would somehow be crossing a line?"

"What?" Emily asks, confused as to why he was still dwelling on the subject. "Where is this coming from Nolan?" Though, to be honest, she was eager to get off the subject.

"Straight from the genius's mouth, that's where," he replies snarkily. "I run this show Ems. Is it too much to ask that I get to step on stage and share the limelight every now and then?"

Surprised by his out-lash, Emily is unsure how to respond. "Okay fine, you can be my escort," she agrees. "Happy?"

"Appeased would be a more appropriate word," Nolan replies with a forced smile.

(to be continued...)