Slowly making a circuit of the ballroom, Merry observed the people around her. The rich and powerful were out in force tonight. Tuxedos and evening gowns abounded, the soft lighting of the chandeliers causing jewels to sparkle and lent a fairytale glow to the event. She stopped with her back against the wall and took it all in, just for a moment letting herself escape into the illusion that this was just as it appeared on the surface, a May Day ball and nothing more. Elegant floral arrangements were a riot of springtime color against the ballroom's cream and gold backdrop. The scent of orchids and jasmine spiked the air, sliding sensually over the expensive perfumes and colognes worn by the guests. Merry closed her eyes, letting the scents translate into swirls of colors in her mind's eye. With a sigh, Merry stepped away from the wall and moved deeper into the room. The sooner she located her brother and discovered why he had requested her presence, the sooner she could leave. She found these events tedious, and if there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was being bored.
She spotted Nicholas and his mother holding court just off the dance floor, surrounded as usual by various men and women, both the powerful and the hangers on, all paying homage to the head of the Garuante Crime Family and the beautiful creature by his side. To look at her, one would never guess the iron will behind the beautiful exterior. Midnight hair only recently touched with silver the only hint at her true age, Elise Garuante was a vision. Tall and fine boned, her black evening gown hugging her slender body before flowing gracefully to fall just above the shined marble of the ballroom floor. The woman wielded her femininity like a weapon to lull enemies and allies alike into underestimating her. No one would ever know that she was the driving force behind some of Nicholas' most ruthless actions.
Just as Merry reached the group, Elise must have said something clever to the gentleman standing closest to her, his back to Merry. His laugh was rich and dark and it washed over Merry like a tidal wave, causing an unexpected and unwelcome heat to ignite in her belly. She stumbled and would have crashed into the stranger's back but he must have sensed her behind him for he turned sharply and caught her before she could fall. Eyes the gray green of storm tossed seas looked down into hers, and Merry felt that, just for an instant, they were gazing into the very heart of her. She gasped at the connection and felt his hands tighten on her waist in response, felt the strong arms holding her flex under her palms.
"Well hello there, beauty" he murmured with a smile, quirking an eyebrow at her when she didn't answer, simply staring at him as he continued to hold her.
"Merry, are you alright?" Nicholas' voice shattered the moment and Merry quickly pulled out of her rescuer's arms, murmuring an apology and blushing in embarrassment. But instead of letting her go immediately, he shifted his grip from her waist to her elbows, gliding his fingers down her forearms to her much smaller hands and giving them a gentle squeeze before releasing her completely. Merry shivered in response to the heat of his touch and then scolded herself for over reacting. No doubt he was just making sure she wasn't going to topple over again, nothing more.
"Yes Nicholas, I'm fine" she said, moving forward to embrace her half-brother warmly, glad for the excuse to move away from the man still standing too close to her. "I must have caught my heel on something" Merry lied, still unsettled by her reaction to the stranger she had yet to be introduced to.
"Merisel, what a lovely surprise!" Elise's voice grated across Merry's ears, the venomous sweetness in her tone enough to make Merry's teeth hurt. "I didn't know you had planned on attending tonight."
"Elise" Merry greeted her politely, determined not to further embarrass herself by indulging in a verbal catfight with the other woman. "Nicholas asked me to come, said there was someone he wanted me to meet." Merry watched curiously as Elise narrowed her eyes at her son. Well, that was interesting, Merry thought to herself. Whoever this mysterious person was, Elise obviously was not happy at the idea of Merry meeting them.
"Well, you already have, after a fashion!" Nicholas laughed, using the arm he still had around Merry's shoulders to turn her slightly as he made a flourishing motion with the other. "Raymond Reddington, may I introduce my sister, Merisel St. James."
Swallowing her nervousness, Merry held her out. "Mr. Reddington" she said with a calm she did not feel and could barely maintain as he grasped her hand in his, and brought it to his lips, never taking his eyes from hers. As their gazes locked, Merry could not help but feel she was staring into the eyes of the most dangerous man she had ever met.
"Please, call me Red."
Red was becoming annoyed. While he was sure he could do business with Nicholas Garuante, his mother was becoming a problem. The woman seemed unable to take a hint, and fending off her barely veiled overtures was becoming tedious. Red could not deny Elise was a beautiful woman, but hers was a cold, calculated beauty that left him unmoved. If she persisted, he would have to be blunt in his refusal and that might damage his just formed business arrangement with her son, which would be unfortunate since Nicholas had something Red wanted.
When they had met earlier yesterday to finalize their business, Red had mentioned that he was looking for a new forger, as the gentleman he normally used had recently retired from the criminal world. Nicholas had smiled and stated that he might know someone and would be happy to make the arrangements for an introduction. So, when Nicholas had suggested he attend the gala, Red had agreed. It would be a good place for a casual introduction on neutral ground and would give Red the opportunity to set up a more private meeting if things went well.
An hour and a half into the party, and this mysterious forger had yet to appear and all Red had to show for his evening was the unwanted advances of his new business partner's mother. He was seriously considering telling Nicholas he would have to meet his tardy contact another time, citing jet lag and the headache that was beginning to form at his temples. The thought made him happy enough so that when Elise made another of her not so witty comments, he actually gave her a genuine laugh. Just then, he felt someone coming up behind him and he whirled instinctively, expecting an attack. It would not be the first time someone had thought to eliminate him in a public setting in hopes of using the panicked crown as an easy escape.
What he got instead was an armful of beautiful woman. Red got the impression of soft golden curls and a surprised, heart shaped face before he found himself captivated by the most amazing copper colored eyes staring deeply into his. He heard the woman gasp softly, and watched as her pupils dilated and his hands tightened instinctively on her waist to keep her from moving away from him just yet. He felt her small hands grip his biceps tighter, as if to let him know she had no interest in leaving his arms, of breaking the connection that had snapped to life between them at their first touch. He smiled down at her.
"Well, hello there, beauty" he purred, suddenly realizing he was no longer bored. Red quirked an eyebrow at her in inquiry when she remained silent, wondering what he would need to do to convince this lovely little creature to sit next to him at the gala dinner tonight. Even if she never said a word all evening, she would still prove to be a more pleasant dining companion that Elise.
The sound of their host's voice had her pulling away with a murmured apology and the most become blush. Red was surprised by how reluctant he was to let her go and contented himself with allowing his hands to glide down her forearms and then gently squeezing her delicate hands in his before releasing them. Her skin was soft, like fine silk and he found that he enjoyed the feel of it under his hands. Red wondered if she was that soft all over and decided right then that before he left the city, he would find out. He felt her shiver in response to his caress and smiled to himself. Silken and responsive. Now he was intrigued.
He half listened as Elise made some snide comment that bordered on rudeness and suppressed a chuckle as the younger woman struggled to keep her response polite. He would bet good money that before the evening was over, Elise would succeed in making her loose her temper. And then he realized what she had said. Nicholas had invited her to the gala specifically to meet someone. The same reason he himself had been invited here tonight. Well, well, well. So this lovely lady was Nicholas' mysterious forger.
"Raymond Reddington, may I introduce my sister, Merisel St. James." Nicholas' sister? Well, that could complicate things. Red covered his surprise by taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips for a lingering kiss. It was an old fashioned gesture that he found delighted most women so he employed it often. As he locked his gaze with nervous one, he knew that no matter how badly it might complicate his business with her brother, he wanted her.
"Please, call me Red."