The elevator ride wasn't nearly long enough. My breath quickened with each decreasing number. Why did I ever decide to write that book after all? I felt like I was going to have a panic attack as the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Sarah took one look at me and chuckled a little to herself but it was more than loud enough for me to hear it.
"Sorry if I'm not used to doing this on an every weekend basis" I snarked back. I really didn't mean to be mean to her I was just so stressed.
Knowing this she gave me a sympathetic smile. "It'll be ok sweetie. Take a deep breath. These people will love you. And I won't leave your side. Plus my every weekend experience will mean I'll be good at it and that'll take the pressure off of you."
Yep there's the Sarah I know. The pace of our steps had been slow since leaving the elevator car while Sarah tried to get me back under composure but the large gilded arch of the ballroom now laid directly in front of me.
"Ok put a pleasant smile on your face….Oh see you fake it so well!" she exclaimed. "Alright shoulders back. Head up. And let's go show these people why they love you"
She is far too perky for this. And there's no way I can follow her in there. Her beautiful blonde hair, naturally thin stature and flawless complexion command attention everywhere. Oh wait maybe that'll work for me. There's a definite possibility that people will barely notice me if I'm with her. In some strange self-loathing way that help. Just as she turned around to scold me for not following her into the ballroom, I took a deep breath and, with as much grace as I could muster, glided into the ballroom.
The scene was everything I had expected. The crowds of beautiful people were talking to one another while black and white cladded waiters carried trays of champagne and finger foods. There were flowers and crystals dripping from everything almost to the point of excess. The Waldorf really knew how to throw a party. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Sarah wasted no time and introduced me to the first group of people. As she promised she stayed by my side and did the majority of the talking. I pulled up all the eloquence that I possess and answered questions as they were asked of me. They were gracious and engaged. I noticed quickly that the majority of these people were big name editors, publishers and book critics filled in with several A-list stars and directors. The thought of me, a poor Midwestern girl, talking to this caliber of people started to rise the panic again. But thankfully I was in public persona mode and I got that under control quickly. After all, that would mean that they would all be at the very least gracious right?
` After the third group of people my fears started to subside. I must have visibly relaxed because Sarah whispered to me as we were walking over to the fourth group "See I told you it's not bad. You're doing great". I grabbed my second glass of champagne as it passed just as I was asked, yet again, how I come up with my characters. Don't get me wrong I love talking about my characters. They're kind of like my children but how many times do I have to answer that same questions before it starts getting old. I masked all of that frustration and answered the question just like I had answered all the ones prior. This group of publishers were especially funny and joked about how they had lost out by letting my business get away. I didn't say it but I was thinking they had a chance. Everyone had shied away from the risk of a virtually unknown writer except Penguin publishing who scooped it up right away. I will not forget how they took the risk on me. But the praise gave me additional confidence. As Sarah led me away to yet the fifth group I was starting to think I might have this down.
As I walked up to group five, I noticed right away the outline of a young attractive man with his back to me. Most of the people that I'd met so far were older than. There were a few very intense people my age that must have been highly driven and succeeded early in their careers to have been invited here. The actors and actresses that Sarah said might be here were next to none existent. Which was too bad, a part of me was hoping to meet some favorite celebrity here. I caught a glimpse of the face belonging to the hot bodied man…I swear I know him from somewhere. I guess I'll find out sooner than later. Sarah was just starting her "meet the lovely author" introduction to this group of people when it hit me…this amazing electricity radiating from the direction of the young man. I hadn't looked over at him yet, mostly on purpose. Generally exceptionally beautiful people made me nervous and tongue tied and that was the last thing I need just as I was starting to get the hang of this "mingling" thing. I graciously said hello to each of the 7 members in this group, one at a time, as Sarah introduced them. Thank God she started at the opposite side of the circle from this man. He would be the last for me to meet and maybe if I braced myself well enough no one would notice the effect and I could relax before needing to answer questions. Ya, that could work right?
I took a deep breath just as Sarah turned to the man next to her to introduce me. One look at his face and I realized there was no way I was going to not be affected by this man. And it also answered the question of why he looked so familiar.
"Last but definitely not least, Kaley, this is the one and only Taylor Lautner. Taylor, this is my favorite author friend Kaley." she was also obviously enamored with him.
"Favorite author friend?...I think I'm your only author friend." Sarcasm happened to come easy for me when I was nervous. It might be the only thing that does and, more than not, that was created trouble. I had learned over the years to try to check that. His chuckle at my comment gave me the confidence to finally look up into his gorgeous face.
Have you ever heard the expression "I forgot my name" when I looked at him? Ya that's an accurate description of what happened to me. As my eyes met his I lost all conscious thought. It's a good thing Sarah was more than willing to talk for me. There's no way I would be able to hold a conversation. I'm pretty sure I heard Sarah rattling on the list of my gushing accomplishments. Either that or I remembered the list from previous groups. All I knew is that I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. There was that electricity again but when our eyes met it felt like the gaze pulled me to him. He grinned in this way that looked like he knew but not like he was making fun of it.
His smile made me weak in the knees…I am 28 years old! I shouldn't be fangirling over this boy even if I was a fan. Now 24 year old Taylor Lautner became a sex symbol and wanted by girls all over with his role as Jacob in the Twilight Saga movies. That made him incredibly appealing to me but it was his interviews outside of the role that truly won me over. He was humble and gracious. And incredibly sweet! Even with that I wasn't the fangirl type. You wouldn't find me screaming at the presence of my favorite movie or TV star. Stars were people after all. That's the reason why I was so irritated with myself at this moment. It was in that moment that I decided I needed a minute to compose myself. I looked away to the rest of the group and graciously excused myself to the lady's room. It only took me a few moments to regain my composure and when I was fairly sure that I could keep it, I made the slow walk back to the group. I grabbed another glass of champagne as it passed, knowing that I would need it to pull this off. Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't realize Sarah wasn't a part of the group I left until I was a step or two away. Taylor must have been watching me walk up and saw my steps falter as this realization hit me.
"Hey she's back." He said with a smile. "Sarah said she needed to step away for just a moment. Something about needing to answer a phone call…I told her I'd keep an eye on you." Those twinkling eyes of his…
