A/N: Chapter three is up, I'm sorry for the delay, I was working late yesterday. As always all reviews will be greatly appreciated - it's the first story ever that I wrote in English and I would love to know what you think about my writning, my gramma, my spelling and if there are mistakes I'm very sorry. I would also like to thank everyone who added my story to their favorite or me as Author. Hope you enjoy and I will see you again on Monday!

The gala evening came sooner than Jess would like. He was standing at his apartment – almost every item from his closet was scattered either on his bed or on his floor and he was in front of the mirror like some princess-wannabe who was getting ready for her dream-prom. Jesus! How hard it is for a grown man to dress himself? The biggest problem he had was not with the "black" part of this gala. It was with the "golden" part. Are man really required to include in his look that "golden" part? What kind of clothing in a men's closet can be golden, for Chrissake? And what kind of man would have that?! He was facing a huge dilemma – either he'll choose to go all black and white and made a fool of himself for dressing poorly for a big event or he'll choose to find something gold and will made a fool of himself when all men will be in black and white. Great. Just great.

But the content of his closet for once in his life came to help. Pure and simple - he didn't own anything that resembled of golden color. So he opted for his best black suit, white buttoned-down shirt, black tie and also black oxford shoes. He even polished them. With one last glance in the mirror he was out of the door. YOLO, like the kids this days like to say.

The gala took place in the Grand Ballroom in NY Plaza Hotel. Of course, the hottest press event had to be in the most expensive place possible in New York. Jess couldn't fathom how was it, that the events that were supposed to raised funds were always hosted in so expensive places – ball rooms, hotels, country clubs. Wasn't the whole idea to save the money?

When he arrived, he just followed people inside and acted the same way they did. They were going to give their coats to the coatroom? Jess was doing the same. They were stopping by the event wall for pictures? You could find Jess near the wall. Not taking pictures of course, but nearby. Finally the couple he was following went inside the ballroom and so did he. Jess wasn't one to be impressed with money and splendor but he had to admit that this was beyond everything he would imagine. Whole room was decorated with black and golden colors – subtly and tastefully. In the far corner was a small orchestra, along the right wall there was a long buffet with finger-foods. On the left was an open bar and around all of that there were people, talking, laughing, just milling. Very "Black and White Ball" and Truman Capote of them. But jokes aside – Jess was really impressed and for the first time he felt like he was about to became a part of something great. He was really starting to feel good about this night, until he spotted first guy with golden cufflinks. Cufflinks! Why didn't he thought of that! Then the next guy passed him by. Golden tie. And then he looked, really looked at all of the men in the room. And he saw more golden ties, bow-ties, handkerchiefs. One guy had even golden shoes. WTF, Jess thought, is this a frikin' Sting visiting the Queen of England?!

Fortunately for him, Joe from the metro section spotted him and waved him over. He made his way to him and after few minutes small group gathered around them. Few people from NYH, few from other papers. They were exchanging anecdotes from past galas and from work and Jess could feel himself loosening up a bit.

In the meantime, Rory just give her coat to the coatroom and began walking the steps to the ballroom.

- Bloody hell, love, did you know that the whole back of your dress is missing?!

- Oh really? – she asked with fake horror – I must've forgot to take it out from my coat pocket! I could swear I had it with me when we left my place!

- Maybe we should go and look for it, I'm sure you'll be cold without it!

- Oh but for that I have you, don't I? – she was playing his lead without missing a bit.

- Why, yes of course, I know I'm hot, but I don't know if I can limit myself tonight to only one woman. What will you do, all freezing, when I go and dazzle another lady?

- I really didn't think about it, I must admit. I guess I'll have to keep you on my arm all night!

- Even if I'll have a chance to meet the Sheila of my life?

- Oh Finn, you're meeting "the Sheila of your life" almost every night we are going out – Rory couldn't keep a straight face anymore.

- Touché, love.

Together they enter the ballroom and immediately bumped into Patty. She was wearing a little bit too short golden dress that hugged her every curve and black pumps. That was always the case with Patty – she was gorgeous woman and she knew it and that combination was sometimes deadly. Most of the times deadly to the men she was constantly flirting with but Rory was sure one day it will be deadly to Patty. She may die a slow and painful death from the stares she was getting from less ostentatious women or less self-confident women at any given party.

Rory was going to make quick introductions, not that they were needed, because Patty already launched an attack.

- Rory you look absolutely elegant tonight! – that was her old play. She would never tell another women that she looked beautiful, sexy or breathtaking. No. She would always use a word like elegant – nothing offending but also nothing very nice. And after she complimented the girl… - And who is this handsome man, may I ask?

- This is Finn, an old friend from college. We go way back.

Finn might be looking for the Sheila of his life but unfortunately for Patty he was devoted to redheads and she wasn't one of them. He also didn't like her attitude toward Rory. For a man from flesh and bones, Finn had a very well developed "woman side" and he could smell a mean girl from miles. And when he did, he was becoming very protective.

- That's right, love here was one of the greatest thing that happened to me during my time at Yale. We were inseparable! – that wasn't a complete lie. Without Rory he probably would ended up in jail enough times to whipped clean his trust fund for bails. For the reasons he couldn't fathom excessive drinking in public places was frown upon.

- Oh Rory, you are one lucky girl to have such handsome friend. An that accent! Finn, you have to save a dance for me!

Patty could see a lost battle when she was in front of one, so she did what she did best – she moved to another target hoping that it would be more interested.

- I forgot how well skilled you are in this Finny! I would pay great money to see her put on her place like that again.

- What can I say, love, even if I know I'm irresistible, I have my golden rules. And you are one of them.

Rory give him a brief kiss on the chick and started looking for a bar. After all, Finn deserved a small reward for that little show.

That was when Jess spotted Rory and the sight of her took his breath away for a moment.

She was wearing a black dress with absolutely no back but because it had very conservative neckline it wasn't provocative in any way. Quite the opposite, it was leaving a great deal to the imagination. The dress was flor-length with a cut on the side, that ended at her knee, showing only part of a very slim calf and a black peep-toe high heel. The bottom of the dress all the way up to her mid-thigh was decorated with a golden sequins. Their quantity was descending upwards, so they were creating an illusion of a rain drops going backwards. Her hair was in a loose bun and she wore a very light make-up or none at all – Jess couldn't tell. She looked absolutely stunning and every man in the room noticed her when she walked by.

After getting their drinks Rory and Finn approached the group, introductions were made and they chatted away casually. Although she previously told Jess she thought he would like Finn, she wasn't sure about that. He hated privileged, white males and Finn was the best example of that specie, so to speak. But to her surprise they seemed to genuinely enjoy conversation with each other.

Jess of course noticed Finn's choice of wardrobe – black suit, light golden button-down shirt and black tie and again he felt a little out of place with his almost waiter-like suit but Finn proved to be funny and he knew how to let loose and even make a little fun of the rich, like himself. Time flew by and soon a guy showed up on the makeshift scene in the back of the ballroom and announced the start of the official dancing part of the event.

Suddenly Mitchum Huntzberger showed up beside them. He exchanged pleasantries with his employees shook hands with Finn and to everyone's surprise – asked Rory to the dancefloor. They were looking from the sidelines as she waltzed with him through the floor easily, though Rory looked a little embarrassed. 'No wonder – when the boss' boss is asking you to dance with him, you don't have much of a choice' thought Jess.

He was still in deep thoughts when he noted that Finn vanished and that his place by Jess' side was taken by few girls from New York Times.

-… oh come on, she must have been sleeping with him. Why else would he asked her to the opening dance – said one of them.

- You don't think he would be stupid enough to parade her like this if he was really sleeping with her. – the other girl's tone was full of disbelief.

- I think he is scolding her for something and he didn't wanted anybody to hear it.

- Why do you think that?

- Oh please, she isn't that special, that guy can have any girl he wanted. Besides he know her for years. She was an intern at his paper back at college…

- Yeah, like he remembers every intern at every paper he owns – the first girl, the one with dark hair, said.

- You didn't let mi finish. She was at the time his shadow at a new paper AND she dated his son.

- What?! – Jess wasn't sure if they were more surprised, angry or was that pure envy in their voices.

- You don't know the story? Really, under what rock did you live? She was dating his son in college. It was a huge deal, because he was a big playboy before he met her. They were together for few years and then he proposed, but she said no. It was big scandal in high society. She said no and run away on that campaign trail job. By the way I have no idea, how she scored that, I heard that she…

- If you say "slept with someone for it" I will have to throw up. – Jess couldn't hear their shit anymore.

They were looking at him for a moment. He knew her, they saw them talking, so maybe he knew something interesting about her. The venom in them was fighting with journalistic curiosity. And the curiosity won.

- Well, we were only talking you know. Didn't mean any harm. There were various rumors back then…

- As journalist you shouldn't be basing your knowledge on rumors. It's unbecoming. Get your own brains. – At first he wasn't going to participate in that conversation but than thought better of it. He owed to Rory to stand in her defense or at least try. – She didn't run, she got a job following Obama's campaign trail. Everyone in his right mind would go. She got it through friend she met at one of the party young Huntzberger were hosting when they were living together. As for the sleeping with Mitchum – yuck! The guy is almost twice her age and he had probably asked her to dance because he knows her for a really long time. He is friends with her grandparents. Now go take your peanut gallery elsewhere, you made me sick.

The waltz ended when he was finishing his sentence but the girls didn't move despite his harsh tone. They were busy ogling someone at the other side of the room. Mitchum escorted Rory from the dancefloor and just as she was going to go find Finn, she stopped dead in her tracks. And Jess knew she spotted the guy. There he was – proud like always, looking like he own the place, blond and well-build. Like father – like son. Logan Huntzberger in the flesh with a leggy blond on his arm.