David and Terry stared as Don made his way through the crowd with a modern-day goddess clinging to his arm. They knew Don was attractive and charming, but he had to have done some serious bribing in order to catch such a fish. Don couldn't help but smile at their awed expressions.
"You look surprised," he said teasingly. Terry blinked dumbly. His date gazed at her calmly, a polite smile on her face. David did nothing but stare at her; her green eyes drew him in like a large piece of rich cheesecake.
"You said you were seeing someone, you failed to mention that you paid her," Terry retorted after she collected herself. Don's lover laughed then.
"He didn't pay me. If I did charge him, he wouldn't be able to afford it," she joked easily. Even her voice seems surreal, Terry thought. "I'm Mira Rosselli, his girlfriend," the beauty introduced, extending her hand casually. Terry took it, and returned her warm smile.
"Terry Lake, Don's partner." David extended his hand mutely. "And this is David Sinclair, also Don's partner," she added when she realize David wasn't about to say a thing. Mira flashed her gorgeous smile once again and turned to Don.
"Where'd Charlie get to?" she asked him quietly, glancing behind them. Don scanned the area quickly for his brother and spotted him standing near a framed picture on the opposite wall. He pointed him out to her and released her hand as she drifted gracefully through the crowd towards him.
"Damn, Don! You must have been really lucky to get her!" David breathed as she left. Don shrugged; he didn't think it was necessary to explain to them that their first date occurred due to Charlie's insistence.
"She seems charming," Terry complimented, knowing Don would rather be talking about Mira.
"I know; she does well in crowds, doesn't she?" Terry shook her head.
"That's not what I meant." Don looked at her curiously. "You seemed to have been glowing when she was here a few minutes ago. You're a great match, from what I've seen." Don shrugged again, hoping to conceal his faint blush. He didn't.
"I think you got him blushing, Terry," David comment teasingly. Don shot him a sarcastic look and watched as Mira conversed calmly with Charlie, who was standing comfortably against the wall.
Mira's gaze shifted from Charlie to the painting that hung before them. It was another bland landscape, as most of the other paintings were. The room was a large, rented ballroom space that was decorated lavishly. There was a staircase that led up to a surrounding balcony, where more bland paintings hung, hoping to be looked at and appreciated. If she were the decorator, the portraits of sleeping dogs and muted-red roses would be the first things to burn.
"You look amazing, by the way," Charlie said suddenly, removing her from her critical gaze. Mira blushed then shrugged.
"I feel a little over-dressed." His eyes darted around the room. He noticed that all the men, married, and unmarried were staring at her. Even though she wasn't facing them, they stared; apparently, her backside was alluring as her front.
"I don't think so. I think all these other people are underdressed; after all, it's also a retirement party," he replied, earning a surprised stare from the Italian woman.
"Really? Don didn't say anything about that!" she exclaimed, wondering why he hadn't told her before. Charlie glanced at her evenly.
"Do you really think he would have told you? He's known the director for a long time, I would think that he'd want to savor the last few weeks with him telling him what to do," he replied. Mira inclined her head regally.
"He still could've told me," she muttered. She looked around for Don, spotting him near the refreshment table. A man who intended to woo Mira obstructed her view, however. She glanced at him calmly, assessing him.
He was tall, as most of the men were, and light haired. He had dull brown eyes, but a warm smile that she knew had seduced many a woman. He carried himself arrogantly, and she assumed that he was used to getting whatever woman he deemed worthy of his attention. He was doomed to be disappointed somehow; Mira was that somehow.
"Hey there, gorgeous," he said huskily. Mira stifled a gag. Charlie watched interestedly in how Mira was going to handle the situation. She had clasped her hands behind her back and stood nonchalantly, looking over the crowd of people there to wish the director a fond farewell.
"How about we get to know each other better over some drinks?" the agent said, retaining his husky tone. Mira gave him a sideways glance. The stranger flashed his smile again and showed his daring when he began to stroke Mira's bare shoulder. "What's your name, lovely?"
"Mira." She made eye contact with Don, who watched with a frown. Terry and David, who were still with him, saw the action and were poised to move in. Don began to approach them, crossing the room with Terry and David following behind.
"Well, Mira, would you like to ditch this party and start one of our own?" the agent asked, leaning closer to her face. His breath was heavy with alcohol, which made Mira struggle not to hurl. She turned her head away, hoping he'd catch the hint that she wanted nothing to do with him. He ignored her sign and slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him quicker than she expected, planting a wet kiss on her lips. Mira groaned disgustedly and fought to get away.
His grip was strong, stronger than Mira could fight. She was desperate to get away so she slammed her heel on top of his foot. The man yelled in pain and threw her down harshly, causing her to slam against the marble floor and into the wall. By that time, the entire room was watching and Don was rushing to the scene. Terry and David grabbed the man by the arms and restrained him while the host and his wife appeared, anger written all over their faces. Don went immediately to Mira, who was wiping her mouth roughly with the back of her hand.
"Are you alright, Mira?" he asked quietly, helping her up dutifully. She nodded and let him look her over for himself.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'll just have to do some heavy-duty mouth washing later," she whispered. She glared at the man who dishonored her personal space.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Director Thomas asked furiously. The man shrugged, refusing to answer the question. "Agent Dobson, you had better come up with a good reason why you assaulted this young woman!" Agent Dobson looked at Mira wickedly.
"She wanted it, sir," he replied, a nasty grin forming on his lips. Mira tightened her grip on Don's arm, restraining herself from pouncing on him. "Ask her what happened. She didn't tell me not to do it." Director Thomas addressed Mira kindly.
"Ma'am, could you explain to us what happened?" he asked gently. Mira nodded; she was not going to let that drunken moron ruin her evening.
"He approached me, sir, and his intentions were written all over his face. I could tell that he wanted something I was not about to give him. He then began to stroke my shoulder. Considering his size, I refrained from stopping him. He then got closer and I could smell alcohol on his breath. I turned away and that's when he pulled me towards him and kissed me. I tried to get away, but he only held me tighter. That was when I stuck his foot with my heel." The director thanked her quietly and turned to Agent Dobson, fury contorting his face. Mrs. Thomas approached Mira and offered to show her where she could freshen up. Don watched as Mira and Mrs. Thomas walked in the direction of a powder room.
Men escorted Agent Dobson firmly from the room while Director Thomas apologized profusely to Don. "I'm terribly sorry about everything. Is she okay?" Director Thomas asked with concern. Don raised his hands to stop him and nodded.
"Mira's is fine, she tells me. She can take good care of herself." Director Thomas gave a relieved sigh and motioned the other party attendees back to give them room and a little more privacy than they had a few moments ago. Terry touched Don's arm and tossed her head in the direction of the balcony. He followed her quietly, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Is she okay?" Terry asked him, repeating the director. Don nodded.
"At least, she said she was," he replied. "I'll find out eventually." Terry gave him a comforting smile and leaned against the marble rail. Don noticed that something was bothering her; just from how she was acting. "Terry, what's wrong?" he asked firmly. Terry gave a dry laugh.
"I've been plucking up the courage to tell you this all night and the minute I get the chance I lose it all," she muttered. Whether Don was supposed to hear that comment, he didn't know; all he did know was that it was something very important.
"What?" he pried. Terry looked at him evenly. She took a deep breath.
"I've been transferred." Don stood there in complete shock. Why was she being transferred? She hadn't done anything to displease anyone in the upper offices. He took a step forward.
"Why are they transferring you? Where to?" he asked rapidly. Terry stopped him by raising her hand. She shook her head slowly in order for him to comprehend that she didn't want him talking for a moment.
"I applied for the transfer. I specifically asked to go back home, to Jersey, where my parents are," she replied smoothly, her previously plucked courage returning. "LA has been great, Don, but I want to be with my family. You shouldn't be the only one who gets to visit your family whenever you want." She gave him a small, reassuring smile. Don leaned against the rail near her, shock still freezing his thoughts.
"When did you find out?" he asked quietly, his eyes on the crowd within. Mira had exited the powder room and had spotted him on the balcony. She had let her hair down; she told him once that she couldn't stand it being up for a long period. She didn't approach them, knowing that they were immersed in a conversation that didn't involve her.
"A month ago. Tomorrow is my last day," she replied. Don didn't look at her, instead, he watched Mira politely turn down another agent as he approached her for a dance.
"It'll be strange without you," he confessed. Terry looked at him evenly. She was handling it better now that he was over the initial shock of it all.
"You'll be fine. You survived without me before, and now that you have Mira, you'll have every aspect of your life handled. I'll come back and visit every now and then, just to make sure you've still got Mira around," she told him firmly. He looked at her curiously. "She'll do you good, you know. If I find out, and trust me I will, that you've left her I come right back and murder you. She adores you, if you haven't realized it yet." Don gave her a smile.
"Thanks for the notice. I couldn't figure out why she was around so much. That makes much more sense now," he joked. Only God knows how, but Mira knew the talk had shifted to her and she appeared in front of them, her arms crossed over her chest.
"What makes sense?" she asked calmly. She had walked in on Don's comment, but didn't let him know that she had. Don gave her a small shrug and looked at Terry for permission.
"You can tell her," she told him. Mira looked at Don questioningly. He stood up and slipped a hand around her waist. Mira didn't move at all, refusing until she was told what was going on.
"Terry's been transferred to New Jersey. She leaves tomorrow," he explained quietly, hoping no one behind them heard. Terry laughed a little.
"Don't worry about them, they already know," she said. Don stared.
"I was the last to be told? What for?" he asked, anger and indignation creeping into his voice. Mira rolled her eyes.
"Technically, you were the second to last and what does it matter? At least she told you and didn't leave without ever saying goodbye," Mira reasoned, removing her from Don's grasp and moved toward Terry and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?" she asked kindly. Terry gave the lovely woman a smile.
"I'll be fine, thank you," she replied. "I'm a little concerned for you, if truth be told." Mira blinked with surprise. Don listened, knowing exactly what Terry was about to say.
"Really, what on earth for?" Mira asked curiously. For the first time, Don heard a faint British accent edging Mira's voice. He looked at her, his eyes wide for a moment. He had never heard it before, not until now. He knew she was Italian and came the US rather young, be she never said anything about have an accent.
"You really should be given the Medal of Honor for putting up with Don," she replied seriously. "I should know we dated at the academy. He can be a handful sometimes." Mira laughed.
"I know exactly what you mean!" she laughed. Don again picked up a faint accent. It wasn't until a few seconds later that he comprehended what she had said. He shot her a mildly angered look then softened.
"Do you have a British accent?" he asked suddenly. Mira blinked.
"You've worked with her for years and you don't know the answer to that?" she asked. Don shook his head in exasperation.
"No, no, not Terry, I meant you," he said. Mira blinked again.
"Me? Oh, not really, dear. My nannies were from London, so I might've picked it up from them, but I really shouldn't have one." She tossed some chestnut silk over her should and looked back inside. Charlie was falling asleep as he leaned against the wall with David following suit. Mira smiled to herself and looked at Don.
"I'm sure you want to stay, but I think we ought to get Charlie home. He's falling asleep standing up," she said gently. Terry and Don looked in Charlie's direction and snorted with laughter. Charlie's head bobbed dangerously, his eyes heavy with sleep. Don took Mira's hand and kissed her head.
"You're probably tired too," he murmured. Mira shrugged indifferently, but a persistent yawn proved otherwise. Terry stood and touched Mira's shoulder.
"You'll take care of him, right?" she asked quietly. Mira looked at her warmly and nodded.
"If I don't, who will? You should get going, I bet you have a lot to do tomorrow," she replied, kissing the air near Terry's cheek. Terry did the same, knowing that it was a polite gesture. She then gave Don a kiss on the cheek and said her final goodbye.
"I hope to see you sometime in the future," she said. "Perhaps at a certain couple's wedding?" Don caught the hint.
"Ha, ha. I hope you have a great trip. Keep yourself safe, okay?" he replied. Terry nodded and gave him a quick hug then retreated into the thickening crowd. Don and Mira headed towards Charlie and Don shook his shoulder gently.
"Hey, bud. C'mon, we're getting outta here," he said quietly. Charlie shook his head to wake himself and followed. Mira and Don chatted idly about nothing for a minute until Mira piped up about an art gala.
"I just remembered I have a gala showing tomorrow evening. I was hoping you'd come with me, Don," she said brightly. Don sighed. He had been to only one other gala and had nearly died of boredom.
"Really, is it a big event?" he asked cautiously. Mira giggled.
"Hey, chill out, okay? It's a children's gala. Children in the Los Angeles area submitted all the artwork on display. It'll be thousands of times more interesting than my usual events." Don shrugged in reply.
"I guess I can sacrifice my evening for you," he replied nonchalantly. Mira smiled at him brightly and kissed his cheek as they approached the car.
"I'm glad you find me worthy enough to spare time," she said in a mock-serious tone. Don smiled at her as he unlocked the doors. Mira waited for Charlie to pass her before she slipped into the passenger's seat. However, Charlie was so dead on his feet he barely trudged along. Mira, taking pity on the poor soul, helped him by opening his door and making sure, he put on his seatbelt. When Charlie was secure, she slid into her seat and fastened the safety belt as Don started the vehicle.
"… six months… tomorrow." Mira's statement barely made it over the melody the filled the room. Don looked up from the book that he had committed himself to and gazed at her. She was sitting at the grand piano that was located at the opposite end of the room. She was playing a nameless tune, but it soothed Don's mind as he read.
"What?" he asked her. Mira didn't look up from the piano keys. She had changed into a set of spring green pajamas after they had returned from dropping Charlie off after the party. Her hair was up in a loose ponytail and her face exhibited the total concentration that it took for her to reproduce something she had only heard earlier that afternoon.
"I said that we'd have been dating six months tomorrow," she repeated as she hit a sudden pianissimo.
Don blinked with surprise then realized that what she had just told him was the truth. Tomorrow was their six months anniversary. Not only did he forget; he was entirely unprepared for it. Mira crescendo-ed emotionally as she reached the pinnacle on the piece. He set to book down on his chest and scratched his head thoughtfully. Mira glanced at him as she ended the piece magnificently.
"I don't expect anything, Don," she told him plainly. "I seriously don't. All I meant by it was that we've been dating for half a year and we barely noticed that much time had flown by." She rose from the piano bench and walked over to where he was lying.
Don had stretched himself out on a comfortable sofa in the main living room. He was still wearing what he had worn to the party, but had taken off the jacket and shoes. He raised his upper half and allowed Mira to sit down as he lowered the upper portion of his body onto her lap. She stroked his hair admiringly.
"Still, I feel as though we should do something," he confessed. Mira didn't reply as she marked his spot in the book with a scrap piece of paper that was lying on the end table and placed it on the stationary object.
"Don't do that," she murmured absently, "it's bad for the spine." Don took her hand from his hair and held it gently.
"Tomorrow is Saturday, right?" he asked her. Mira thought a moment then nodded in the affirmative. "Then after that gala of yours, we could spend some time in Sonoma. Maybe rent one of the houses there." The minute that suggestion left his mouth he knew he had no possible way of affording it. Not only were the houses in Sonoma insanely expensive, he wasn't even sure if he could get away from the office now that Terry wasn't going to be around to haul his shift.
"Don, we both know that's going to be almost impossible. You know I hate rubbing in the fact that I've been raised in the wealthy society, but if spending a weekend in Sonoma is really that important to you, we're staying at my house there. I will not have you put yourself out just to make me feel loved, because, Don, I already do," she said quietly. Don, knowing full well how much such a comment wounded his male pride, reluctantly complied.
"We had better get some sleep," she said pointedly. Don pretended to not hear her and acted as though he had already fallen asleep on her lap. Mira's legs were beginning to lose precious feeling, so, deciding that his comfort was no longer her priority, she stood up suddenly. This action made Don slide off the couch roughly and land on the carpeted floor with a loud thud!
Mira paused at the doorway and looked at him expectantly. Don lay on the floor for a moment, wondering what would have made the carpet where he was laying damp. "I wouldn't lay there much longer," she cautioned. Don turned his head in her direction.
"Why?" he asked. Mira fought back the urge to smile.
"My brother's eight month old daughter deposited her breakfast and lunch there earlier this afternoon." With that, she turned and left the area, heading upstairs. She started to laugh as she watched Don race upstairs to the bathroom, a look of disgust all over his face.
"It's your own fault!" she shouted after him as she continued to climb the stairs leisurely.