Bryn met Cad for the second time, just months later at her mother's annual holiday party in December. He arrived in the middle of the appetizers with a file that his father wanted Harold to go over. Michelle was her usual pushy self and insisted that Cad at least stay for a bit, "you'll disappoint me if you don't," she murmured in her authoritative manner, and Cad had no choice but to relent. It was clear to Bryn that he was dressed for plans of his own, but no one dared to insult Michelle Carnduff in her own home, so he was stuck. There were two seats at the table open, one beside Harold at the head of the table where a senator had been seated before he'd been called away on some political emergency, and one right beside Bryn that had never been occupied. Cad didn't hesitate. He slid in right beside Bryn.
The next hour felt like an eternity as Bryn sat beside the object of her desires without saying one word to him. She wondered if he even remembered her from that night at his penthouse. It wasn't like she'd done anything to make an impression, except being a complete mute. Bryn decided that being that he was; Cad Dupre probably had a lot of females lose their voice around him. So she wouldn't even be special in that manner. He'd barely glanced at her at all during the main course, instead he'd mostly kept up with the business conversation at the table, and responded to whatever inane questions Michelle had asked him. Bryn felt like she was invisible, and she absolutely hated that feeling. So she leaned back in her chair, and slid her shoes off, letting her feet dance around on the hardwood floor beneath her. It felt cool against her toes, and she amused herself by tracing naughty words against it, smiling every once in a while when she decided upon a deliciously revolting phrase that would make Sarah cackle with glee, and her mother run from the room in shame.
Bryn had just traced a particularly raunchy word, and was smiling like a Cheshire cat when Cad finally turned in her direction. He was sipping at the desert brandy that the made had just served, and watching her through his lowered lashes. It took her a moment to recover, and stop what she was doing under the table. Her own desert laid untouched before her, and he looked between it and her for a moment before Michelle called out to him again, and he looked away. Bryn let out a relieved breath when she was finally out of his thrall, and searched around for her shoes beneath the table. It was time for her to retire to her room with some feigned illness. She couldn't watch her mother badger him any longer. It was just too embarrassing. He would remember her tonight for sure, as that poor unfortunate girl who's mother was such a beast. Not exactly how you wanted Cad Dupre to think of you.
"Oh Cad, I just realized. You and Bryn haven't met before, have you?"
Michelle's voice rang throughout the room like a death knell. Bryn stopped fumbling her foot beneath the table, and jerked her head around. She wanted to melt into her seat. He either remembered her, and she got into hot water with her mother when he relayed that, or he didn't and she'd realize she was as utterly forgettable as she always feared. She knew without a doubt if Michelle had asked him about Sarah he would have remembered her. No one forgot Sarah.
Cad turned in his chair again, and met Bryn's panicked gaze head on. He took his time in answering, swallowing another sip of brandy as he continued to appraise Bryn. Bryn saw recognition in his eyes, and wondered if it had always been there. She smiled unable to stop herself, and he smirked back at her. He did remember her. She no longer cared if he ratted her out to her mother, something momentous had happened tonight. She somehow mattered more because Cad Dupre knew her. He remembered their shared chair of silence. Red tinted Bryn's cheeks, and she forced herself to look down demurely. People would begin whispering if they kept staring like that.
"We've run into each other before." That was all he offered, and before Michelle could press further. He set his empty brandy glass down, and stood up from his seat. "I'm afraid I must be going." He turned to Michelle as he spoke, realizing she wore the pants in that family. "The dinner was lovely. Thank you for allowing me to share it. Mr. Carnduff." He nodded at Harold, and then turned to find Cindy eagerly waiting with his coat. He took it from her with a charming smile, and turned towards the outer room where he could finally escape.
Before he left he leaned down towards Bryn, turning his back to the rest of the room and shielding their conversation from prying eyes. "Good evening, Miss Carnduff." He smirked at her, and she smiled back, because there was nothing she wanted to do more. Then he pulled something out of his pocket and discreetly dropped it into her lap without anyone being the wiser.
"Good evening." She whispered back, clutching the fallen key card in her hands. He disappeared out of the room, and she forced herself not to watch him go. When she looked down at the card in her hands she recognized it right away. It was to his penthouse. An invitation. A little thrill shot through her body, and when she looked up again she found her mother watching her with a suspicious scowl. "He's interesting." She said, addressing the whole table, and hoping the conversation got carried away before her mother could grill her.
"Mmm." Michelle nodded, and then turned towards Harold and started up another line of conversation. It didn't matter though. The rest of the party was spent with whispers about the young Dupre heir, and how handsome he had become. Bryn wanted to laugh at them. Cad hadn't become anything. He always had been, and they all knew it. They feared him though, she could feel it in the room. He was a little too much like his father, all hard edges and mysterious eyes. They wanted to be close to him, to the power he emanated from his very being, but there was something about him that repulsed them as well. Perhaps some survival instinct that Bryn did not yet possess.
The party had dispersed by ten o'clock, and Bryn was still clutching the key card in her hand. She was sure by now she would have permanent dents in her palm, but she simply didn't care. She wasn't sure why he'd given it to her, or when she was supposed to use it. Was he having another party tonight? Is that what Michelle had held him up from, and was she now invited? And not just invited, but she'd been given a key. It felt sacred in some way, and she hated the thought of having to return it to him. She wanted to lock it away and savor it's meaning. He remembered her. He wanted her company. She wanted to call Sarah and ask her what it all meant, but she hadn't shared her infatuation yet, and she didn't feel like now was the time. This was still new, still all Bryn's.
"Bryn," Michelle appeared behind her in the foyer, stopping her from ascending the stairs to her room as she wished to. Bryn turned around slowly, forcing her expression to be neutral. Her mother was a shrewd woman, and she knew Bryn better than almost anyone. "Lovely evening, don't you think? Better than expected." Michelle waited, and watched.
"Yes." Bryn nodded agreeably, and tried to head for the stairs again. Michelle reached out and physically stopped her then. "Is there something else?" She asked in her coolest tone, hoping to discourage further conversation. Bryn had enough on her mind without her mother's ceaseless meddling.
"I didn't realize you'd met the young Dupre before…" Michelle left that leading statement, and continued to scrutinize Bryn's every expression.
Bryn remained calm, and allowed a small smile to slide across her stiff lips. Her mother was playing with her now. "Just once. At The Palace. I was with daddy, I believe." Bryn's father would just assume this was true if Michelle ever asked him. "He's nice enough, I guess." Bryn shrugged, and then carefully removed her arm from her mother's grip. "I'm tired. I'm going to call Sarah, and see if she wants to sleep over tonight."
Michelle nodded. "Goodnight, darling." She dropped a quick kiss on Bryn's forehead before disappearing into another room, most likely in search of Harold so she could grill him about Bryn's supposed encounter.
