Chapter 40 - #40

Chapter 40: The Whitmores' Party

"Come on, Kellen. It's my little brother's 25th birthday and you won't come? That's not very you."

I heard Mr. Whitmore's voice. I entered Mr. Parker's office with a tray in my hands containing two cups of espressos and some biscuits for their snacks.

"I'm not in the mood to go to a party, Zach," Mr. Parker answered him.

They were sitting in front of each other and I put the tray down on the coffee table between them.

"Maybe Liv's espresso can cheer you up and make you come to the party," Mr. Whitmore joked which made me blink.

I glanced at Mr. Parker and I looked away immediately when I saw him looking at me too. My heart skipped a beat for a second.

"Wait a minute," Mr. Whitmore said then he put the cup down on the coffee table. "Is there something going on between the two of you?" He had a teasing smile on his face.

"Nothing," he said. "I just think it's boring to go there," Mr. Parker said while reading a newspaper.

"Ouch." Mr. Whitmore dramatically held his chest in a sign of being offended. "Liv, do you wanna come? I invited Alice too."

I mean, I'm not a part of their circle but he invited me so I think it's fine to go. Besides, Alice is there. I don't think I'll be out of place.

"Sure. I'll be there, Mr. Whitmore," I answered.

I saw Mr. Parker reacted a bit like he didn't expect me to say that. What's wrong with being at your boss's cousin's brother's birthday party?

...

"Do you mean his eyes look like he doesn't want you to be there?" Alice asked while she was drying my hair using the blower. I'm at her house so we could go there together. Mr. Whitmore's invitation is at 7:00 PM so we're getting ready now because it's already 6:30 PM.

"I don't know. He won't even talk to me."

I removed my robe and I wore the black sleeveless top and a casual pink pencil skirt that lengths for about five or four inches above the knee. I wore silver block heels that I bought when we were in Chicago.

"That just means one thing. You hurt his feelings," Alice said while applying some blush on her cheeks.

Is it bad to say what you really want to say to a person? I mean, I didn't lie when I said that I'm scared to risk it.

"It'll be worse if I lied," I said while combing my hair slowly.

"The truth hurts, Liv. It always does."

...

Mr. Whitmore and his family live in the same house even he and his brother have their own condo here in Brooklyn. Alice said their family is nothing like Mr. Parker's.

"Mr. Whitmore's brother's name is Sean. He owns several businesses at a young age. A trivia about him, he's a one-woman guy." We were walking towards Mr. Whitmore's house and as expected, their house is bigger than I thought it'd be.

"Is he close with Mr. Parker?" I asked.

"He is. That's why my boss is confused that your boss isn't going tonight," she answered.

"Liv!" Woah, Cindy is here. I thought she doesn't like Mr. Whitmore?

"Oh, uhm... hi!" I smiled at her.

"Hello, Alice. Long time no see," Cindy greeted her too.

"It's nice to see you, Cindy," Alice answered with a smile.

"Liv, you made it!" Mr. Whitmore said when she saw us. "Alice, I'm glad you're here."

I smiled a bit because I remembered that my friend has a crush on him. But right now, his eyes say that he's into her too. Although Alice doesn't tell me anything, I'm sensing things between them.

"I'll go get us some drinks," Cindy said and smiled. But I think it was a sarcastic one. She rolled her eyes on him before walking away.

"And she still hates me," he said and pursed his lips.

I still don't know why Cindy hates her. But what I'm wondering about right now is why she's here. I thought that if you hate someone, you won't be going to an event where she or he is invited to.

"Come inside. I don't wanna brag but I will. My mom cooks the best dishes," he proudly said. It's just so sweet to see and hear that a man like him is very close to his family.

...

"Do you know the reason why Cindy hates him? He's a nice guy, right?" I asked Alice as we sat at our table. The music is loud but we can still hear each other.

"No, I don't. All I know is that Cindy's little sister is his ex-girlfriend," Alice said before tasting the vegetable salad that the waiters served.

Oh, I'm assuming that Cindy doesn't like him for his sister. I'm not dying to know the reason but it makes me curious.

"Hello, girls!" Cindy sat beside me, holding a bottle of wine. "This is a white wine that came from France. It's so good and you both need to taste it."

People here do like drinks. A lot of wine and beers have been served to everyone and they seem to enjoy the party.

"I'd love to try it," Alice said, offering her wine glass to Cindy.

"You better," Cindy chuckled as she pour the wine into Alice's glass.

"I think to use the restroom," I said.

"Oh, sure." Cindy was about to stand but I said I can go on my own. I just asked for the directions.

The helpers inside the house also pointed the direction because it's in the inner part of the house. Their bathroom is like a hotel. It's very bright and elegant and it looks like no one uses it. After I used the toilet, I went in front of the mirror to apply some lip balm because my lips started to get dry again. I combed my hair a little before I went outside to go back to our table.

I was closing my bag when I suddenly bumped into someone near the glass door. His face looks familiar, or maybe he just looks like someone I know.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized immediately to him. Luckily, I wasn't holding anything that could spill.

"It's fine," he said and smiled. "Uhm... I believe I haven't seen you before. Can I know your name?"

I usually don't talk to strangers. But people here don't look suspicious at all. I guess I can be friends with anyone tonight.

"It's Olivia," I answered.

"Oh." His face lit up in realization. "You must be Kellen's secretary. I'm Sean, by the way."

My mouth formed an 'o' because I just realized that I bumped into Mr. Whitmore's brother! Oh my God, it's embarrassing. I'm at his birthday party but I didn't know what he looked like

And what's worse is, I didn't even greet him earlier!

"Oh, uhm... S-Sir," I stuttered. "I didn't know you were..."

"Zach's brother? Yeah, I am. He also told me that you'll come here with Alice. I'm glad to meet you, Olivia."

"It's nice to meet you too, Sir. Happy Birthday," I said and smiled.

"Thanks," he smiled. "But don't call me 'sir'. I'm not your boss. Just call me by my name. I'm more used to it," he explained.

"Okay." He seems like a nice person. And, he got the looks of a man that can attract ladies also. His eyes look like his brother's. Maybe that's why I know that he looks like someone I know.

"You know what? Good for you you're here. While my friend isn't. Do you perhaps know the reason why?" he asked about Mr. Parker.

"Maybe he's a little tired today," I said even I'm not sure if that's the reason.

"Yeah, I guess that's it," he sighed. "So, you enjoy the party, Olivia. If ever you need anything, you can ask me or the helpers, okay?"

"Okay," I nodded.

"I'll go talk to my friends. Shall I escort you back to your table?" he asked nicely.

"No, I'm fine. But thanks," I answered.

"Okay, then. See you around," he said before smiling at me. He walked away to meet his friends that just gotten here.

I was about to walk back to our table when I saw Mr. Parker talking to Sean with his car keys still in his hands because he had just gotten here. I thought he's not in the mood to party? Then why is he here?

I immediately looked away when our eyes met. He wasn't surprised to see me because he knows that his cousin invited me.

I walked hurriedly when I heard footsteps behind me and I know it's him. I wasn't paying attention and he just stood in front of me, making me bump into his chest.

"Sir," I murmured. I took a step backward to make a distance between us.

"Looks like you're enjoying talking to Sean. Do you like him?"

....