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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 17, 2015 2:29:10 GMT
Liv smirked, shaking her head and looking directly at Brandon. She certainly wasn't going to be listening to Amber when this promised to be so much more entertaining. Especially when on considered the fact that she was sure he hadn't gone into detail about the nature of their relationship as he was reigniting whatever stupid flame he had with Amber. It was not such a great feeling to be completely forgotten, but that was part of the reason why she was here. She had to be sure she was going to leave at least somewhat of a lasting memory.
Taking a step closer to Brandon she leaned into his ear, but did nothing to lower the volume of her voice. "She doesn't know about all of the times that you visited my bed, does she? Not even the one from earlier this year?" Moving back a small step she looked at him innocently, as though she was truly waiting for a response to her questions.
"Olivia," Brandon warned. "That's enough. Don't you have someone else's life to make miserable?"
She laughed at him. "Not today, love."
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 17, 2015 2:33:35 GMT
Madison shrugged at her friend, "It really hasn't been bad. I've met a lot of interesting people I wouldn't have before, and a few that were maybe less than interest - but, Parker was kind enough to come rescue me from one of those conversations." She was thankful that the middle-aged man she had been speaking to earlier had gone off to greet another group of colleagues. It seemed like everyone knew each other in some vague way at these sort of things.
She looked over at Parker, about to ask him another question to keep him engaged in the conversation but she saw that his attention had been captured by Olivia's presence with Brandon and Amber's small group. "That doesn't look good, does it?" She asked offhandedly. You certainly could count on those in their graduating class to be good for the addition of drama to a situation.
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Post by Amber Jacobs on Aug 17, 2015 2:41:26 GMT
Amber frowned for a moment, hearing Olivia's deliberately poor attempt at a whisper. "You know what, Liv?"
Cooper cleared his throat and looked at his daughter. "Mel-Bell, it's time for the ear muff game," he said with a grin as his daughter cupped her hands over her ears and hummed softly to herself.
Amber almost grinned at that, but then focused on the woman standing in front of her. "It really doesn't make a difference to me what Brandon did with whom while I was away, but the cold hard fact of the matter is I'm back now. And while some bad dye job and superior attitude might make you think you're a better alternative, I can probably go on record and say that a poor imitation never really does the trick for anyone. So how about you take a walk and keep pretending the fact that you're playing the exact same games you were playing ten years ago doesn't make you extremely pathetic."
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 17, 2015 2:45:50 GMT
"No," Parker agreed. "It really doesn't look good." But instead of getting up to go get involved, he took another sip of his drink and turned his attentions to Maddy. "So I think it's actually a real shame that you've never been to London. As someone who works in the business of the English language, you absolutely need to visit the country that made it great," he said with a broad smile, doing his best to ignore the scene that was only starting across the room.
Riley eyed Parker suspiciously, but quickly finished her drink and placed a hand on Maddy's shoulder. "I'll be right back, I think it's time I do the rounds," she nodded before standing up. She flagged down the nearest aide. "Get the press out of the room, tell them that Garrett is going to hold the gaggle early. Don't bring them back in here until I tell you so," she hissed before slowly and casually making her way over to the other table.
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 17, 2015 2:56:52 GMT
"What sage advice," she commented with a grin. "The last time I recall you talking a walk, you walked right out of the city and drove poor Brandon right into my bed, didn't she?" The question had been directed at Brandon but she didn't expect a response. In all of the games that they had played in high school, she had never felt that the stakes were so high. She supposed it had a lot to do with the fact that at eighteen they still had their whole lives in front of them. They could be cold, ruthless people and at the end of the day, they knew none of it would matter as adults.
But here they were now, adults and she was still playing the same game. What was the old saying, she thought, if it isn't broke, don't fix it?
She looked at Amber and raised a shoulder in a small shrug, "As long as it doesn't bother you, then it really doesn't make a difference what I do or say, should it?" Taking a sip from her martini glass she turned back to Brandon with a smile on her lips. "Please do call when things head south for the two of you. I'm sure you still have the number."
Without another word she walked over to greet an old friend of her father's, making small talk with him as though nothing had happened. She did miss getting the chance to draw her claws on her classmates, and for whatever reason, Amber had always been her favorite to toy with. Not that she hadn't enjoyed the games she had played with Brandon too, but those had been a different sort of game.
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 17, 2015 3:01:04 GMT
Brandon let out an audible sigh of relief as Olivia walked away, wondering how best to diffuse the situation with the woman to his side. He wanted to take her hand, get her a drink and pretend the entire conversation hadn't happened. At the same time he felt like he may also owe her an explanation. Amber had mentioned to Olivia that she hadn't cared what he had done while she was away, but that still seemed like a fragile conversation. They had only just moved past the topic of her marriage and his engagements, and now Olivia had throw another curve-ball into the mix. His relationship with her, regardless of its roots being only physical in nature, was something that he would have also liked to have forgotten.
"Amber?" He asked tentatively. "Would you like another drink?"
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 17, 2015 3:05:51 GMT
Madison watched as Riley went to work, and she quickly pulled her attention away from whatever drama was forming on the other side of the room. Smiling brightly she nodded at Parker's statement. "It's true - I've always had these dreams of going and experiencing all of these famous literary landmarks. I actually used to think about what it would be like to stand in the Globe Theatre and take in the fact that some of Shakespeare's greatest works had been performed in that very theatre."
Flushing, she stopped herself. "I'm sorry, I feel like I'm gushing about something that you probably already know all about." Shaking her head she reached for her water glass and took a sip, wishing she had thought to grab something stronger. "But, someday. It's on the bucket list."
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Post by Amber Jacobs on Aug 17, 2015 3:06:53 GMT
Amber listened to Olivia and kept her face impassive, blank even. She waited until the woman had walked away and heard Brandon sigh upon her departure. When he asked her if she'd like another drink, she took a deep breath before turning to him with a small plastered on smile. "Sure. I'm going to go freshen up in the ladies room." She cast a glance at Melanie who was now putting her hands down from her ears and looking around with curiosity. "Mels, how about you come with me and I fix whatever it is your Dad did with your hair."
She stood up and gestured for Melanie to take her hand, and when the little girl did, she glanced down at her. "You don't have any aspirin in that purse, do you?" she asked the toddler with a small dry laugh.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 17, 2015 3:09:43 GMT
Parker smiled at Madison, "Well, I hope that one day you'll go. And if you do perhaps I might make a tour guide. Though, I imagine you'll know more about some of the places you want to see than I do," he admitted. "I had very little time for such things when I was young, my parents took me there - but how do you drink all of that knowledge in as a child? Especially as one as petulant as I was. Then I moved here for school, and now I only get to go back on business and to tend to family matters. It's all quite dreary," he muttered as he took a sip of his drink. "Can I get you a drink?" he asked her with a grin.
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 17, 2015 3:17:50 GMT
Riley frowned as she overheard the tail end of Olivia's comments to Brandon and Amber, and while she was in no way inclined to favor any of her former classmates, she didn't like what she heard. She approached just as Amber was walking away and offered Cooper and Brandon a smile, "Hello, good to see you both. Cooper, can I have a word with you? I'd like you to meet an old friend of Garrett DeLuca's," she nodded.
Cooper glanced up at Riley, the spitfire of a woman who had met with him about using his hotel for a fundraiser and nodded at her, knowing that under no certain terms was he going to meet an old friend of the candidate in question.
Instead, Riley then made a direct bee-line for Olivia Warren. She cleared her throat and smiled broadly. "Olivia Warren?" she questioned. "I'm Riley Nicholls, the campaign manager for Garrett DeLuca, we are so glad that you could make it tonight. I hate to interrupt, but I was hoping you could come with me to meet an old friend of Garrett's that I think would like to meet you." As the older man Olivia was talking to excused himself, Riley's smile faded. "You're going to leave this event right now. You're going to leave through that door over there and you're going to do so quietly. I don't really know why you were invited here tonight and I don't really know why you decided to attend other than to cause a scene, but the news story for tonight is the campaign fundraiser not whatever petty drama you're trying to drag up. One of the aides will see you out," she nodded, gesturing over one of the campaign workers.
Cooper stood a few steps behind Riley, grinning as discreetly as possible. He knew he'd been summoned only because he owned the hotel in case she needed any help, but he'd been of the opinion she wouldn't need any at all.
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 17, 2015 3:28:08 GMT
Maddy tried to picture what a trip to London with Parker might have looked like and she found herself suddenly wanting to find time in her calendar to do it. Removing the thought from her mind she smiled back at him and nodded. "I would love a drink. Surprise me?"
She had always thought that she had boring taste in food and in drinks, defaulting to the same familiars over and over again. And really, she supposed, it was pretty telling of more aspects of her life than just that. But Parker still made her want to be daring, and if starting with something as simple as a random drink order got her one step closer to it, then that was one step closer than yesterday.
--
Having found himself left alone for the time being, Brandon headed over the bar to freshen up Amber's drink. He had the urge to order himself a bottle of whatever was the strongest drink they had hiding behind the bar, but assumed that it may not have been the smartest move to make, all things considering. Instead he ordered a scotch, downing it quickly before ordering another. It may not have been the best use of a single malt, but it certainly felt better than continuing to replay the last ten minutes over and over in his head.
--
Smiling politely at the redhead, Olivia know immediately where this conversation was headed. At being asked to leave she laughed and placed her hands in front of her chest momentarily. "No need for the escorts, darling. I'm more than happy to leave. It's not as though I can actually vote for your sorry bloke anyway." It's not as though the drama is over anyway, she thought to herself. In fact, she assumed that there was a good chance that it was only just beginning.
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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 17, 2015 3:37:49 GMT
Parker smiled at Maddy before nodding and getting up to approach the bar. He stood beside Brandon for a moment before catching the bartender's attention. "Another scotch and a mojito, please," he requested. He didn't look at Brandon, but he heaved a sigh. "I can try to talk to her and warn her off, but you and I both know that it's not going to do any good." He then cast an apologetic look at him. "Mostly because she's just as upset with me as she is with you. And knowing her this was just the very beginning. The truth is that I can't do a damn thing, but I still feel some sort of responsibility and I have a feeling that all of you think I have one, too. But I wanted to come over here and let you know I'd like to stay as removed from this as possible and that I owe you a drink next time we go for lunch." Parker thanked the bartender when his drinks were placed in front of him.
---
Riley smiled at Cooper, gesturing him over back to the table where she'd been sitting with Maddy. Parker seeming to have wandered over to the bar. "Cooper Barnes, have you met Madison Walker? She's with Harper-Collins. Maddy, Cooper...owns a bunch of buildings and stuff," she laughed as she grabbed a drink off of a passing tray.
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 17, 2015 3:50:18 GMT
Brandon looked over to the man standing beside him, still feeling a compulsion to just lay his head down on the bar top and just keep it there until this night was long over. Or, since he was wishing things that would never come to pass, he wanted to go back to the beginning of the evening and suggest that he and Amber stay at the Penthouse and curl up to watch a movie. "No, you're right, it won't do any good," he shook his head and turned back to the scotch in his own hands.
"It's not anyone's fault but hers, though. I'm sure you remember what she's like when she gets bored."
At least that's what he hoped it had been, just Liv being bored. Hopefully if she found something else to keep her attention occupied then she could leave them be to go back to what they had been working at before. After their first real date he had found himself wanting to continue to date her, to follow down a traditional path for their relationship and forget about everything that had happened before she had come back to the city. It just seemed like not everyone was okay with that.
--
Maddy stood from her seat to greet the man that Riley had brought over. She extended her hand with a smile, "Hi, it's nice to meet you, Cooper."
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Post by Amber Jacobs on Aug 17, 2015 3:59:14 GMT
Cooper smiled at Maddy, offering his hand out. "Madison, it's very nice to meet you too. I hope you're having a good time. And what I think Riley meant to say is that I run my father's company, which owns, operates, invests, and develops residential real estate, hotels, resorts, residential towers, and golf courses in different countries, as well as owning several hundred feet of prime Manhattan real estate in New York City," he recited before turning to Riley. "Did that sound more official?" He grinned and then turned his attention back to Madison. "But that's all pretty boring. Are you having a good time tonight? You're a friend of Riley's, so you can tell me the truth if you don't plan on voting for this guy, because honestly I'm probably not," he quipped.
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Parker nodded at Brandon, putting a hand on the other man's shoulder for a brief second. "Well, I just wanted to let you know I'll try to see what I can do if it gets worse." He nodded at him before picking up both of his glasses to return to his table, only to find a newcomer in the form of Cooper Barnes talking to Maddy, he couldn't really begin to explain how little he liked that. "Here's your drink," he said, keeping his gaze on Cooper. "What are we all talking about?"
Riley clapped her hands together and smiled, "Just making new friends. Parker, before you go tonight, I'll need to speak with you."
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Amber walked out of the ladies' room with Melanie Benson, smiling when she went skipping ahead of her over towards Brandon. She caught up and lifted the little girl onto a stool before asking the bartender for a cup with a few cherries in it to keep her occupied, figuring that she'd give Cooper a few minutes for adult conversation. She tucked herself up against Brandon. "Hi," she whispered softly even as she curled into him slightly and pressed her lips against his cheek. "Did I miss anything else exciting? Did Erin come in and go on a tirade about how we were all shitty people?"
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 17, 2015 4:11:55 GMT
Maddy laughed at Cooper's remark about voting for Garrett, "I'm not sure just yet," she knew how much hard work Riley was putting into everything and so for personal reasons she wanted it to work out for him. But she just couldn't be sure she would vote for someone whose stances on the issues she didn't know. She liked to do her homework before casting her vote, and unfortunately she had been procrastinating this time around. Personal feelings for a candidate's fiancee were hard to set aside when both a career and a personal life were on the line.
She thanked Parker for the drink and took a sip of it, silently complementing him on his taste in beverages. Looking between the people standing in their small group she suddenly felt like a very small fish in a very large pond. "Your work sounds incredibly interesting, Cooper," she commented.
---
Brandon was pleased that Amber had seemed so relaxed - so normal - after stepping away for a moment. Feeling the press of her lips against his cheek, however, he was remotely suspicious that she was saving whatever she had to say for later. A sinking suspicion told them that this conversation wasn't one that he was going to be able to avoid forever, no matter how much he wished he could. "No, I think the excitement has just about died out."
Moving her drink over to her, he tried to decide if now was the right time to apologize, but he found himself drawn to the fact that they seemed to have inherited Cooper's kid for the time being. He eyed her for a moment, unsure what he was meant to do with this little person and wondering if he could go on pretending that she wasn't there until he figured it out.
"I don't think we're shitty people. I think we just happen to know them."
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