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Post by Eliot Quinn on Aug 20, 2015 22:42:03 GMT
Eliot Quinn had arrived late to the Penthouse, ushered in by a doorman with two women on his arm that he'd met during after work drinks. When he stepped into the home of Brandon Finn, he wasn't exactly expecting the crowd he was greeted by. "You were serious about the poker thing? I thought we were going out. I promised my friends here that I would show them a good time," he grinned. He let his eyes land on Madison Walker, looking her up and down appreciatively before he zeroed in on Riley and Adam. He flashed them his signature grin before approaching Brandon. "Seriously?"
Meanwhile, Amber stared wide eyed at Eliot before turning to Adam. "I didn't know that he was going to be here," she assured him.
Eliot looked around, feeling fairly bored. He was surprised to find that Riley had seemingly just been talking to Brandon. "Nicholls, how are you? By the way I just wanted to mention that Garrett told me if you need a letter of recommendation, you should call me. I'm sure we can work out some sort of arrangement."
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 20, 2015 22:51:39 GMT
Brandon had laughed at the sight of his friend arriving to the Penthouse with a woman on each arm; it just seemed like an entirely logical thing for Eliot to do. "Seriously," he nodded. "After our last excursion, I thought a more tame night was owed." He had gotten Amber to agree to go out with he and Eliot, but this poker game had seemed like an easier way to ease them into spending time with each other. It was as though two halves of his personality were coming together in the same moment and he wasn't sure which way the entire thing was going to go. Keeping the interaction to the Penthouse seemed like it was the safest option, much less dangerous that way.
Adam cursed under his breath, "He just better watch himself around Riley."
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Post by Amber Jacobs on Aug 20, 2015 23:08:17 GMT
Amber turned to Adam, placing a hand on his shoulder for a moment, "If he doesn't, I'll see to it that he's gone myself," she assured him. "I'm sorry."
Riley glanced up between Brandon Finn and Eliot Quinn. She narrowed her gaze at Eliot. "Actually, Eliot. I'm doing great. You'd be surprised how much the Democrats are interested in a woman who allegedly wanted to ruin a Republican campaign from the inside. In fact, they offered me a press liason position in Washington D.C. and I've thought about taking it just so that if Garrett gets elected, I can stop every piece of legislation he'll ever attempt to pass or even support."
Eliot's face soured slightly. "Be very careful, little girl."
Riley plastered a smile on her face. "Are you staying? I'd love to take all of your money tonight."
Cooper glanced around the room at the three newcomers. He knew enough about Eliot not to like him at all. "Well, I definitely should have brought more beer."
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 20, 2015 23:17:48 GMT
Brandon passed a look between Riley and Eliot, unsure entirely where the tension had come from. He had heard very little gossip about the drama that seemed to have unfolded at the charity camping event. He looked over to Amber to gauge her response and saw her place her hand on Adam's shoulder. Whatever was happening, he didn't like. Neither the tension forming between his friend and the sharp redhead he had just been in conversation with, nor the fact that Amber had felt compelled to comfort Adam in any way. "Why don't we get a game started? You two can be as unfriendly as you'd like by taking each other's money and getting drunk."
It seemed like a much better plan than standing around waiting for something to implode.
Adam had taken a few steps closer to Riley, hoping that if she was considering coming to blows with Eliot that he could step in before either of them said or did anything that they might later regret. He made it within ear shot just in time to hear her tell Eliot that she was doing great, followed by the fact that she had been offered a job in D.C. The latter he hadn't been aware of. He looked at her questioningly, choosing to stay silent as to avoid throwing too much drama into the room all at one time.
Madison had just taken a drink from her glass when she saw Riley interacting with Eliot. She watched carefully as they seemed to exchange light conversation but she couldn't pull her eyes away from them long enough to look at Cooper when he spoke. "I don't think that beer is strong enough," she commented.
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Post by Eliot Quinn on Aug 20, 2015 23:29:12 GMT
Not too long after that, Cooper threw his cards down after a few hands. "I fold. I don't know if you can count cards like in Blackjack or if she is scary good at bluffing, but if she can, that's what she's doing," he laughed.
Amber was on the couch with Maddy, pointedly ignoring the two women Eliot had brought along. "So magazine publishing is a bit...chaotic and really snobby. But I read more magazines than I did books in school," she admitted sheepishly. "But it's nice. I'm hoping to make fashion editor somewhere in the next year. Do you write as well as edit, Maddy?"
Riley, on the other hand, smiled at Cooper, drawing in her poker chips to her growing pile. "My dad would play poker a lot with the guys he worked with. He taught me, I knew Hold 'Em before I knew how to put on make up."
Eliot watched Riley, lips curling into a smirk. "Isn't that just...quaint?" he remarked.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 20, 2015 23:45:04 GMT
Maddy smiled, "That sounds amazing," she complimented Amber on her job. "I've always wondered how different the publishing world is between books and magazines. I guess I actually got into publishing because I always kept writing endlessly in these little notebooks. I spent a lot more time reading back over them and crossing things out than I did writing though," she confessed, laughing. Looking over at the poker table, she was pleased to see that Riley seemed to be doing well. Just having Eliot in the same room made her very fearful for her friend. It wasn't that Riley couldn't handle herself, as Maddy knew Riley was much more prepared for that sort of situation than she ever would be, but because she truly didn't know what would happen if something were said between the two.
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Post by Adam Tyler on Aug 20, 2015 23:48:04 GMT
Grinning at Riley, Adam reached under the table and placed his hand on the top of her thigh, giving it a soft squeeze. She was doing so much better around Eliot than she had any business being and he was truly proud of her for that. He wasn't sure that he would have had the restraint. He wasn't sure that he had the restraint now, but he tried to just keep taking a drink every time he felt the compulsion to say something. Staying sober was going to be difficult if he kept it up. "I guess I know better than to challenge you to a hand in the future then."
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 21, 2015 0:48:56 GMT
Riley smiled at Adam. It was by no means easy to be in a room with Eliot after everything that had happened, but she certainly wasn't going to give him a reason to feel like he'd won. In no way was she going to run away from a social situation just because he was there. The fact that Adam was by her side helped. "I'd advise against it, but then again I like it when we're on the same side," she grinned, leaning over to kiss him quickly on the lips.
Eliot, on the other hand, rolled his eyes at the display. "You know, Riley, you're very clever. You talk this really wonderful game about social equity and disparity between the classes, and are so proud of everything you had to overcome because your family wasn't as rich as anyone else's at this table. And yet, you always seem to find your way beside a man who can keep you living comfortably."
Amber smiled at Maddy. "I'm not the best writer, nor am I that creative, so you've got one up on me. But I can tell you the best mascara to wear for a night out, hands down," she laughed. She paused when she heard Eliot addressing Riley, frowning she turned around on the couch, eyes zeroing in on the poker table. "Brandon," she started warningly, wondering if he even had any idea what was about to happen. For someone who was so often in the gossip columns, Brandon never seemed to follow along with what was being talked about.
Eliot ignored Amber's interjection easily. "Is that another good hustling game that your father taught you in addition to your card tricks?"
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Post by Adam Tyler on Aug 21, 2015 1:01:32 GMT
Adam smiled at her briefly before he heard Eliot's remark. "Eliot," he warned. "I'd be very careful about what you said next. If you want to get into it with someone, I'm more than happy to take this outside and deal with it." There was only so much that a person could take, especially when it was directly pointed at that person's girlfriend. In this circumstance, he was more than happy to sacrifice his professional relationship for the sake of his personal one - and when it came down to it, Riley was a significantly better person than Eliot.
Brandon surveyed the situation unfolding and hesitated. Amber clearly was hoping that he would interrupt whatever game that Eliot was embarking on, but he wasn't sure that it wasn't anything he wouldn't have said himself just a few years ago. He struggled with knowing which side of the argument to take when he himself had been saying horrible things to women, to other people just in general, not so long ago. He felt like a hypocrite - and he felt like an ass. "Look -" Cutting himself off, he questioned if he was expected to kick Eliot out of the room, run to Riley's defense, or just remain Switzerland. "Play nice."
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Post by Eliot Quinn on Aug 21, 2015 1:23:13 GMT
Eliot grinned at Adam, shaking his head. "You're too serious, Adam, did anyone ever tell you that?" Turning his attention to Brandon, he leaned in slightly. "C'mon man, what are we really doing here? I thought we were going to go out tonight. You know who stays in at night to play cards with people she barely likes? My grandmother. It's not too late, I promised the girls over there a good time, but I need my wingman. Just let Amber entertain these guys, or hell, kick them all out - it's your Penthouse. Do you really want to sit around in it with a bunch of people you're only kind of friends with?"
Riley reached under the table for Adam's hand. "Hey," she whispered gently. "Look at me. I'm fine, he doesn't bother me. He's not worth getting into a fight over," she promised him, squeezing his fingertips lightly.
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Post by Adam Tyler on Aug 21, 2015 1:35:48 GMT
Adam looked at Riley, squeezing her hand back lightly, "You sure about that?" Forcing a small smile he tried to surpress the urge to climb over the table and throw his fist into Eliot's face. It was probably the combination of pent up frustrations and recent agitation over his remarks that was fueling most of it, but Riley's hand in his was proving to be a calming force.
Brandon looked at the small group that had accumulated at his Penthouse and realized something quickly - most of the people who were here were truly Amber's friends in the first place. Sans Cooper, he doubted that he had truly had a conversation with any of these people in years, if ever. But he had promised Amber he would make a significant effort to try and compromise more - to stay in at least as much as he was going out. Though, he tried to justify, he had made a solid effort to stay in. It wasn't his fault that things went south. It was basically like the night was over any way, right? "I really shouldn't..." he protested, unsure if it was going to stick.
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Post by Eliot Quinn on Aug 21, 2015 1:43:26 GMT
Eliot lifted an eyebrow at Brandon and chuckled. "You shouldn't? When has that ever stopped us before, Brandon. C'mon. It's still early, we can make a great night of it. There's this new place on Lexington, lines around the block, but the owner is a client of mine. We can get right in and enjoy bottle service all night."
Riley nodded at Adam. "I'm sure. It's not worth it, and you know he wouldn't hesitate to use it against you and even press charges. And Adam? You're too pretty for jail," she teased. "But your willingness to defend my honor is duly noted."
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 21, 2015 1:55:07 GMT
Brandon laughed and nodded, "It hasn't ever stopped us before," There had been a time or two that he maybe should have stayed home but somehow or another Eliot had conned him into going out - which had resulted in some not so great choices. "Amber isn't going to like it."
Adam laughed, "Well, just know that I would do it in a heartbeat if you thought it would do anything."
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Post by Eliot Quinn on Aug 21, 2015 2:03:44 GMT
Eliot grinned at Brandon, shaking his head and taking a sip of his drink. "Do you think it's something she can get over, Brandon? Is it going to kill her to loosen the leash a little and let you come out and have some fun?" He tilted his head. "Unless this is your idea of fun."
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Post by Brandon Finn on Aug 21, 2015 2:07:59 GMT
It was probably his comment about a leash that sent him over the edge, "She'll probably be fine." He said decisively. "Do we need to collect your accessories over there or do you think they can find their way out of my Penthouse on their own?"
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