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Post by Parker Blye on Aug 23, 2015 2:46:48 GMT
Parker had taken painstaking measures in ensuring that the launch party for the New York branch of his company would go smoothly. He'd selected the night club they'd rented out for the affair, triple checked the guest list, notified the press, and made sure all of the t's were crossed and i's were dotted. He supposed all there was to do now was enjoy the night and pray it all continued to go smooth.
He'd arrived with Olivia, and while part of him was apprehensive about their first public outing, he believed the time was right. Part of him knew he'd still feel some residual guilt when he saw Madison for the first time in quite a while - especially with Liv at his side.
He was pulled from this thought process when one of the caterers brought him a drink, taking it with a polite smile. "Don't bring me too many of these," he joked. "Technically I'm working." Still, he had to say that he honestly believed the night was going to go off without a hitch, despite all of his worries prior to the event about how everyone might mix. However, a small voice said he was being foolish hoping everyone would stay in their own corner.
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Post by Olivia Warren-Blye on Aug 23, 2015 2:58:39 GMT
Liv had promised to be on her best behavior, and while she had certainly been trying thus far, the entire exercise was exhausting. Small talk had always bored her, but while attempting to keep her words in check, she figured it was certainly more apt to speak about the weather instead of the affairs she knew a particular businessman had been conducting behind his wife's back. She sipped at her own drink, wondering idly how many of these people she knew terrible secrets about; secrets that under any other circumstance she would have used to her advantage. Looking out over the room she spotted Brandon Finn with the now seemingly permanent fixture of Amber Jacobs by his side. His secrets were the last ones she had truly tried to expose, and that had not gone quite as well as she had planned. Perhaps, she thought, she was getting soft.
Though there was a part of her, perhaps a much too large part, that couldn't wait for the silent drama to unfold as Madison Walker spotted Liv with Parker once again. After all, a girl could only lose out to Olivia so many times before she might as well just pack it in.
Smiling at Parker, Liv reminded herself that she needed to play nice. "It looks like everything has come together quite well for you," she had tried to make it a compliment but she was coming to find that she didn't even know how to engage in small talk with him in these circumstances either.
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Post by Amber Jacobs on Aug 23, 2015 3:19:00 GMT
Parker smiled at Liv, nodding as he surveyed his work. "Yes, I think it's quite the affair. Which is just really fantastic," he was quite pleased with himself, actually. There was something to be said about watching your own work pay off. "Have I mentioned that you look quite beautiful tonight?" he asked, flashing her a charming grin.
Amber had the good courtesy to look interested as she stood beside Brandon and listened to him briefly chat with a business associate of his. She nodded as though she even understood the topic of conversation. It wasn't until the two of them were left to their own devices that she giggled. "You know, it's fun watching you work," she nodded, taking a sip of her drink and reaching down for his hand. She intertwined their fingers and glanced around, her eyes settling on Olivia Warren and Parker Blye. Truth be told, if Brandon hadn't been a friendly acquaintance of Parker's she might have skipped the event entirely. But she'd tagged along, if only for a drink and a night out - she had every intention of ignoring the host and his date. She did realize that at some point she should find Maddy and keep the brunette woman she was actually quite fond of company. "For all I know, with him in charge, she arranged to have my drink poisoned. I should have made someone taste it just to be sure," she laughed.
Nearby the bar, Riley sipped her drink and glanced around. She had to admit, Adam had been right. The entire situation was less horrible than she'd imagined. Of course, it helped that he was there beside her the entire time and that she'd been able to busy herself with a glass of single malt. "Your friends sure know how to throw a party," she mused. "And you certainly clean up very nicely, Adam Tyler," she teased. Her eyes scanning the room for Maddy, wondering how her best friend was holding up. She knew Maddy had to be there, for work's sake. But couldn't imagine it was easy. "Though, the fact that Parker is here with Olivia Warren, and Maddy's on the guest list. How bad do you think it would be if I hit him later?" she teased.
Cooper was leaning against the bar near Riley and Adam, shaking his head as he took a sip of his drink. He'd become particularly fond of Riley's honesty when he met her a few months ago while planning a fundraiser at his hotel. But he'd liked her even more after she'd introduced him to the brunette in question. "Those two deserve each other," Cooper muttered. "I think that's punishment enough in the grand scheme of things."
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Post by Adam Tyler on Aug 23, 2015 3:51:27 GMT
Liv grinned back at him, "Just so that you keep saying it, I'm going to tell you no." If she had to play nice with everyone else, then she was certainly going to take advantage of flirting with Parker in this situation.
Brandon looked down at Amber and smirked, "Oh? Maybe I'll have to invite you to my office for a meeting then, Miss Jacobs. I could give you the first-hand experience of what my job entails." The idea of having her in his office was hardly what he might consider to be appropriate business conduct, but something about the idea of her sitting in his office, the two of them flirting and putting his desk to use in ways it had never be used before, was enticing. He squeezed her hand affectionately, bringing it to his mouth to press a kiss to the back of her hand. "I don't know that they would try anything now, at least I hope we've dealt with enough drama recently for them to give it a break." Though he wasn't sure that was true.
Adam had been relieved to find that Riley was adjusting a lot more easily than she had made him think she would. "You look beautiful," he informed her with a smile. Fights about money and dresses aside, he really had been glad that she had agreed to come with him tonight. And he was going to continue to take great pride in showing her off to his colleagues and associates. Looking over at Cooper, he shrugged. "I don't know, I'm still all for letting Riley hit him."
Maddy hadn't wanted to come to this stupid event. Had it not been for the fact that she had been the one leading the charge on working with Parker's company in the first place, she would have feigned some sort of illness or had some sort of plans set in stone that were, unfortunately, not reschedulable. Maybe she would have taken a vacation. The fact was that she would have preferred to have been anywhere but here. She tried to tell herself that it wasn't because she was upset with Parker - because she didn't think that she was - but it was because these types of events were generally filled with boring shop talk. And as the low man on the totem pole, who was she to try and have any conversations about the future of publishing at Harper Collins.
After having made polite conversation with a few of her co-workers, greeting a few people she knew through various connections, she finally made her way to the bar near her friends. "Who are we letting Riley hit?" She asked as she flagged down the bartender and ordered a gin and tonic.
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Post by Cooper Benson on Aug 23, 2015 4:10:40 GMT
Amber giggled at Brandon. "I think maybe coming to visit you one day at work might be fun," she nodded, squeezing his hand and lifting her eyebrows. "In fact, I imagine I'd like seeing you at work even more than I liked watching you put together that tent," she teased. "Though it could just be that you have that effect on me." She glanced around the room, eyes falling on Madison as she walked over to the others. She drained the remainder of her drink before turning to the bartender and ordering another. "I don't know that the two of them know how to give it a break, Brandon. Especially when they're together."
Cooper looked up at Madison as she approached, grinning at her. "Hey, you look beautiful," he complimented her immediately, taking a sip of his drink. "And I was going to let Riley punch anyone she wants if she really wants to because, frankly, I don't want her hitting me," he joked.
Riley laughed a bit and shoved Cooper's arm before turning her attention to her friend. "You know that these things always get me in the mood to punch someone. Remember prom? I wanted to take out the entire varsity soccer team," she teased, already feeling better once Maddy was also with their little group. She liked being there with Adam, of course, but every associate she was introduced to, she took painstaking measures to make sure she was polite, attentive, and most of all less outspoken than she normally would have been. She relaxed a bit with Maddy there though.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 23, 2015 4:29:23 GMT
Brandon had already started imagining what Amber's trip to his office would look like and it was already making it difficult for him to justify sticking it out here. Though he supposed that if he wasn't planning on getting any work done at the office soon, then his opportunity to continue to mingle here was too important to pass up. Amber had a point, he had to add. There was something about the combination of Liv and Parker at the event together that he just didn't trust. Call it old high school grudges but he was going to be exceptionally cautious to watch for any unfolding drama.
Madison smiled back at Cooper, taking her drink from the bartender and using it as a way to buy herself some time. "Hey," she greeted him. He had called like he said that he would, but their schedules had kept them from following through on dinner plans. She was still feeling embarrassed by the brazen way she had flirted the other night and the memory of that had been part of what she had been worrying about this evening. But, truth be told, she was glad that she was here now, and she was glad that he was too.
Turning to Riley she laughed, "I don't know how so much feistiness fits inside of your body."
Adam laughed at the way that Maddy teased Riley, "I suddenly feel like there are more stories to be told about you than I thought," he added to the teasing. Learning more about Riley was something that he was sure he would never truly tire of.
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 23, 2015 4:44:23 GMT
Riley smiled at Maddy, "It's one of those things that will never make sense. Like clown cars," she nodded before turning to Adam. "Oh, there are plenty of things you don't know, Adam," she teased. "And none of them that I plan on sharing easily," she grinned before leaning over and pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
Parker eyed the little group that had assembled at the bar with Brandon Finn and Amber Jacobs not too far away. It was odd to think that just the other week he was sitting down for one of his normal lunch meetings with Cooper Benson and the man had all but expressly mentioned his distaste for the way Parker had treated Maddy. Parker, as he watched Cooper speak with the brunette, couldn't help but think that the property management heir was certainly talking a noble game, but taking advantage of the situation as it were. He really didn't like that one bit, he took a long sip from his drink, his arm tightening around Olivia's waist for a moment. It wasn't until his attention was called to one of his business partners that he really tore his eyes away from the little group though.
Cooper grinned at Madison. He felt rather badly that their schedules hadn't matched up, but hoped to catch up tonight and make it up to her with dinner pretty soon. The more he spoke to her on the phone, the more he wished there were extra hours in a day to spend getting to know her better. While he knew it was a slippery slope, dating as a single father, he also knew he couldn't really keep it from happening - unless Melanie demanded it, he thought briefly. Because if Melanie asked him to, he'd stay home with her every night.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 23, 2015 5:00:12 GMT
Maddy liked the way that Riley and Adam had already seemed to have built a cute repertoire between them. They flirted and smiled so easily that she couldn't help but feel a little jealous. She stared at her drink glass for a moment, twirling the little black straws around. She looked up at Cooper and smiled again, reminding herself that she should really try a different facial expression around him. Like, not smiling so much for instance. "So," she began, clearing her throat softly. "I think you still owe me dinner?" As soon as she said it she wanted to take it back. There was that brazen attitude again; she wasn't sure where it kept coming from. To keep herself from saying anything else she took another sip of her gin and tonic, momentarily wishing she had thought to order something stronger.
Adam laughed again and shook his head at Riley. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Liv looked up at Parker when his grip on her tightened, wondering what could have caused that reaction. His attention was now fixated on someone that she had never bothered to listen to a name and so she scanned the room for what might have caused him to become momentarily ... agitated? Possessive? She wasn't sure until she spotted a small group of familiar faces by the bar. A smirk broke out on her lips as he recognized Madison Walker and her little friends. She reminded herself again that she had promised to play nice, but if just the sight of the woman was going to cause a reaction in Parker, she wondered if it would be worth it to say something to the sweet little brunette. "Would you excuse me for just a moment?" she said, politely excusing herself from Parker and his associate before slowly making her way to the bar, positioning herself near Madison. She grabbed the bartender's attention and ordered herself another drink, thinking that it would provide her with the perfect opportunity to linger. "I'm surprised you had the nerve to come," Olivia remarked.
"Olivia, please. Not now," Maddy pleaded.
"Simply making a statement, love."
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 23, 2015 5:12:19 GMT
Cooper was about to open his mouth to say something to Maddy, snapping it closed for a moment and then thinking. "I do owe you dinner. I'm going to clear out a night on my schedule, just let me know what time works best for you." He figured even if he couldn't get the nanny to stay late one night, enough friends owed him favors. Maybe he could get Amber to drop by one night and spend time with his daughter. It's not as though Melanie wouldn't be asleep for most of that time anyway. He resolved himself to the fact that he would take Maddy out that week, no matter what he had to finagle to get it to happen.
When Olivia approached, Cooper was about to say something, but was surprised when the redhead in their group stepped between both women first. He put his own hands up and lifted his eyebrows at Adam as if to say he'd let them sort this out.
"Just ignore her, Mads," Riley advised, ticking her eyebrow up at the blonde British woman. "I'm pretty sure this is a scene nobody wants to happen, Warren. So maybe you should just walk away and we can all enjoy our night," she advised, her tone cold. After years of only having Maddy as her best friend, there was very little Riley wouldn't do to defend the brunette, however since she was there as Adam's guest, she was hoping to resolve it quickly and quietly.
Amber watched, quietly from her spot at the bar beside Brandon as Liv approached Maddy, her brow furrowed. "This can't be good," she muttered.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 23, 2015 5:25:40 GMT
Olivia laughed, "Scene? What could you possibly be talking about?" She feigned ignorance and sipped her drink casually. She technically hadn't done anything to start drama in this situation, she figured. She couldn't be blamed for the way that this small group of people had suddenly become so defensive. "I simply wanted to come over and make sure that the poor girl wasn't too heartbroken over having been passed up for a second time, all because someone preferred my company over hers."
Madison had appreciated that Riley had stepped up, and she would have smiled at her best friend as a way of thanking her but hearing Olivia continue on she had to grit her teeth together instead. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I could really care less about whether or not someone has made poor life choices." And she was entirely certain that it was the truth. Sure, she felt a small pang in the pit of her stomach at the realization that Olivia and Parker were now together, but she assumed that it had more to do with the fact that he had seemed to change his mind so quickly. Not even about her or their relationship - but he changed his mind about whether or not he was going to be a better person. Dating Olivia Warren and being a good person actually seemed to be quite mutually exclusive. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd really appreciate it if you'd let me get back to talking to my friends."
Liv continued looking at the other woman, even as she had asked oh-so-kindly for her to leave. "I just don't see it," she continued on. "I can't understand what anyone could ever possibly see in you."
Brandon reflexively grabbed for Amber's hand as though he was preparing for whatever storm was about to explode. "This could be very bad," he agreed with her.
Adam stood transfixed on the entire situation. He didn't particularly care for Riley having physically placed herself between the other two women, but he wasn't sure that he knew how to stand up to Liv himself. Instead, he tried reasoning with her, "Olivia, I think that everyone has asked nicely for you to find someone else to bother. It might make sense to take their advice."
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Post by Cooper Benson on Aug 23, 2015 5:38:59 GMT
Cooper gripped his glass a little tighter, he put his hand gently on the small of Madison's back in what he hoped was a comforting gesture to let her know that he was there and that, Riley had been right, she should just ignore Liv all together.
Riley, however, stood her ground. When Adam spoke, she glanced up, but it had been Liv's insult aimed at Maddy that had crossed the line for Riley. "No, I'm not asking nicely anymore."
"Hey," she said gently. "You know what I don't get? Why you're with Parker. Because if I recall, the last time I really saw him at an event where you tried to stir up trouble, he wanted nothing to do with you. In fact, when I pulled him aside at that campaign fundraiser, he made it very clear that he didn't want to associate with you. How do you do that? What sort of desperate and pathetic little girl must you still be to tolerate someone who was embarrassed by you and who wouldn't stand by you? You know there's nothing I hate more than a bully, and people think all of the time that bullies are just kids, but they're not. They're also sad excuses for adults that refused to grow up and think they'll make everyone around them miserable to make themselves feel better. And after dealing with them for a long time, I learned to push back. So I sure as hell am not asking nicely, stay away from her," she snapped.
Parker seemed to notice that there was a bit of a debacle going on near the bar and frowned, approaching the small group of familiar people. He placed his hand on Olivia's waist and cleared his throat. "Everything okay here?"
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 23, 2015 5:53:53 GMT
Olivia turned her attention to Riley, narrowing her gaze at her sharply. She opened her mouth to say something in response she felt Parker's hand at her waist. "Everything is fine," she told him with a small smile. The very least she could do was not go off on the other woman in front of him.
Maddy, on the other hand, shook her head. "I really wanted to believe you when you said that you were trying to be a better person, but I don't know how anyone who associates with her could possibly be a better person." She was acutely aware that Cooper's hand was still placed on her back and she tried not to let the goosebumps that had risen on her skin distract her too much. She wasn't convinced that Liv was entirely done.
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 23, 2015 6:05:51 GMT
Parker frowned a bit at Madison. "You know, Maddy, I really didn't particularly like it when Liv spoke about you a certain way, but I also don't appreciate you speaking about her in a way when you don't know her nearly as well as you think you might. And maybe everyone can't be held to the precious little standard you keep, but that doesn't make them horrible people."
Riley frowned. "I remember you being a horrible person, actually. I remember a lot of things about you, but I didn't hold them against you when you tried to date my friend and I didn't hold them against you when you came brown nosing around the campaign to make sure that this launch went off without a hitch. But you blew any second chance I was willing to give you. And while Garrett DeLuca wasn't particularly interested or disinterested in anything you had to say, I paid attention. And I have an ample amount of free time on my hands and a law degree, Blye. So help me God, if you ever speak to my best friend that way again, I will tie you up in so much litigation you'd be lucky to really get this company off the ground. And hell, just because I'm such a fan of those cute little accents of yours, I'll even make a few phone calls to INS and see what fun little loopholes there are to your little friend here living here without a job, without a student Visa, and without being a registered citizen. Not because I think it'll work, but just because I think it would be fun to tie you both up in so much paperwork and bad press that no one takes either of you seriously again."
"How are you even on the guest list, Riley?" Parker questioned, irritation in his voice. "I thought it was more properly vetted than that. Are you here with the help?"
"I swear to God, Blye," Riley spat out. "I'm begging you to keep talking, I could use a new hobby right now."
"I think maybe we should all just take a breath and go our separate ways for the night," Cooper warned, watching the way Riley's posture tensed.
Parker scowled, feeling rather livid at the entire encounter, but not doubting for a second that Riley Nicholls would try to make his work and personal life hell.
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Post by Madison Benson on Aug 23, 2015 14:37:43 GMT
Madison frowned when Parker chided her for speaking about Liv in a particular way. Regardless of what any of them may have said about the blonde woman in question, it was upsetting the way that he accused her of holding people to a "precious little standard". Thank goodness for friends like Riley. She was probably the only person that Madison felt she was honestly afraid to upset this badly. Over the years, the two women had gotten into their fair share of fights but it had always been things that they were only too happy to remedy, but something like this, something where Riley was more than willing to take her personal power into the mix, that was where she became truly dangerous. "Riley," she started to say. "They're not worth it. Let's just go?" Work be damned, she doubted that she could be paid to stay here any longer.
Adam took a step closer to Riley, feeling the tension rise in the room. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that the moment she set her mind to something, whether it was the destruction of either Parker or Liv's lives, he would do whatever he needed to to support her. And now, in the wake of the harsh words that had been tossed around, he was feeling exceptionally fond of the idea. The fact that Riley had so quickly, and so fiercely, stood up for her friend had made a weird surge of pride rise up. He would have told her that he loved her, had it been a better moment for it. Taking Maddy's suggestion to leave seemed so appealing at the moment, but for maybe entirely different reasons.
Liv tutted softly and shook her head. "You were right, Parker. This lot certainly can't be trusted in public settings, getting so defensive and angry over nothing," she was ignoring the fact that she might have intentionally pushed a few too many buttons before his arrival. She supposed that it truly would be for the best if everyone went to their own corners, it was easier for her to keep from implicating herself in the entire situation that way. "Might as well listen to your little friends, Nicholls, and retract your claws. You wouldn't want to say something you might later regret." It was probably not as empty of a threat as she would have thought, as Riley's own threats had caused her to already start thinking of a dozen ways she was going to make the woman pay for it later.
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Post by Riley Tyler on Aug 23, 2015 17:02:15 GMT
Cooper glared at Parker. "I'll be talking to you later, Blye," Cooper warned before gesturing to lead Maddy away from the entire mess, leading her across the room and away from the British couple, particularly the man he very much wanted to throttle. Once they were walking away, he glanced at her. "You okay?"
Riley ticked her eyebrow up at Liv's threat before chuckling softly. "You know, Liv, I highly doubt that any of your tricks have changed much in the past ten years. Come at me and see how good I've gotten," she nodded, holding her gaze for a moment before reaching for Adam's hand. When she finally turned her attention from the woman in front of her to Adam, she remembered exactly where she was and why they'd come that night and winced. She made a note to apologize to him later.
Parker waited for each of the others to disperse before ordering a fresh drink from the bartender and knocking the entire thing back easily. A waste of perfectly good scotch, not how it was meant to be had, but he reasoned that it was well needed. "Olivia," he muttered, gesturing to the bartender once more and putting his arm around her shoulders. "We should possibly look into getting you dual citizenship."
Meanwhile, Amber stirred her drink idly before looking up at Brandon. "It's strange. We were supposed to be part of that?" she gestured with a small laugh before turning her attention back to the others. "I should make sure Madison's okay. Liv's bark is worse than her bite, but...she's still a lot to deal with."
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