Daisy’s Secret Crush

***Daisy’s POV.***

“Meet our investor and my very good friend, Olivia Dupont. Livy, meet Peter, my secretary and Daisy, my new consultant.” Theo says in the introduction after we are seated.

Theo is sitting opposite of me while Peter is sitting next to my right side and Olivia to the left. She nods at us with a serene smile. I can’t help but notice she is beautiful. She has tied her brunette hair in an elegant bun and her brown eyes are shining in the light.

No wonder, during the dinner, Theo didn’t look at me once and my appetite died right away. I made so many plans for us and this happens. I should have prepared myself for this. It is the 21st century, of course, a woman could be an investor.

I excuse myself when Theo leaves to drop Olivia at her car, as she has to meet up with other people. She invited us all to the party, which would be on Saturday at her house. She is a heiress. She only came here to meet Theo and share a drink, then leave.

“Where are you going?” Theo asks.

“I… I am going to my room.” I said when he came in front of me when I was going in the elevator.

“But you didn’t eat much.” He says.

“I am not hungry right now and also very tired. So, good night.” I say, avoiding his eyes.

“But-” He goes to say when Peter comes.

“Here, Daisy.” He says as he gives me a packed box.

“What is this?” I ask.

“You didn’t eat much before, so I thought to pack you something. You can heat it later if you get hungry. You know room service closes at midnight for good food. And you can’t survive on snacks much.” He said with a smile.

“That was thoughtful of you. Thanks, Peter.” I say.

“I am also going to my room. Let me accompany you.” Peter says.

“Don’t be so formal.” I say as I get in the elevator.

“Peter, order the same box for me, too. I will eat it in my room.” Theo says and enters the elevator while Peter nods and goes to order one.

“He is your secretary, not a slave.” I say after the elevator starts to go up.

“He is doing his job.” He says.

“He could have made an order for you from his room, too. You could have done it too.” I say.

“Why? Are you regretting missing the chance of him accompanying you to your room?” Theo says and I raise my brows at him.

“Is that a professional question?” I ask sarcastically as I am frustrated by his push-and-pull behaviour.

“Was the start of this conversation one?” He asks, and I look away in anger.

“Sorry.” I say and get out of the elevator and turn around to finish my sentence, “But next time please make up your mind for what you actually want. Because this confusion of yours would create problems for you.”

I walked away, not knowing that was the last time I would have any conversation with him. Because for the next four days, Theo was too busy with his friend to even talk to me. As I am not of any use to him till we reach Bristol, I may do whatever I want to do in my free time in London. And as I have lived here before, nobody would care to look for me.

I saw news of them going to operas and visiting gardens and museums. While I was here all alone, not completely. I met up with the team in London and was busy looking into their plans. But I so wanted to show Theo London myself, as he had not been here before. But Ms. Dupont is getting all his attention. He took my words to heart this time.

On Saturday, I get ready in a dusty pink cami dress. It is a sexy number which I bought especially to attract Theo. It is a satin dress with a spaghetti strap which crisscrosses in the back, still giving it a backless look. The skirt of it reached my calf, and it also had split in the back of the skirt. It has a low cowl neck too.

I apply nude lipstick and wear matching heels with it. I wear a light brown coat over it. I leave my hair open and only put a shining pin on one side of my hair. Then wear large silver hoop earrings and take my clutch and get in the car.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Peter had already reached the venue, and so had Theo. I am a bit late as I was discussing some plans with the head of the design firm. I reach Olivia’s house, which is no less than a palace. She is rich.

I enter the hall after giving my coat to the butler and see the glittering crowd of people. Thank goodness, I wore this dress. People are looking glamorous at this party. I find Peter in the crowd and talk with him. I see Olivia and Theo mingling with people in the distance. She is wearing a white dress and for a second there I almost mistake them for a newly married couple.

Please, don’t let that happen. I wish fervently with my eyes closed when I bump into a server. I almost fall down but get saved by someone. I open my eyes to see a familiar face in this crowd of strangers.

“Toby?” I ask, just to be sure it is him.

“Izzy!” Toby exclaims with a big smile of recognition.

“What are you doing here? Last I heard, you left for New York permanently. What happened? Miss me already?” He asks with his charming smile.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” I say and stand up straight.

“Tell me.” He says as he leads us to a table.

“I am here with a client to consult and design. I am not back here again.” I say.

“My bad.” He says.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Theo, meet your other investor, Mr. Tobias Wright.” Olivia says as she comes to stand in front of our table with Theo.

Theo’s eyes stop at me when he sees me. It changes from bored to heated in a second of time. He is literally gawking at my back, then gives me a look asking where the hell is the back of the dress. Like he has never seen a woman with a backless dress.

“Good Evening, Mr. Anderson. I have heard a lot about you.” Toby says.

I look at Toby to see him giving Olivia a look while she looks at him with a smile which doesn’t reach her eyes. I can feel a tension between them as they talk casually and a little edgy heat, too. Something is going on between these two. Interesting.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Wright.” Theo says.

“And may I introduce you to my old friend, Ms. Daisy Carter.” Toby says, but I chuckle.

“Toby, they know me. Mr. Anderson is my client.” I say, and Theo raises his brow when I speak his name formally.

“Toby?” Olivia asks in confusion.

“My friends and loved ones call me that. Right, Izzy?” Toby asks with a wink while I nod with a smile.

“Izzy?” Theo asks with accusation and I look anywhere but at him but feel a sudden chill around me.

“I call her that just to irritate her.” Toby says and chuckles when I glare at him.

“We would love to talk more, but we have to meet other people too. So, see you around.” Olivia says, and I felt the last sentence was for Toby specifically.

“You can also join us?” Theo asks me and I tilt my head a little in amusement.

“I would like to catch up with my old friend. And also I don’t want to be a third wheel.” I say with a smile.

Theo and Olivia look like they really don’t want to leave us alone in this corner, but when someone calls them, they have to leave. Toby and I sit down again and don’t look at each other for a few seconds.

“Just tell me.” We both said together and burst out laughing.

“So, tell me what is going on between you and her? Lots of heated looks and strained tension.” I ask and nod in Olivia’s direction.

“What about you? What is the friction between you and him?” Toby asks, nodding his head in the same direction.

“Uh-huh! I asked first.” I say in warning.

“Well, it is a long story.” Toby says.

“Do you need to be anywhere else tonight?” I ask.

“No?” He says in confusion.

“Great. Nor do I. So I think we both have time to talk. Because who is to say maybe we can end up solving each other’s problems?” I say, with a mischievous smile on my face.

“I know that smile.” He says with a glint of understanding in his eyes, and stops a server, “Excuse me. Thanks.” He takes two glasses of champagne from the passing server.

“And also, please bring some appetizers for us, too.” I say with a smile and the server bows to bring it for us.

“Champagne is here. Appetizers will be here soon. Let’s start our stories.” He says.

“But first, let’s cheer as friends and also as future allies.” I say as I raise my glass.

“Cheers.” He says as he raises his glass.

“Cheers.” I say and we clink our glasses and drink up.

I never thought this night would bring an old friend to be my new ally who would have the same intentions as me. I am dying to hear his side of the story.