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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 18, 2016 3:18:50 GMT -5
Lyra also smiled as the man approached, not out of recognition but simply being polite. Lyra blushed as he looked her over and gave his approval. It was like a drug to her. She took his card and thanked him, then followed Nicolas. "Even he thinks you like me," she teased.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 18, 2016 13:54:51 GMT -5
Nik sighed, "Yes I suppose the gossip hounds will be looking for a story after this." Nik pinched the bridge of his nose as he read the imaginary headline to her "Montgomery's Fiance in Flagrante with Heiress's Best Friend"
He rolled his eyes, "Welcome to the Idle Elite."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 18, 2016 20:06:33 GMT -5
Lyra laughed at the absurd notion that anyone would think she and Nicolas were a couple. They weren't even friends. All they did was insult each other, with the exception of a rather sizable break for today's meltdown and apology tour.
"Oh please. Like anyone would think I had such poor taste in men to go after you. Obviously the article would read Montgomery's Fiancee Tries in Vain to Woo Heiress's Ridiculously Attractive Best Friend: Fails Miserably, Laughing Stock of High Society." She smirked and looked at him from the corner of her eye.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 18, 2016 22:51:04 GMT -5
"You mean my charm and impossibly good looks didn't sway you?" he asked the very picture of wounded.
Nik didn't wait for a reply before introducing her to editors, designers, models, and finally Marc Bohan.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 18, 2016 23:23:05 GMT -5
Lyra was thankful for the guidance Samantha had given her when preparing for previous social events. It came in handy now as she was faced with throngs of people with whom it was important for her to remain polite and professional while maintaining a relaxed demeanor. It was so easy for Lyra to make sarcastic comments, throw passive insults around, and let loose some language that was not at all lady-like. But those quirks would not have been appreciated or appropriate now.
Nicolas was being kind in bringing her here, but Lyra was also aware that this would benefit Samantha as much as it would make Lyra feel better. If Lyra did well today she would not only make business connections for her own future endeavors, but she also had the potential to bring in new clients and scout new talent for the magazine. Samantha's reputation was currently tied to Lyra's reputation. After a while society would separate them and come to judge them on their own merits, but Sam had put a lot on the line by taking Lyra on at the magazine and introducing her to high society. If Lyra failed at either, people would look poorly on Samantha for having placed her faith in the wrong person.
Lyra had so many business cards that she had to enchant her clutch to expand on the inside, just to get the clasp to shut. There was a break in the conversations as the Creative Director for Dior excused himself to chat up another important someone. Lyra smiled and thanked him for his time, then turned to Nicolas.
"I'm not saying 'thank you' and you can't tell anyone I said this as I will deny it til the day I die, but you're not a complete tosser."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 18, 2016 23:37:54 GMT -5
He smirked at her, his eyes teased her, "You like me." he said mimicking her earlier teasing.
He smiled and took two flutes of champagne handing her one.
Sam's reputation wouldn't be tarnished, Nik wouldn't let it come to that, but this was for Lyra. It was her time to shine, and Nik was putting her in the spotlight and letting her shine.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 0:03:46 GMT -5
Lyra took the glass that he offered her with a smile. "Please," she scoffed and then looked away. He might have been growing on her, but there was a ways to go to mend the relationship. It was good for him that Lyra was easily swayed by gifts and attention.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 0:13:02 GMT -5
Nik doted on her for the rest of the afternoon, introducing her to the people he deemed important, and then sat through the actual show with her only leaving a few times to handle a few business calls.
When it was over he turned toward her, "How are you holding up?"
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 0:29:34 GMT -5
"I'm fine," she said, surprised by the truth in her words. She hadn't thought of Julian once since they'd arrived. She felt insecure at times, especially when talking to some of the more famous and influential people that Nik had introduced her to, but even then it hadn't overwhelmed her. She smiled to herself, happy she had made it through most of the day.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 0:42:45 GMT -5
"I meant are you tired yet? You've had a long day."
Of course most of it was spent being pampered, it was still hours worth of pampering followed by hours of introductions and a fashion show. Nik didn't know Lyra's endurance limitations.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 0:56:41 GMT -5
"Still fine," she answered. "You didn't have to do any of this, Nik. You can take me home, I know you have plenty of better things to occupy your time." She paused, then added, "that sounded like I was being petty. Sorry."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 0:59:21 GMT -5
"Would you stop talking." he said waving her off, "There's an after party." He said in a bored tone, "We're going." he declared.
He stood up and offered his arm to her once again for appearance sake.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 1:37:17 GMT -5
Lyra folded her arms across her chest and looked at him indignantly. "Considering you're trying to atone for being a total asshat to me, you might want to try not ordering me around so much."
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 14:51:43 GMT -5
He had atoned, now she was being difficult, but difficult was better than hemming and hawing about the nice things he had done for her. "We don't have to go." he said raising a challenging but teasing eyebrow.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 17:37:55 GMT -5
"I don't have to go with you," she challenged back. "I've got a hand bag full of business cards of people who think I'm delightful. I'm sure I could get someone to escort me."
She opened her bag and fingered through the cards inside. She pulled one out at random which happened to be the man who first approached them when they arrived. "Oh yes, he thought I was pretty and brilliant. I'd bet he'd love to go to the after party with me." She smirked at Nicolas as she stared him down.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 18:33:03 GMT -5
"Well then by all means." he said bowing out of the date. It wasn't his responsibility to take her to the party, though he could hear Samantha berating him now for leaving her in the lecherous hands of Laurent St. Pierre.
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 19, 2016 18:40:30 GMT -5
The expression in her eyes shifted as Nicolas called her bluff. It was a sort of surprised determinism that she looked on his with now. "Fine," she snapped her bag shut and stood to face him. "I'm sure he knows how to talk to a lady," she said as she turned away from Nicolas.
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 19, 2016 19:25:30 GMT -5
Nik bit back the comment about knowing how to talk to a lady when he saw one, and rolled his eyes heavenward. He waited all of two minutes before he came up behind her and took her arm in his.
"I was concerned. We were nice to each other for all of a half day." he teased her, "Of course we didn't spend much of time in the same room."
"Pierre's a lech, and would be more than happy to take you to the party, but his demands may be more than you're wanting to pay."
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Post by Lyra Newbury on Nov 20, 2016 5:26:11 GMT -5
"I think I could handle myself," Lyra replied, but she didn't attempt to pull away from Nicolas. In her mind she had won their little battle. She smiled smugly to herself.
"And what are your demands for the evening? For me to follow along like a puppy dog as you drag me about and tell me what to do?"
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Post by Nicolas Everhart on Nov 20, 2016 13:06:34 GMT -5
He sighed finally and turned to her, "Lyra, it's supposed to be fun." he said uncomfortably, "Haven't you realized this by now? There are no demands. Do as you please."
Nik had put off business matters to make the day special for the girl on his arm. Admittedly it was to please another girl too, but he had wanted Lyra to enjoy the day. None of this was required, another executive could have gone to the fashion show, and Nik certainly didn't have to attend. But he had wanted Lyra to feel safe and confident.
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