The tiny specks of light were dancing on the floor, reflected by the giant silver mirror ball at the centre of the ceiling. The blue light striking it shattered into a million pieces, lighting up the sequins and satin on the dance floor. Delicate jewellery glittered on necks and cufflinks and bodies rocked graceful motion with the gentle sound of music from the violins. The atmosphere was light. Glasses clinked against each other, conversations flowed in snitches, sometimes intercepted by little giggles and coy looks.

Everything was normal, everything was grand and exquisite and posh. The only exception being the host himself.

Kit scratched his neck for the umpteenth time, the crisp collars irritating his skin. He just wanted to go back and change into his flannel pyjamas and jump into bed without having to stick around and watch polite conversations and cunning smiles. The server slipped a tray of champagne flutes right under his nose. He scrunched his nose and glared at him. He got the cue and scuttled off. Kit didn't drink or smoke and he hated parties.

🏳️‍🌈

"It's for your birthday." His mother had been convincing him for days. "You're one of the most successful entrepreneurs in town. Don't you think it's time to settle down with a nice girl...?"

"As if nice girls appear magically at random parties with elite guests from around the city," he had muttered out of earshot. He wasn't the type of guy to argue with his mother or create a scene. He had just nodded and pretended to be absorbed in his own work.

The invitations had been sent that day itself, ensuring that every rich proprietor, especially those with daughters of marriageable age were invited.

Kit had always been awkward around girls. Needless to say, he had never touched a girl in his life, not in that way. In high school, he had been a gangly young boy, shy and introverted. He kept his eyes hidden under a mop of untidy brown hair the girls rarely paid any attention to him. But when he started his own business, ladies were suddenly very interested in him. Everyone from sixteen to forty-year-old widows was quickly talking about 'the magnificent' Kit Silverstein.

🏳️‍🌈

"Hey Kit, looking gorgeous as ever." A singsong voice interrupted his string of thoughts. A lady was standing there in a wine red dress with a plunging V neckline and a delicate ruby pendant, almost disappearing into her ample cleavage. Lines of ageing were evident on her face, though they were concealed aptly with makeup. Her big kohl-lined eyes were studying him intently as her dark lips rose into a slight smile. His face felt hot. Her slender white fingers were on his expensive midnight blue suit and she was deliberately running her fingers up and down his arms. He shifted awkwardly, putting some distance between them.

"Nice to meet you too, Miss..." he paused. He used the title 'miss, with everyone. In that way, you can please all ladies. The ones who are really a miss will be rightly addressed and it will flatter the ones who are not. And one really shouldn't assume marital status based on age.

"Parker, Evelyn Parker and oh don't flatter me, I am not a miss," she trilled, waving her fingers in the air. A big cushion cut diamond glittered in the soft light. "Married happily for twenty-five years, eh?"

"Then perhaps you should learn to keep your hands off twenty-four-year-olds," he said to himself. To her, he gave a polite smile.

"I want to introduce you to my daughter..." she held out her hand but there was no trace of a daughter. Her daughter might as well be behind the bar, smooching the life out of some random guy.

"Excuse me," she said abruptly, her brows frowning as she squinted into the dark, looking for the aforementioned daughter.

"Tessa," she hissed.

His gaze travelled to where she was looking. A young woman in a delicate blue satin gown was dancing in the arms of a fair-haired young man in a black suit. Tessa was obviously irritated at her dance being stopped. Evelyn's eyes smouldered dangerously. Tessa shrugged and patted her partner's chest, letting him know she'll be back. Then, with the grace of a queen, Tessa Parker floated over to her mother. Tessa was a real beauty. Her ivory skin and high collar bones shone above the sweetheart neckline.

"This is Kit," her mother said over-enthusiastically. Tessa looked at him for the first time, her emerald green eyes lighting up with a genuine smile.

"Nice to meet you." She extended her hands formally. Kit caught her palm and shook it. They looked at each other for a moment. There was a friendly gaze in her eyes that Kit liked.

"I'll give you two a moment," the mother screeched, gliding away fast, happy with her matchmaking skills.

"Sorry about that," Tessa apologized. "My mom loves to embarrass young men like you by jumping on them and coaxing them to like me."

"I like you, actually," Kit blurted, surprised at himself.

Tessa laughed, "I like you too, Kit. But you know what I mean." She wriggled her eyebrows and sighed. The comical gesture brought a smile to Kit's face.

"You have found a nice guy for yourself." Kit gestured to the stranger who was glancing longingly at Tessa, standing alone at the middle of the dance floor.

"Rudolf is fun," Tessa blushed. "I hope you'll find someone too, Kit."

"Not tonight," he laughed.

"It's eleven." Tessa shook her phone into life. "One more hour left for tonight to end."

And with a wink, she was gone, swept into the arms of her lover again. Kit looked behind him. His mother was giving him one of her disapproving looks, obviously upset at him for letting a good girl go.

🏳️‍🌈