Today was the day of the Christmas Eve Party and I was extremely unprepared. Trying to do everything I could to ignore my nerves and pushed all my feelings aside. I knew keeping my boss happy and doing as he said was more important than anyone who could potentially be innocent. At least that's what I was telling myself.

Slipping on my long red spaghetti strap dress with a side slit. It had a deep neckline showing off some of my cleavage as I looked into my reflection. Evening out the dress on my thighs I couldn't help but smile. I've never had the opportunity to dress up like this before not ever attending any kind of party like this or ever having any other previous high-end clients.

My dark brown hair was in long loose curls, my light makeup was in an elegant dark eyeshadow with a wing and a nude lipstick. Walking over to my vanity I pulled out a small gun and a knife to strap to my inner thigh. After putting on my black heals and grabbing my phone and coat, I made my way out the door. As I drove in the taxi to Vanderbilt family estate, I went over my plan in my head keeping my nerves in check. I needed a clear head and stay confident to get this task done and prove my worth.

I had decided on pinning the murder on one of Nathan's angry clients after what he told me the other day. For the past few days, I have been seeing documents on a case he has been working on that Nathan had prosecuted and put in jail. He was out on bail which would hopefully led the police to him or just anyone besides me.

Once I pulled up to the familiar beautiful mansion the valet opened my door for me. I held my dress to step out looking up at the brightly lit home in awe seeing the beautiful decorations under the night sky. It was much more extravagant than their gala I had met them all at.  I quickly walked up the pathway following the other couples walking ahead of me. Men in uniforms held the doors open for us as others took our coats. I couldn't help but feel intimidated by how much more formal this party was compared to the other. I've never attended anything like this.

Soft, calming jazz from a live band played through the lively chatter. Looking and walking around aimlessly trying to find Nathan ignoring the few glances I got from some people. A man passed me holding a tray of champagne making me quickly stop him grabbing a flute gulping it down seeing Eve walking towards me. She wore a mint green off the shoulder dress. Her blonde hair was held in a classy bun with strands of hair framing her face.

"Oh, my god. You look amazing!" She beamed making me smile as she hugged me. "Thanks, Eve. So, do you. The green really makes your eyes pop." I smiled making her green eyes light up. "That dress really makes your boobs pop!" She beamed before giggling sipping her champagne. "Are you drunk?" I laughed pulling up my dress to cover up somewhat.

"Maybe a little. I can't pretend any of the stories that these fossils are telling are actually interesting without a little booze." Eve replied intertwining her arm with mine to walk around. "We're the best-looking dimes here tonight. Let's hope Hannah doesn't get too jealous." Eve began as I continued to try to find Nathan. I laughed lightly rolling my eyes as we started walking around continuing to talk.

"No boyfriend was able to come?" She asks me making me turn my head quickly to face her as I hid the fact, I was trying to look for Nathan. "Huh?" I asked. "Are you dating anyone? Surly someone like you has a beau. If not, I've completely lost hope for me." She spoke. "No," I smiled. "but it's out of choice." I answered making her hum in reply stopping to grab another glass. I continued to look around the ballroom for his face in the crowds of laughing, chatting people.

"I'm just glad to be away from my parents for the night. I'd rather not deal with them." Eve continued. I hummed in reply not really paying attention sipping the champagne looking around the room.

"He isn't here yet. He's always late." Eve stated. I looked over at her seeing her smile full of amusement. "I'm not looking for Nathan." I lied making her smile wider. "Then how'd you know who I was talking about." She asked making my lips part quickly looking away.

"I'm just- I-" I began until Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt walked up to us. "Carmen! How are you?" She beamed. "Hello, it's nice to see you again. You look absolutely lovely." He said before raking me up and down. Turning to Eve seeing her wide eyed with a shocked expression.

"Hello. You look lovely also." I said to Mrs. Vanderbilt. "This is my friend, Eve." I introduced making Eve snap out of it giving them a nervous smile. Mr. Vanderbilt continued to look at me not acknowledging Eve as Mrs. Vanderbilt shook her hand.

"Please, I've told you to call me Cathy, honey. My son has told me how much of some help you've been at the firm. I didn't see how great you were for myself until yesterday evening. I couldn't have finished the last big arrangements for tonight's event without your help." She smiled making me put on a fake one.

Nathan had told me his mother wanted to meet me again now that I had this new position. I had picked up a few last-minute decorations for her party. She was incredibly friendly though I suspect it wasn't genuine assuming I was probably another ditzy woman like Hannah. The entire time Cathy barked orders at her help and asked me lots of questions about me and my life. Which I obviously had to answer with lies.

"Please have a wonderful night." She smiled after we all finished talking. Walking away to mingle with her friends, family, and coworkers. I could tell her entire happy and bright demeanor was a facade just putting up appearances. Like mother like son, I suppose.

"I can't believe how nice she was to you. She scares me." Eve confessed as she drank her champagne making me chuckle weakly. "Moms love me." I joked grabbing another flute desperately needing to calm my nerves.

About an hour passed as Eve introduced me to people, she knew in the building who worked with our bosses. We were talking with an older man who she introduced to me to had already forgotten his name. Suddenly I saw Nathan in the corner of my making me turn my head away from the chatty man.

He was walking inside with an unfamiliar brunette woman on his arm. My eyes widened slightly in as they took off her coat revealing her in a tight black dress hugging all her curves. Feeling slightly intimidated by how attractive she was wondering if this was another fling Nathan was sleeping with. And to think I almost became one last night.

I saw her say something making Nathan genuinely laugh as she adjusted his black tie. Quickly looking away bringing myself back into the conversation realizing the older man was still talking. "Excuse me." I said cutting him off mid-sentence making Eve look at me confused as I walked away. The man continued talking unfazed by my leaving.

I began walking up to Nathan and his date as they continued to talk not yet noticing me when someone walked in front of me. "Hey, Carmen." Declan said with a smirk. Almost stumbling into his chest as he obstructed my view of Nathan. I look up at him stepping back smiling weakly.

"Hi, Declan." I replied trying to hide my annoyance at his pestering attempt to ask me out. "You look really nice." He smiled taking a step back to rake me up and down. I rolled my eyes trying to move past him, but he stepped closer before I could. "Are you sure you're single?" Declan asked stepping closer to me grabbing my waist making me scoff.

I looked down at his arm wrapped around me as he looked down at me with a grin. "I'm not sure that's something someone forgets. Though I assume the few women you've been with try to." I replied seconds away from grabbing his hand away and breaking his fingers. Thankfully someone walked up to us.

"Are you drunk or just stupid?" Nathan asked calmly as he shoved his hands in his pockets. My lips parted looking up at him as flashes of last night swarmed my mind. Declan just scoffed finally moving away from me about to walk past ignoring Nathan when he continued.

"And if you lay your hand on her again, you're fired." Nathan threatened in his ear as Declan stopped walking right next to him. People around us began to stare wondering what was happening. "You wouldn't." He spit stepping closer to him. Nathan continued to stand tall preserving his cool and collected stature.

"Wanna bet?" Nathan growled in a hushed tone looking down at him since he was slightly taller than him. Declan huffed full of anger looking down at me. "She's not worth it." Declan sneered looking at me before storming off.

"Thank you." I said knowing if Nathan hadn't intervened, I would've broken Declan's hand. "Thought you could take care of yourself?" He asked. "Didn't say I couldn't. I'm just expressing gratitude." I replied mater-of-factly making him smile. "I see Hannah didn't last long." I said nodding over to his date talking to his father.

Nathan looked over at who I was talking about before back down at me with a curious smile obviously entertained by something I said. "That's my sister. Valerie." He replied making my lips part with realization. Suddenly seeing the resemblance between I stared to feel embarrassed. I looked back up at him feeling his comforting eyes on me. Nathan was smirking down at me in obvious amusement.

"Merry Christmas. You look beautiful." Nathan said softly through a gentle smile before someone called him over. As he walked away, I let out a heavy sigh at his frustrating hot and cold demeanor. I preferred when he was arrogant and generally unkind, uncaring, cold hearted. When he was flirtatious and charming it was harder to keep my feelings separate and my mind unclouded. I ignored my annoyance with him as I walked back over to Eve. I wouldn't be like every other woman here and let his playboy charms get to me.

"You missed an interesting conversation about taxes and his pet birds." Eve said sarcastically as I walked up to her again. She was looking at the same man talking to a poor couple who got sucked into the same conversation I chuckled lightly. "Keeping pet birds is cruel and inhumane." I stated looking over at Nathan talking to his dad and sister. "Oh, we'll you would've gotten along great with him." Eve replied.

"How do you know if someone is a good person or not?" I asked softly never looking away from him as he talked to his associates with Valerie by his side. "We don't." Eve sighed.

Watching Nathan from afar I could see how charming and social, he seemed to be to everyone. Completely different than how I've seen him before. Wondering why he was faking to so many friends and family. And how it wasn't obvious for everyone to see how annoyed and unhappy he actually was around them.