He left me so I could get dressed. Once I was completely ready, I slipped into my dress. I called out into the room we were staying in, “Babe, can you zip me up?” He walked in but didn’t move to zip up my dress. I turned my head to him, “Fox?”
He shook his head, “Sorry.”
Once he zipped me up, I turned to him. He didn’t say anything, “What?” I looked down at my dress and nervously wiped my hands on the front, “Is it-”
He kissed me, effectively shutting me up, before pulling back, “You are stunning, my love.” I smiled and kissed him again.
“Goddess I love a man in uniform,” I told him with a smirk, causing him to laugh. “Really though, you look incredibly handsome.”
He kissed me roughly before pulling away. I groaned, “I know, but we have to go.”
Thankfully we were staying within walking distance to the conference center where the ball was being held. He kissed me quickly, “Ready?” I took a breath in before nodding. We were led to our table close to the front of the room. Fox pulled my hand gently, almost stopping me, “Holy fuck. That’s the Secretary of the Navy,” he mind linked me.
“They put you with her for a reason. Come on, it’ll be fine.” I linked back, giving him a peck on the cheek before barely tugging on his arm.
“Nicholas Grey?” The Naval Secretary asked when we took our seats.
“Yes ma’am,” Fox said with a small nod.
“And who’s this lovely young lady you have with you?”
“Amaya Wardwell,” I responded with a small smile, “It’s nice to meet you ma’am.”
“Wardwell? Any relation to Daniel Wardwell?” A man sitting opposite us asked.
I nodded my head, “He’s my dad.”
“Daniel Wardwell? Why does that name sound familiar?” The Naval Secretary asked.
“He’s the head of Storm Industries, a private contracting business that we use quite often,” the man stated.
“Ah,” the Secretary responded before turning back to me, “Are you in the family business as well?”
“I am,” I answered before taking a sip of my water.
“Are the rumors true?” Another man asked.
“What rumors are you talking about?” I shot back.
“That The Ghost is a member of your company.”
“If he or she is, we don’t know about them,” I said before taking another sip.
“Nicholas, is it true your team was recently saved by The Ghost?” The man persisted.
“I guess we know the reason you were placed at this table,” I mind linked Fox.
“No sir. We made it out of that situation on our own.”
Before anyone had a chance to respond, the first speaker of the night sounded through the speakers. While the keynote speaker was speaking, we ate our food, and once they were done, Fox and I got out on the dance floor to avoid our earlier conversation.
“Can I cut in?” I heard a voice say behind me.
I turned to see Randall standing behind me. “Yeah man,” Fox said with a kiss to my forehead. “It’s good to see you,” he clasped hands with Randall before heading over to where Jax and Alanza were standing.
“You look amazing Amaya,” Randall said and I smiled my thanks. “And you and Fox! Jax and I were hoping you two would become a thing.”
“Yeah?”
“Well you guys were always sharing glances at training. Always looking at each other while the other wasn’t looking.”
“It took us a while to get there, but we figured it out, finally.”
“He would be an idiot not to go for it.”
I chuckled, “He’s never claimed to be smart.”
He laughed, “That’s very true.”
We spent the rest of the song catching up with one another. Once it was over, we rejoined Fox, Jax, and Alanza near the tables. “While I’m glad you two sorted it out, if you hadn’t gotten your shit straight, Fox, I was definitely ready to throw my hat in the ring.”
“It took him way too long though, if you ask me,” Jax said with a slap to Fox’s shoulder.
“You know Jax I’m surprised you could find anyone to come with you tonight,” I said, “But how you managed to convince someone as beautiful as Alanza to come I don’t think I’ll ever understand.”
“I just have incredibly low standards,” Alanza responded with a shrug, making us laugh and Jax’s mouth to fall open in outrage and disbelief.
“How did you guys meet?” Randall asked.
“Amaya introduced us,” Jax said with a smirk.
I scoffed, “I did not.”
“You definitely did,” Jax said.
“I most certainly did not. I would never do that to someone I think of as a sister,” I retorted quickly, making the others laugh.
“We met because of you, so in a way you did introduce us,” Jax said, sticking his tongue out at me.
“How on earth do you put up with him, Alanza?” I asked in an exasperated tone.
Alanza shrugged, “I learned to tune him out for the most part,” she started laughing as Jax’s mouth fell open again, “It’s easy to do when English isn’t your first language.”
“It’s good to see you two haven’t changed a bit,” Randall said, grinning.
Someone cleared their throat behind us, causing us to turn toward them. We turned to see the man who was questioning me about The Ghost, “Sorry to interrupt. I was wondering if I could have a dance with Ms. Wardwell.”
I nodded slightly with a small smile on my lips, “Of course.”
Fox squeezed my hand before letting me go. “I apologize if my line of questioning was too forward. It’s just the military world is always buzzing about The Ghost, and there are some rumors going around that he works for your company.”
“And why would I spill any secrets to a man whose name I don’t know?” I asked with slightly narrowed eyes.
He chuckled, “True. I’m Rear Admiral Robert Jamison.”
“That’s quite a title,” I responded with a chuckle.
“That title means I can make your boyfriend’s life a living hell if you don’t answer my questions,” I pulled us to a stop on the dance floor.
“I believe I have answered your question, not once but twice, Rear Admiral. The Ghost does not work for Storm Industries, now or ever. If he did I’m sure he would be completely unappreciative of how you’re speaking to me after all he has supposedly done for the US Military,” I released my grip on him, intending to walk away from him.
He grabbed my hand before I could get very far. “Ms. Wardwell, you wouldn’t abandon your dance partner would you?”
I turned back to him, and stepped up so we were eye to eye, “I most certainly would, given your inability to accept the truth and your intent to treat my boyfriend poorly simply because you didn’t like my answer.”
“Living hell it is,” the Rear Admiral said, releasing his grip on me.
“If I hear one complaint from Fox of mistreatment, I will have your rank stripped from you, and you will be busted back down so far you won’t be able to see the sun.” I allowed my dominance to go out, causing him to break out in a cold sweat, “Are we clear?”
“Yes ma’am,” he stuttered.
Author: Kailan Counahan 