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Niall positioned herself slightly apart from the business discussions, content to observe the intricate dance of corporate networking. The evening’s social dynamics fascinated her, each interaction revealing another layer of Porter’s complex power
structure.
Niall responded with her practiced social smile. “Hello, Mr. Harris.”
“He’s handling some business calls at the moment,” Niall explained smoothly, her tone suggesting this was perfectly normal behavior for someone of Cullen’s stature.
Nate stretched, rolling his shoulders after the extended dancing session. “All this waltzing has worked up my appetite,” he announced. “Anyone interested in sampling
the buffet?”
Niall accepted his handshake, noting the firm grip and direct eye contact that spoke of good breeding and social polish. “The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Patterson.”
He turned to address Edric directly. “Edric, this is Ms. Crystal, Cullen Dennis’s
partner.”
The second dance between Veronica and Edric carried none of the romantic
undertones one might expect. His invitation stemmed purely from courtesy, a polite gesture meant to smooth over the earlier awkwardness. Veronica recognized this distinction immediately, yet she accepted his outstretched hand with gracious
composure.
Marco had already retreated from the dance floor, his jaw tightening as he watched Veronica glide back into Edric’s arms. The sight of them moving together in perfect synchronization sent a wave of irritation coursing through his veins. His fingers clenched around his champagne flute, the crystal threatening to crack under the
pressure.
Niall quickly informed Cullen, who remained engrossed in his phone conversation, of their destination before joining Nate and Marco’s migration to the buffet area.
Marco’s gaze tracked Veronica and Dario as they moved toward the dining area. “Good idea,” he agreed, his tone carefully neutral despite the tension still radiating from his
posture.
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The sharp buzz of Cullen’s phone interrupted their rhythm. He guided Niall off the dance floor, stepping aside to take the call with the practiced efficiency of a man whose business never truly stopped.
The convergence of all these social threads in one location promised to add another layer of complexity to an already eventful evening.
Their polite exchange was interrupted by the approach of Veronica and Dario, who were making their way toward the same section of the buffet. Dario caught sight of the assembled group and made a sound of obvious annoyance, his displeasure at the encounter written clearly across his features.
Cullen caught sight of the dancing pair as well, his lips curving into an amused smirk. Without breaking stride in his own dance with Niall, he continued their waltz as if the entire drama unfolding around them was merely evening entertainment.
Edric extended his hand with the easy confidence of someone accustomed to making favorable first impressions. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Crystal.”
Their arrival triggered a small social avalanche. Several guests immediately approached their group, drawn by the magnetic pull of wealth and influence. Business cards appeared as if by magic, and conversations quickly pivoted toward potential partnerships and investment opportunities.
Maverick glanced around the immediate area, his brow furrowing slightly. “I don’t see Mr. Dennis with you tonight. Is he not attending?”
responses
Marco and Nate fielded these approaches with practiced diplomacy, their ranging from politely noncommittal to genuinely intrigued, depending on the proposal’s merit.
A satisfied smile played across Niall’s lips. Her assessment had proven accurate. Veronica simply lacked the magnetic allure necessary to make a man of Edric’s caliber abandon reason for romance.
Recognizing an opportunity for introductions, Maverick gestured toward his companion. “Ms. Crystal, I’d like you to meet one of my closest friends, Edric Patterson.”
with…
Niall absorbed this information with the shrewd understanding of someone who had navigated Porter’s social hierarchy for years. She knew the unwritten rules that
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governed the city’s elite circles. The Dennis, Harpers, Quintons, Patterson, and Harris formed an exclusive constellation of power that rarely admitted outsiders.
Her theory gained validation moments later when Edric and Veronica concluded their dance. After exchanging a brief, polite nod with Veronica, Edric departed without lingering or showing any signs of reluctance to leave her side.
Nate lifted his glass to his lips, his gaze lingering on Veronica’s graceful form. “Edric appears quite taken with her,” he observed, his tone carrying an undercurrent of skepticism. “Though with a family like the Patterson, acceptance would be… challenging, regardless of his personal feelings.”
Perhaps Edric did harbor feelings for Veronica, but Niall suspected those feelings fell short of the all–consuming passion that might motivate a man to defy family expectations. As for the possibility of Veronica becoming a Patterson bride, such a scenario seemed laughably remote.
Niall observed the scene with calculated interest, her eyebrows lifting slightly at Edric’s unexpected persistence. She had anticipated him to withdraw after their first dance, yet here he was, extending another invitation to Veronica with apparent ease.
The elegant pair continued their dance, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny they attracted from across the room.
The unspoken implications hung heavy in the air. Veronica’s past marriage and motherhood, combined with the Murray family’s precarious social standing, created obstacles that even genuine affection couldn’t easily overcome. Nate refrained from voicing these harsh realities, but his meaning resonated clearly with his companions.
Nate, growing restless with the dancing, seized the opportunity to abandon the floor as well. He and Niall gravitated toward Marco, whose attention remained laser–focused
on Veronica’s every movement.
Edric’s appearance with Maverick interrupted her observations. Maverick’s face brightened with recognition as he spotted Niall among the crowd.
“Good evening, Ms. Crystal,” Maverick greeted her warmly, his genuine pleasure at seeing her evident in his expression.
Her earlier suspicions about Edric’s prestigious lineage crystallized into certainty. The Patterson name explained his natural confidence and the deference others showed
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him throughout the evening.
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