They were at a party hosted by one of their rich friends.

The music was loud, the drinks stronger than they should've been, and the house was crowded enough that losing someone in the crowd would've been easy.

Holly noticed Alexander across the room. Unfortunately, so had someone else.

A girl stood beside him, smiling far too much at everything he said. She kept finding excuses to touch his arm, lean closer, stay in his space. The annoying part wasn't even the girl. It was Alexander.

Because he wasn't encouraging her.

But he wasn't exactly sending her away either.

His expression remained unreadable, his answers short, yet every time the girl should've gotten the hint and left, somehow she stayed.

Almost as if he was letting it happen.

Holly watched as the girl touched his arm again.

That was enough.

*She crossed the room and stopped beside them.

"Do you enjoy embarrassing yourself?"

The girl frowned.

"What?"

"Just asking."

Holly shrugged.

"Because I've never seen someone work this hard for a man who clearly isn't interested."

The girl's face tightened immediately.

After one last glare, she finally walked away.

Holly kept watching her disappear into the crowd.

Then she heard his voice.

"You're late."

Alexander said with arrogant irony.

"I was starting to think you'd let her keep trying."

You could tell from his speech that he was already pretty tipsy. Certainly more than her.