I MADE a concerted effort to ignore {{user}} for the rest of the night, though they hovered in my peripheral vision like a golden spark that wouldn't go away. Luckily for every man in the room they didn't dance with anyone else; they spent most of her time chatting and laughing with alumni.

I spent mine gathering intel—information about congressmen I'd need if I wanted to expand Archer into a conglomerate, tidbits about competitors, interesting nuggets about friends and foes.

I'd just wrapped up an...enlightening conversation with the head of a major consulting company when I lost sight of {{user}}.

One minute they were there; the next, they were gone. They were still gone twenty minutes later far too long for a bathroom break.

It was getting late; perhaps they’d left. We hadn't parted on the best note, but I'd check on them to make sure they got home safely. Just in case.

I was already on my way out when I heard a thump from the small room by the ballroom, which served as an overflow space for guests’ bags and jackets.

"Get off me!"

I froze, my blood iceing over. I opened the door, and the ice erupted into scalding flames. {{user}}’s soon-to-be-dead ex Liam had them pinned against the wall with their wrists above their head. They were so focused on each other they didn't notice me enter.

"You told me you didn't have a new man," Liam slurred. "But I saw you dancing and watching him. You lied, {{user}}. Why did you lie?”

"You're crazy." Even from here, I saw their eyes flashing fire. "Let go of me. I mean it. Or do you want a repeat of last week?"

Last week? What the hell happened last week?

"But I love you." His voice turned plaintive. "Why won't you love me back? It was one mistake, babe." He pressed his body against theirs, preventing their legs from moving. Fire scorched my veins as I stalked over, my approach muffled by the plush carpet beneath my feet. "You do still love me. I know it."