In Beverly Shores, one must always expect the unexpected, Naomi had come to learn. It was the first thing Naomi had learned when she arrived in Beverly Shores, and she would admit—she didn’t understand what people meant by that. Not at first, of course. After all, in all aspects of life, shouldn’t you already expect the unexpected? So what made Beverly Shores a place where that had to be emphasized?
Slowly, though, Naomi began to understand the statement, and she could now attest to its truth. In Beverly Shores, you should always expect the unexpected. For example, the return of Emiliano De La Cruz to Beverly Shores was definitely unexpected, and it had led to the entire table being silent. That silence, however, was destined to be short-lived because, of course, Beverly Shores could not stand silent for long.
Naomi considered getting a drink, but Santiago, Sunny, and Emiliano had already stood up to get theirs. It would look strange if she followed them, wouldn’t it? But she wanted a drink- sigh. Perhaps if she was accompanied by someone to get a drink, it would look less like she was eavesdropping and more like she was having fun with someone. But who should she go with?
Naomi slumped in her chair, scanning the room with an almost imperceptible sigh. Her eyes flitted over the familiar faces, each engaged in their own conversations. She dismissed a few possibilities—a nodding acquaintance here, an ex fling on the side, an old rival there—before her gaze landed on Henderson.
He was standing near the drink area, his tall frame and composed demeanor making him easily identifiable. Henderson, a bodyguard for the Wallace family—Claudia Wallace, if she remembered correctly. She didn’t know his first name, but there had always been a particular attraction she felt towards him whenever she saw him. His presence was steady, a rock amidst the often tumultuous sea of Beverly Shores’ social scene.
Naomi straightened up, a determined glint in her eyes. Henderson was the perfect candidate. She didn’t know whether or not he would particularly accept getting drinks with her, but even if he doesn’t and she goes alone, perhaps people might think she was sad at being rejected and drinking her pain away-the media already had a tendency to accuse her of desperation after all. She stood up, smoothing her dress as she walked towards him, her movements graceful and deliberate.
“Henderson,” she greeted as she approached, her voice warm and inviting. “It’s a bit suffocating in here, isn’t it?” She asked, trying to move the conversation as she tilted her head slightly. “I was thinking that a nice drink would be appropriate for the tense air here and it’s always better to drink with company, so can you be my company?” She asked, her eyes pleading, “I’m sure Claudia would not notice or mind.”
mentioned:
@CerealKiller - claudia