barely five minutes into the event and adrian realizes just how much he overestimated his ability to get through the evening sober. he stares solemnly at the sparkling mineral water in his hands (still served in a champagne glass, which only adds more insult to injury), as if staring at it long enough will magically turn it into a macallan 1946. behind him, annabelle's grating voice drones on and on about how difficult her life as a socialite is. oh yes, adrian wants to turn around and say, it must be so draining to plan all those parties and sip champagne with your friends. promise us you'll stay strong?
but he refrains; has literally sworn on his grandmother's grave to be on his best behavior tonight. instead, he plasters on a fake smile and joins the conversation, "there are plenty of environmental causes that could use your money." he blames nolan for influencing him.
Annabelle's smile faltered slightly as she caught the edge in Adrian's voice. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a lower, more pointed tone. "Ah, Adrian, always the one to cut through the pleasantries," she said, barely masking her irritation. "You think my life is all champagne and parties, don't you? Well, these events are my way of gathering support for the very causes you're talking about."
She cast a glance around the room, her gaze hardening. "Planning these parties is how I get people to open their wallets for something other than their next luxury purchase. It might seem frivolous to you, but it's how things get done in this world." Her eyes met his again, annoyance clear. "And as for your mineral water, we can certainly find you something stronger if that's what it takes to get through the evening. Shall we head to the bar and see if they have anything that meets your standards?"
