Though he often timed his entrances to be fashionable, Aris was simply lucky to walk in before anything monumental had occurred at Silas's New Year's Eve party. Certainly, he would have already known if he had missed something, for the press notoriously infiltrated his parties and were quick to update those of Arcadia who were not fortunate enough to receive an invite to the most awaited party of the evening.
Aris's own evening had begun around eleven in the morning with a cocktail party for some premiere at the theatre. His children had accompanied him, and he attempted to keep them with him through the majority of the day, but by about five in the afternoon, the parties were becoming far too rowdy for the children, and he had sent them home for the evening.
And so his evening had continued, and without the presence of his children, he moved swiftly across the border from tipsy to hammered. Aris had ridden out this state, refueling with a martini or a shot here or there. Finally, the evening had brought him and Luisa to Silas's manor.
He had been there for not long at all when he was drawn into a conversation with one of his producers, an ancient woman, and a younger male actor. It was an awkward set-up between the three of them, for Aris recalled after some time that he had been briefly engaged in a prolonged tryst with the man across from him. The actor, at least ten years Aris's junior, shot glances at the director through heavy-lidded eyes, as if daring him to leave the party behind and join him somewhere slightly more private.
But Aris must have figured wrong, for the actor took off in a moment after a passing artist or playwright or something of the sort. Aris had long since stopped caring who was who, for if they were of any importance, he already knew them.
And yet, halfway across the courtyard, he caught a glimpse of Luisa conversing with two guests he hadn't met or even seen before, for that matter. Excusing himself, he made his way towards them, deftly maneuvering around the press even though he nearly lost his balance and pitched into a hedge at least twice. But he made it to her side eventually, snagging a glass of some brilliantly red wine from a passing waitress.
"Now, Miss Ngugen I know very well," he began, approaching the blonde from behind as he gave the wine a gentle swirl. "On the other hand, I can't say I've ever seen you before - one of Silas's parties or elsewhere." He didn't bother to introduce himself, turning to face her now so that she might see him and recognize him and gush over his presence. That was the beauty in newcomers - he could have cared less as to where she had come from, what she did. He wanted to see her reaction, hear her ooh and aah as she looked Aristotle Lincoln in the eye. "But I imagine there's a reason your here. You have the allure of a model - an up and coming actress, perhaps?"