ste

slim black envelope, dropped

ee and one bagel. My anxiety wouldn't let me stom

sive charity events in the city. Black tie. Media hea

That's in...

to your n

edibly unprepared. I'd expected to wait at least a

old lettering on matte cardstock. Who knew

to a black-tie ev

ue and walked over. She was wearing a pastel lavender blazer over a lemon-ye

people with money pretending they car

ances are everything. We're currently in contact with a specialist wh

estions like 'how did you meet?' and

ve most about me

Right now? That you're quiet. Althou

cally. "Oh, you're s

ike our press circuit, which is still recovering from Mr. We

of my hair. "Such a rich red colour. We'll soften y

el like a

od. I'll help you practice your lines. Hopeful

ood crest. It hadn't taken long for me to realize that everything in this house was branded-names stitched into

g monogram? Something elegant to

══════

r, materialized at the doorway, hol

r surreptitiously, eyes shining with interest, then s

ation," he said over the ph

Ava just show

l att

't a qu

d. Ava had already briefed me, but I wanted to hea

not say anything that will end up

ly. "So... win

last name, not a hostage," he said, and for a moment

red," I replied. "A well-dres

tion, they'll care more about your earrings than your opinions. Jus

d. "What are we pretendin

but accurate. "It's noble on paper. In reality, it's a networking event. Everyone

s... b

s busi

an? Do you want me to pretend I'm excited? Or

u say. Just don't say

"you make it so hard to

a second, something cracked in his

"Don't worry. I'll have a professional stylist

one. I alrea

spond. The l

══════

everything I wasn't-bold, tall, stylish in a way that said she breathed Parisian couture. A Gallic beauty with honey-blonde wave

peering through clear-framed glasses. "You have a very interesting

made everything sound like a complim

up thre

y taste. The second was a blood-red mermaid gown, dramatic and far

less satin number with a sl*t up the leg and a neckline that curv

me through being dressed up like a life-sized doll. Heck,

e," I wh

C'est bonne, Mrs. Westwood. Ev

Friday morning. Marla wandered back in, picking invisible lint off t

em into silence. That'll be your

stood there for a long time after they left,

to someone powerful, but I didn't f

ning how to we