Stranger At The Altar

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