“Hell if I know,” Ashford huffed. “And they’re late. I’m going to talk to Lesage. He can’t expect us to come back if this is how gala nights are being run.”
I gripped his upper arm firmly. “We’ll just take our investments elsewhere.” I eyed him.
Ashford’s nodded slightly. “It’s a shame. Freychon needed a place like this.”
“I agree. We all needed it. But he’s not up to the task. Come on. My driver can drop you somewhere.”
I was prepared to leave. Admit tonight was a loss. A wasted night, trying to feed my dark habits.
Ashford followed me toward my security guards. The bass lowered and the lights flickered.
“Wait.” I stopped him.
“Want to turn around?”
I handed the tally back to him. “Let’s take a look.” I nodded toward the black door.
“I’m just a loyal follower,” he ribbed.
I silenced him with an icy glare. No one could speak to me with that fucking tone. Friend or not.
2
Molly
Snap. Snap. Fingers clicked inches from my nose.
I blinked.
“Did you hear me, cher?”
The stage manager wore a headset. He blended French and Spanish so frequently it was hard to follow. Although, I learned most citizens of Galona mixed the languages.
I nodded in a fog. “Yes.”
Brooklyn poked me in the ribs. “He’s trying to tell us how it works.”
I realized his purpose, only I couldn’t believe I was going along with this.
“I-I don’t know about this.” I fidgeted in line in front of my best friend.
“Smile and have fun,” she instructed. “This is a once in a lifetime chance. Bucket list, remember?”
I twisted my lips together. “Right. The Galona bucket list.”
The short wiry man had moved on to the girls behind us. I heard his sharp voice instructing them to follow an order of events.
“I don’t think I can do it.” I shook my head. “I’m going to head back to the apartment. Ok?”
Brooklyn caught my shoulders. “No, you’re not. Until tonight I thought this place was an urban legend. But it’s not. It’s real, Molly. You can’t just walk out on this chance. It’s legendary.”
I nodded. “I can. I’ll tear up the contract on my way out.”
She frowned. “I’m not going to let you do that. There is an excellent chance on the other side of that curtain there’s a member of the royal family.” She was getting caught up in her fantasy again. “And you are guaranteed whether he’s royalty or not that he’s going to be a multi-millionaire. An oil tycoon. A wine baron. A celebrity. It’s going to be a celebrity. I just have this feeling.” Her brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
I knew mine didn’t look like that. My stomach flipped itself into one more knot. It was not an adrenaline rush. I was on the verge of panic. I sucked air through my nostrils.
“I’m going to be sick. I can’t do it. I have to get out of here.”