Chuckling, I head toward the fundraiser ball.
I can’t help but think about the night I met Madison Napolitano. That one ended so well.
I can only hope this one ends the same.
Madison
“Welcome, welcome!”
Dasha and I greet the guests that have come to check out the new hotel.
I check my watch. Rocco is nowhere to be found. He should have landed hours ago. “Where is he?” I whisper.
“Don’t worry,” she says. “He’ll come.”
People are lining up in droves just to talk to Byron. He’s being presented as a tycoon, or a mogul. They have no idea who he really is.
Byron runs from the toilets to the main hall. Dasha shrugs.
“I can’t believe you,” I hiss. “What if you were caught?”
“It was a last-ditch effort,” she says. “Besides, I never get caught. I’m an angel in that guy’s eyes.”
“True,” I say. “It’s disgusting.”
She laughs. “How do you think I feel? Anyway, it seems to be working to our advantage. How is anyone supposed to trust a man who looks like that?”
We both turn and glance at him. He’s doing his best to shake the hands of wealthy individuals from the city, but he looks absolutely miserable. His face is dark red, and his lips quiver.
We burst out laughing at the scene.
Dasha grabs a small glass of champagne from a caterer. “Where’s your man, anyway?”
I glance at my phone. There’s nothing. “We agreed not to call or text each other. You know, in case we were around Byron. I hope to God he’s coming.”
She nods. “Let’s hope he’s a man who doesn’t break his word.”
“He isn’t,” I say.
At least an hour passes before I see him walk through the side entrance. My pulse quickens. All he gives me is one nod, before I see him disappear upstairs.
“He’s here,” I whisper. “Everything is going according to plan.”
“Oh Jesus,” Dasha says. “I’m too antsy. I’m freaking out.”
“Stay calm,” I tell her.
Someone taps on his or her glass with their spoon and people from all over the ballroom begin shouting, “Speech!”
Byron waves them away, pretending to be shameless, but we all know he has something planned. He waits until he’s edged onto the stage.
“Okay, okay. The people have had their say,” he shouts. “How is everyone doing tonight?”
Satisfied, the investors clap.
“Well, I didn’t have a speech planned, but since this is a momentous time for all of us, I’ll say a few words.”
“A few words,” I scoff.