JULIET
Even though I’veseen the plans for every detail, nothing prepares me for arriving at the gala as a guest. We pull up outside a red carpet stretched all the way to the lobby, and take our places walking amongst all the glittering guests; Caleb smiling and nodding at people as we pass. Photographers flash their cameras, making me see stars, and I grip his hand tightly, already feeling way out of my depth.
“I’m sorry,” Caleb murmurs, sweeping me inside. “I would have us slip in the back, but I need to play host for the night.”
“I understand,” I give him a smile. “This is your night, after all.”
“For my sins,” Caleb murmurs cryptically, as we step through the lobby and into the main ballroom. It’s gorgeous: Lavishly decorated with an Art Deco theme, full of crystal chandeliers and golden fixtures. With the addition of the Sterling Cross items up for auction, adorning the display cases on the wall, the place simply sparkles.
“Are you nervous?” he asks me, and I have to wonder what gave it away. My sweaty palms? My flushed skin?
“Obviously.”
He kisses my knuckles. “Don’t be. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”
I blush again. “Listen,” I say, feeling a pang of guilt. “We should talk later… After the event.”
“I agree.” Caleb smiles.“Come on. I’ll introduce you to some important people.”
We weave our way through the crowd. People stop what they’re doing to watch or greet him as he passes. He’s the man of the hour, full of charm, but doesn’t break stride until he pauses in front of a white-haired, well-dressed couple.
He kisses the woman’s cheek, who beams at him, and shakes the man’s hand. “Edith and William Delacort were some of my parents’ greatest friends,” he says to me. “Let me introduce you to Juliet. My girlfriend.”
“Oh!” Edith says, surprised. And she’s not the only one. Something tells me, from the way she appraises me carefully, that he doesn’t do this often. “Lovely to meet you, dear,” she says, greeting me. “I hope to see more of you. Perhaps at the opera next month? We have a box we barely use, but we’d love to host you both.”
“That sounds great,” Caleb says, his arm slung casually around my shoulders. “Let’s set a date.”
My thrill grows. Girlfriend… Plans… He really meant it when he said he wanted to make this official. He takes me to meet more people, and with every new introduction, my confidence grows. I can see people sizing me up, but I stand tall beside him.
Tonight, I feel like I really belong.
After a while, the blur of new faces gets overwhelming. “If you’ll excuse me,” I say politely, glancing around for a restroom. “I’ll be right back.”
“And I’ll go find us some drinks,” Caleb says with a wink.
I slip away to the ladies’ room. It’s a cool marble sanctuary, and I take a moment alone to collect myself, running the cold faucet over my wrists to calm down.
It’s a lot, being the one on his arm. I just hope I’m rising to the challenge.
I check my reflection, and touch up my lipstick. Some of my hair is trailing from the complicated twist the hairstylist constructed; It’s snagging on the diamond choker, pulling it slightly off-center, so I unclasp the necklace to reposition it again.
But when I look closely, I notice something.
The inscription I saw on the inside of the necklace, the one that said Petal?
It’s gone.
I inspect it closer, sure I must have missed it. But no, the etched letters aren’t there.
This isn’t the same necklace.
I feel a chill. Caleb said it was one-of-a-kind. So what’s going on?
Quickly fastening it back on, I head to the ballroom, looking for Caleb. I scan the crowds, finding him talking with another distinguished-looking man. I hurry over to them, and force a smile. “Can I steal you for a second?” I ask Caleb.
“Duty calls.” He tells the man.
I draw him away from the crowd, to a private alcove. “Caleb, I think there’s something wrong with the necklace,” I tell him, pressing a hand to my throat.