Chapter 0020
The party is, above all, impressive. Drinks are flowing, a whole twelve-piece band is at the back of the
room ying hits from the fifties and sixties. Everyone is having a good time and, thank god, mostly
ignoring me.
Even though it’s technically my party, everyone’s too caught up in their own business to do much more
than send me a curious nce.
I’m grateful for Daniel, who sticks close by my side. Even though he was raised in this environment, I
can tell he’s morefortable with me, sneaking sips of his champagne and making wryments
that only I can hear.
I can’t help butugh at the things he says. He’s right – we always did get along.
Fiona sweeps around the room, looking almost indecently sexy in her ck Versace gown. Looking
around, though, I can see that she haspetition for her daring choice of clothes. This group of mob
bosses and wives do tend towards the sexy.
There are lot of women’s bodies on disy around me, many of them enhanced with plumped lips,
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breasts, asses. Whatever they felt wascking.
Inparison, I look demure in my sweeping blue gown. But Fiona picked well – if she had put me in
something that showed a lot of skin, she knew I’d feel shy. As it is, the blue velvet gown makes me feel
regal.
“You do look amazing,” Daniel says, smiling down at me. “I mean, you were always pretty, Fay. But
wow.”
I smile up at him, pleased by hispliment. I knew he wouldn’t say it unless he meant it.
We both watch as Fiona greets new guests, directing servants to take their fur coats and ensuring that
they have drinks in their hands within half a minute.
“She’s really the hostess here,” I say, fascinated. “What would your dad do without her?”
“Yeah,” Daniel says, studying her. “She’s definitely taken up that wifey sort of roll.” He shrugs. “But who
knows, my dad is fickle. One wrong move and she could be out the door.”
I look up at him, wondering if that’s why he keeps his distance from her, emotionally. How many mother
figures has Daniel had in his life who have disappeared in the night, never to be seen again?
Beyond that, where is his real mom? I frown, making a mental note to ask some other time.
Daniel gives me a smile and then clinks my empty champagne ss with his. “Refill?” he asks.
I give him a nod and he heads off to the bar. I tap my foot to the music, enjoying it while I look around
at all of the guests. Is my father here yet? Will I even recognize him when he arrives?
A voice rumbles, shockingly close to my ear. “If you like the music,” it says, sending shivers down my
spine, “why don’t you dance?”
I turn to see Kent standing behind me, his hands sped casually behind my back.
He stares baldly down into my face, his own only inches away. My heartbeat ratchets up.
“Um,” I say, working to calm myself. God, why does he always get me so worked up, just by standing
next to me? “I’m not much of a dancer.”
He smirks, his eyes traveling over my body, taking in the way I look in this too-gorgeous gown.
“Shame,” he says. “That dress was made for dancing. You should let them see you in it.”
I blush. That was breathlessly close to apliment for Kent Lippert.
“Do you know,” he continues, leaning even closer to murmur a secret in my ear. “I met your mother
once, at a party like this.”
I spin to look up at him. “You – you knew my mother?”
“Not well,” he says. “But I remember that she was very beautiful. She had hair much like yours,” he
says, his voice wandering with memory as he raises a hand to curl a tendril around his finger. “And she
was not afraid to dance.”
I blink at him, suddenly terribly sad to have never seen her like that.
He presses his lips together, studying me. Then he clears his throat and pulls his gaze away, scanning
the crowd. “I have word from your father’s people,” he says. “He’ll be here very soon.”
My eyes widen. I mean, of course it was the whole point of the evening, but now that it’s close?
I’m terrified.