Chapter 0020

The party is, above all, impressive. Drinks are flowing, a whole twelve-piece band is at the back of the

room playing 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 glance.

I’m grateful for Daniel, who sticks close by my side. Even though he was raised in this environment, I

can tell he’s more comfortable with me, sneaking sips of his champagne and making wry comments

that only I can hear.

I can’t help but laugh at the things he says. He’s right – we always did get along.

Fiona sweeps around the room, looking almost indecently sexy in her black Versace gown. Looking

around, though, I can see that she has competition 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 display around me, many of them enhanced with plumped lips,

breasts, asses. Whatever they felt was lacking.

In comparison, 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 his compliment. 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 glass 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 clasped 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 a compliment 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.