On the stage, an orchestra was playing Christmas favorites. And everyone was dressed in gowns and suits, each more expensive-looking than the last.
“You’re going to want one of these,” Venezio said as he snatched two flutes of champagne off the tray of a passing server.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I agreed as I looked around the room.
It was like a club.
And I wasn’t a member.
But I had to charge confidently in there between everyone and act as if I not only belonged, but that my charity was worth investing in.
“Geez,” I said after a sip. “That eventasteslike money.”
“Yeah, this is some of the good stuff,” he agreed, drinking all of his in one sip before placing it down on one of the many discreetly placed little tables meant for empty glasses.
“Who looks the least intimidating?” I asked Venezio.
He was scanning the crowd when a tattooed arm shot up in the air, waving. “Venezio!” a woman called.
I followed the arm down to the body.
Then there she was—a tall, thin woman with shoulder-length coppery-red hair around an angular, but gorgeous face, all biggreen eyes and full lips. Her chest and arms featured tattoos that I didn’t expect to see on anyone else in this room but Venezio.
I shot a confused look at Venezio’s profile, but he was focused on the pretty woman making her way over to us in a royal blue evening gown.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked, giving him wide eyes.
“Hey, Vega. Vega, this is Stephanie. Steph, this is a… friend. Vega.”
There was a false note on the word ‘friend,’ but I wasn’t picking up on any lingering chemistry between the two of them. Maybe they just weren’t close enough for that title.
“Hey,” she said to me. Then, back at Venezio, “What the fuck are you doing at this kind of thing?”
“I’m with Steph. We’re fundraising to get homeless kids presents for Christmas.”
“Well, count me in on that. I don’t have a checkbook, but you know where to find me,” she said. “Dude, what the hell is this?” she asked, reaching out to run her hand down his tie. “I didn’t think you even owned a suit.”
“I’m surprised you could tear yourself away from your video games to come to this,” he shot back.
Okay.
So they definitely knew each other. Their vibe was more like siblings, though, than anything romantic.
“Trust me, I’m not happy about it. I have a leftover pizza and some cold beer waiting for me at home. But, no. I have to be here. It’s a mandatory thing since my firm was taken over. That’s our new taskmaster,” she said, nodding over to a tall, handsome man in an expensive-looking suit. When he turned his head, I could have sworn I saw tattoos creeping up out of his collar. “And he’s stupid rich. So shake him down extra hard for me, okay?” she asked, looking at me.
“Got it,” I agreed.
“I’m serious. If you get less than fifty grand from him, I’m going to be disappointed. He has a new two-thousand-dollar suit every few days. And, well, he’s a dick. Rake him over the coals. Bleed him dry. Draw and quarter him and—”
“Might want to rein in the bloodlust tonight, Vega,” Venezio said, lips quirked as if he found it amusing.
Vega exhaled hard, snatched a champagne flute off a passing tray, and chugged it.
“If I get brilliantly drunk tonight, someone make sure I don’t get face-to-face with that asshole. I’ll end up fired.”
“Nah. No one’s gonna fire you after that last case.”
“Well, if they do, I will at least have my pick of the firms around here. So I guess I should go schmooze just in case. Nice meeting you, Stephanie.”
