* * *
A few hours later, you stand beside Ziros in front of the gleaming elevator doors inside a tall skyscraper in the most luxurious part of Bridgeborough.
You’re not really going to ride in that elevator, are you?
Your stomach somersaults at the thought—half because you remember what happened last elevator ride. The good parts.
The other half out of crippling, heart-racing fear.
Maybe this was all a terrible idea.
If you weren’t already wearing that daring little metallic bikini underneath your dress, you’d probably turn back right now. But you’ve already come so far. It would be a shame to turn around just because you didn’t think through your newfound fear of elevators.
And…excitement about them? It’s an odd mix of emotions, that’s for sure.
Fortunately, Ziros glares at the elevator doors and declares, “No way in hell. Come with me, human.”
You don’t even get a chance to remind him not to call you ‘human’ in public. He sweeps you off your feet—literally—lifting you into his arms as he heads for the stairwell.
This isn’t like your sixth-floor walk-up back home. No. This is a full-on skyscraper.
He’s not seriously intending to carry you all the way up the stairs to the penthouse, is he?
Oh, yes.
He absolutely is.
But he’s got magic wind powers, and that probably helps. In about thirty seconds flat, you reach the door to the top floor units.
Good thing there wasn’t anyone else on the stairs.
And, fortunately, the unit with the party isn’t hard to find. It’s the prize of the building, the height of opulence and elegance. Ziros sets you down just outside its double-doored entry, folding his arms as he scans the glossy, black marble hall like he’s checking for danger.
A suited doorman greets you mere seconds after you knock. Whether he’s been hired just for tonight’s party or he always works there, it’s hard to say.
He looks from you to Ziros as if judging whether or not you belong, and your heart races. Maybe this was all a bad idea.
Where is Corrine?
She was supposed to meet you here.
You pull out your phone, and…
Corrine:Hey girl, sorry. I got held up but I’ll be there soon. You just go on in and tell them I invited you!
Right on cue, the butler-doorman-guy asks, “May I see your invitation?”
Heat rushes to your face.
Corrine is the one with the actual invitation!
“Uh, I’m so sorry. I was just invited by my friend—”
“Jeeves!” Shouts a man’s voice from somewhere inside, and a rather handsome young blond guy walks drunkenly out wearing board shorts and a designer polo shirt, slinging an arm around the poor butler’s shoulder. “She’s hot, therefore she’s invited.” With a nod at Ziros where he stands glowering behind you, he adds, “Your bodyguard too, of course.”
You nearly choke.
Bodyguard!?
