During the long cocktail hour, she waited for the arrival of the Bynums. Cassie circled the room, making her best impression of a bobblehead, Wilds always at her side. She recognized and was recognized by some of the crowd. The art of polite party small talk came back to her like riding a bike.
With every smile and air kiss, Wilds stiffened. “Seems you are very popular, Dr. Ellis. You will tell me why you changed your name to Modine tonight.” Wilds nuzzled her ear.
Cassie gritted her teeth in anger. Sophie was right: she knew better. She hoped once the job went live, Wilds would stop his bullying. “I will do nothing of the sort. I have an email scheduled to send up the chain the minute this assignment is complete documenting your inappropriate behavior. We have a job to do. I’ll hold up my end. Can you hold up yours? Touch me again, and I’ll shoot your balls off.”
At the close of the cocktail hour, she spoke into her glass of sparkling water. “How many armed private security do we have? I count thirteen.”
“Right on the number. The Bynums are moving through the dining area. All yours,” Quinn announced. She proceeded to join the senator and his wife.
The large round table was situated in a place of honor in the room. Cassie noticed the Bynums and the Marshalls seated with a man with brown wavy hair and dark brown eyes. She recognized him from the briefings as the senator’s aide. Sebastian Ames was not unattractive, but the closer she got to the table, the more uneasy she felt. Was it his thin lips turning up into a kind of fake smile? Or was it the look in his eyes that chilled her to the bone?
As she neared the empty seat beside Senator Bynum, Sebastian ran his fingers down her back as he pulled her chair out. His touch made her skin crawl. She shrugged, hoping to send him a discreet message. “Hi, I’m Seb.”
“I’m Cassie Ellis, pleased to meet you.”
“Cassie… we met years ago at Houseman’s.”
“I’m sorry, Seb. Please forgive me. I have a terrible memory, but I’m pleased to meet you again.” Cassie gave her practiced smile. Sebastian looked annoyed, but she had other things to do and didn’t give it a second thought.
“Senator’s press aide, a lawyer.” Hector’s voice in her ear reminded her of his file’s particulars.
Superior Court Judge Alexander Marshall and his wife walked around the table to greet her. “Cassiopeia, my goodness, it’s been such a long time.” Claudia Marshall air-kissed her cheek.
“Judge and wife. Conservative. Wife owns a children’s clothing boutique in Union Square,” Hector continued. Cassie almost missed her colleague's words.
The four adults walking toward the table were not anywhere on the briefing list. They weren’t even listed on the attendees list. Cassie’s heart hammered in her chest, and she was sure everyone around her could hear it. Drowning. She was drowning. She pinched her wrist hard, hoping the pain would break the panic threatening to overtake her.
Bradford Whitman, Garett Whitman and, their wives advanced toward the table. “Whitman family. Lobbyists and lawyers. Older Whitman, political adviser to Bynum. Married to Adrienne, homemaker. Son following in his father’s footsteps. Married Cheyenne, stay-at-home mom,” Hector announced.
Cassie counted two more empty seats at the table. Expecting a congressman from Virginia and his wife, she bit her lip when Ian and Monique Chase joined them. “Ian Chase, ex-SEAL, billionaire, venture capitalist, playboy,” Quinn stated.
Wilds added, “Asshole.”
Quinn continued, “Monique Lillie, married to Chase’s brother, Kieran. Fashion model.” The couples introduced themselves all around.
Robert Bynum reached for Cassie’s hand. “What a pretty little thing you are, Miss Ellis. Good to see you again.”
Betty, the senator’s wife, whispered under her breath, “You better hope she missed that. You met her once. Do you want her to remember that?”
Betty smiled. “Robby will be so sorry he missed you, Cassiopeia. It is lovely to see you again.”
“Thank you, Senator and Mrs. Bynum. I haven’t seen Robby since the party at your house after he graduated. Give him my best.”
Senator Bynum retained her hand in a firm grip. “You were at the house with your fiancé. Now I remember. You were engaged to …” He stopped himself, looking at Adrienne Whitman’s scowling face. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? Sebastian, tonight is a second chance to impress your memory on Ms. Ellis. She is one mighty fine woman.”
Sebastian acknowledged his boss. “Yes, sir, she is, Senator.” When he placed his arm across the back of her chair, goosebumps broke out across her back and down her arms.
Bradford smiled at her. “Well, sugar, you look as radiant as ever. Adrienne, look at Cassiopeia. She’s still so beautiful,” the older man gushed.
The nauseating older woman grasped Cassie’s hand, hatred filling her beady winter-gray eyes. Her fingers felt like a dead fish’s scales in Cassie’s palm. Cassie firmed her jaw. She never liked Adrienne Whitman, and anyone in their sightline knew Adrienne Whitman did not like her.
“Well, well. Still single, I see.” She lifted Cassie’s left hand for all at the table.
“Sometimes things happen for the best,” Cassie said.
“Well, well, Modine. Are we gonna have a WWF event?” Wilds taunted. She chewed her cheek, unable to respond.
Garret stood, unmoving, and gazed at her with undisguised longing. “Good to see you, Cass. It’s been a while, huh?”
