Once Dani finished getting ready in the bedroom, Sera had used that bathroom to reapply her makeup. When I came in to get my tie that I’d left on the dresser earlier, she shut the bathroom door without even looking at me.
I’m notexactlysure why she’s mad at me. I didn’t hear everything Keke said to her earlier, but enough to get the gist.
Yeah, maybe I should have come out earlier and put a stop to it, but I’d been curious how Sera would react. I’d thought her jealousy might benefit my plan, but I see now I’ve badly miscalculated.
The curb in front of the jewelry store is chaos.
Flashbulbs pop as photographers behind a red velvet rope try to get their best shot, and a crimson carpet stretches from the curb to the glass doors.
I pull in tight to the curb. I’m out first, scanning left to right as I circle the rear of the SUV. Sera is already moving, door open, hand lifted in a signal for Keke to wait. She steps into position on Keke’s right as I take the left. Marco and Dani stay close as we clear the SUV, both of them moving automatically with Keke. Sera adjusts our formation without comment, shifting just enough to keep Keke centered while still allowing the others to follow.
The shouting gets louder as Keke is recognized, flashes going off in faster bursts as they call her name. We head straight for the back, drawing attention from those already inside as we pass. The French team is already in place.
Etienne steps forward, his attention briefly touching on Keke before settling on Sera. “Any problems?”
“No.”
I put up a hand as Dani and Marco move to follow Keke through the door into the private room. “You’ll wait here.”
Marco looks surprised, clearly about to say something, then thinks better of it when he takes in the guards posted nearby.
Once in the room, Etienne opens a thick case revealing what must be the most elaborate jewelry set I’ve ever seen in real life. The Atelier Florian representative lifts the necklace first, and its weight is obvious from how he handles it. The rubies are a deep red, with large diamonds between them sparkling in the light. Earrings follow, then bracelets and rings.
Keke watches the process in the mirror, attention fixed on her reflection. “They’re heavier than I expected,” she says wrinkling her nose.
The party itself is uneventful, which is a good thing, even if it bores the hell out of me. Sera is at Keke’s side all night, while I watch from ten feet away. The job is to watch Keke, to anticipate any problems with the guests. But in reality, it’s Sera who holds my attention.
You’d never know it was her first job. When someone drifts too close during a photo, Sera shifts just enough to redirect them without them even realizing they’ve been managed. But she’s tired. I can see it in the tightness around her eyes and the way she rolls her shoulders every so often. If she’s nervous, it doesn’t show.
After returning the rubies to their case, we make our way back to the SUV. I do a quick sweep before we load up, then slide behind the wheel once everyone is inside.
In the backseat, Keke blows out a loud breath. “I’m going to need a massage,” she says. “They must have weighed ten pounds.”
Dani snorts. “Not sure it’s that much, but I heard the main necklace alone is over 2000 carats just in rubies, and then there’s all the diamonds.”
“Book me one before our flight to Chicago tomorrow. And make sure the massage therapist doesn’t smell like patchouli this time.” She yawns loudly. “Everyone thinks this job is so easy. It’s actually very physically taxing. I’m like an athlete.”
At the last second, I’m able to disguise my laugh as a cough. I sneak a peek at Sera, whose lips are rolled so tight, they are almost nonexistent.
Back in the suite, Marco gestures to a stack of pillows and sheets on the sofa. “I had them bring everything up,” he explains.
Keke is already halfway to her room.
Following her lead, the other two disappear into their respective bedrooms.
The suite goes quiet. Sera and I are left standing alone.
“That was easier than expected.”
“It was,” she agrees looking around the room. She chews her lip before making a face. “Why does this feel weird?”
I shrug. “Because we’re two adults about to have a slumber party?”
She huffs a laugh and begins unfolding the blankets, and arranging pillows, while I pull the back cushions off the sofa.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when I catch her frowning.
“I didn’t think about it before… But there’s no place for us to change. I really don’t want to sleep in this.” She gestures at herself.
