~ 49 ~
PEYTON
The line outside the hotel curved around the block. Men in suits, even tuxedos. Women fresh from three-hour salon appointments, dressed to thrill. Couples, engaged in all manner of excited chatter, waiting to approach the red carpets and velvet ropes. Their little turn at fifteen seconds of fame.
“You’re clear on the south side. Get ready.”
Theo’s voice crackled in my earpiece, and we inched our way forward. Colson’s arm was looped through mine on the left, Ripley’s to my right. My elaborate gown felt like a costume; one that I could hide in easily. Not that I was trying to. Tonight was all about hiding in plain sight.
Across the carpet, it looked like a lightning storm. A hundred cameras flashed in rapid succession for someone important, drawing attention away.
“Go. NOW.”
It’s a simple thing to slip past the ropes, and up the only side of the entrance without facial recognition cameras. Ripley peeled off, stepping quickly toward his designated side exit.
“Party’s in the kitchen, later,” he spoke in low tones. “Don’t be late.”
Colson grunted his reply, while walking me confidently to the guarded entrance. The security team was an elite one; Donovan only hired the best. But they were hired security, and not his men. That little fact made all the difference.
Two men in dark suits stepped forward, and Colson offered a name that wasn’t his. They scanned our invitation, provided by Theo, while looking us up and down. My stomach rolled over, as they paused for two eternal, heart-stopping seconds. Then their eyes shifted over our shoulder, to the next guest, and we were waved through.
“We’re in,” Colson murmured.
“Roger that,” the voice in my earpiece came back.
Theo’s voice came through crystal clear; as if he were standing right beside us instead of two blocks away. We’d left him surrounded by four open laptops, quarterbacking everything from the bench seat of the Suburban that brought us here. It comforted me though, knowing he’d come rushing in if needed.
We moved with purpose through the hotel’s magnificent foyer, where people stood drinking thousand-dollar champagne from even more expensive crystal flutes. They were too caught up in trying to look cool, while not smearing their lipstick, to give us a second glance.
“Melt into the crowd, but don’t hide,” Colson pressed. “The ballroom’s huge. And remember: you belong here.”
I nodded curtly. “I belong here.”
“Good,” he murmured. “Donovan’s welcome speech should start on time. Wait for the signal. After that—”
“I’ll be fine,” I cut him off. “You’re the one who needs to be careful.”
Colson cracked a tension-breaking smile that revealed every single one of his perfectly white teeth.
“Me?” he chuckled. “Careful?”
In his flawlessly-tailored suit, he looked like a billion dollars. It made want to grab him by the tie, stand on my toes, and pull him down for a kiss.
Instead, I squeezed his hand and winked at him, right before we parted.
Love you.
He mouthed the two little words to me, right before turning away. It sent my heart soaring, while leaving me simultaneously devastated that I couldn’t say it back to him.
Instead, I stood there forlornly, watching him disappear down an adjacent hallway.
“Peyton!” Theo’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Yes?”
“Please keep moving.”
Ahead of me, the hallway opened up into the grand ballroom. Golden light filtered down from three rows of crystal chandeliers, running the entire length of the cavernous chamber. The one in the center, shimmering with every step I took, was the size of a bus.
