Glass clinks from the inside, loud enough to cut me off even through the windows. My head snaps in the direction of the sound, which is coming from a man dressed in a peacock-inspired suit. He’s standing near the grand stairwell.
“Welcome everyone. It is so good to have you. I am Ben, the Chief of Staff. I hope you are having a lovely time. Please, could I ask you to head up these stairs and through the open door toward the dining hall. The staff will guide you there.”
Tommy and I look at each other.
“Dinner without the host?” he asks, eyebrows shooting up.
I purse my lips, pushing off the railing. “Unlikely.”
He claps his hands. “Which means he will be there. We’ll snag him while everyone is distracted with dinner!”
Great plan. Except that when we make it to our designated seats and Andras—clad in a white suit with red flower-like patterns that match his venetian mask—finallymakes an appearance, he’s sat at the head of the central table, right where everyone can see him.
“Okay, I mean… we just need to lure him away from there, maybe into the bathroom or the corridor or something. Then we make a run for it? Or we can use him as a hostage and force the staff to let us leave?” Tommy blabbers on, frowning at his set of forks and spoons and knives.
“We stick to the plan,” I remind my co-abductor, which is a bit unfair, because we were supposed to get Andrasbeforedinner started and everyone sat down. It would’ve been a lot easier and straightforward to do it while the crowd was mingling. We’d say we had information on the ruby, and that our boss was downstairs and wanted to meet. No one would even notice he was missing. But now… The moment we walk up to that table, all eyes will be on us.
“Uh, hello? In case you haven’t noticed, the plan is a bit out the window right now…”
Still. I glance at the dinner program, which lists the activities and entertainment between the five courses. “I think we can make this work.”
As waiters in red robes begin serving the appetizers, I scope out the room. Aside from the hallway we came through, there is another corridor, leading in the opposite direction. It’s right by the two Greek columns and the bonsai, partially hidden out of sight. If I have the building’s layout correctly memorized, we are on the east side of the penthouse, so this corridor must lead toward the west part, where I’m guessing the private space is. Like the private bedrooms, private lounge, hobby rooms and so on, the stuff that’s not meant to be shown off. And if I had to guess, there must be a private elevator as well, or at leastsome kind of an emergency exit that wouldn’t be crawling with cameras or guards.
The starters we are served are impressive, though I am not entirely sure what they are exactly, other than that they involve figs and prosciutto. The salad that follows a live performance from an opera singer is just as mysterious, but I forego identifying its ingredients as the next thing on the dinner program begins—the dance.
Yes, there is a dance happening in the middle of dinner, and just as I thought, most everyone is eager to take part.
“Bingo,” I say, pushing my chair back. It scrapes quietly against the white marble. “Interested?” I lean down, offering my hand to Tommy.
He looks up from his plate, eyes narrowing as I smile at him. “Huh? Why would I wanna dance when there is food?” he says in-between chewing and points at the plates the staff brought. “Did you try the Caesar bites? They are sooooo gooood.”
My heart flutters.Oh, my little, innocent, hungry demon. He’s so fucking precious.
I lean in close to his ear. “This is our chance to get Andras. Look.”
He studies the dining hall, understanding dawning on him. “Oh… Shit, you are right.” He places down the dessert spoon he was using to scoop truffle mayo. “Let me just…” He shoves a small skewer into his mouth, leaving no trace of the meat and grilled pepper that was on it, then wipes his hand on the lace-lined cloth napkin. “Ok. I’m ready.”
Under the sensual rhythm of a ballad, we dance our way around the room. It’s harder to get to where I want because of all the other people, but we make it happeneventually. Andras is standing near the left Greek column with a glass in hand, observing his guests rather than participating in the dance.
Perfect. It’s like he’s serving himself to us on a silver platter. All we need to do is swoop in and snatch him.
I open my mouth to give the command when a hand touches my shoulder. I freeze.
“Anthony, could I interest you in being my dance partner?”
My stomach hits the floor as a bout of panic slices through me. There is no mistaking this singsong, sweet voice.
“Ria.” I turn around, maneuvering Tommy alongside me. He grins at her and nods. “I was just wondering if I’d get a chance to dance with you.”
She shoots me a hard look, holding her hand up. “You have one now. I hope you are a better dancer than conversationalist.” Her gaze darts to Tommy, losing some of its edge as her lips vibrate at the corners. “If Charlie doesn’t mind, of course. I’m sure he will find a partner easily enough.”
I throw a plea at Tommy, silently begging him to figure out a way out of this predicament. Andras is right over there, still alone and still nursing his drink. We are so close. Why did Ria have to show up and ruin my plan?
Tommy places a finger on his mouth and pretend-thinks. “I guess you can have him for this song.”
“Wha—”
He pinches my thigh, cutting me off. “I got this,” he utters under his breath as Ria is momentarily distracted by a passing waiter with champagne. “Dance with her for a bit, and then ditch her. I’ll meet you in that hallway behind the columns. There don’t seem to be guards there.”
