"You will regret this."
"No, I won't."
Once we passed into the service corridor, her voice changed—grew harder and sharper. "What is this about?"
"You'll see."
We walked outside and continued through the parking lot until we reached the limo Viper had obtained for me.
There was no one around and she wore very high heels. I let her arm go and opened the passenger door. "Get in."
She paused, scanning her surroundings, probably looking for an escape route.
I gestured at her shoes and said, "I wouldn't run in these unless, of course, you want to break both legs."
"You expect me to get in a car with a stranger?"
"I expect you to get in, because you're a smart woman, Mrs. Valmont."
She gave me a look, equal parts contempt and calculation. "There are security cameras here. You won't get far."
"No one's going to see us leaving the building when they check the footage."
She said nothing.
"I'm not here to hurt you," I added. "But I will if you resist."
She took a deep breath and slid into the seat.
I climbed into the driver's side, shut the door, and threw the car into gear. We drove in silence for three blocks. I checked the rearview every five seconds, but there were no tails. Viper was quiet on the channel, which meant Kimmy was still alive and the plan was on track.
After a minute, Celine broke the silence. "Are you kidnapping me?"
"No."
"Then what is this?"
I kept my eyes on the road. "I want you to see something. After that, you can go back to your party, or wherever you want. No strings."
She looked out the window, arms crossed tight. "What is it you want me to see?"
"Your husband's extracurriculars."
She didn't answer right away. Her face reflected in the glass—perfect stillness, except for the pulse at the side of her neck.
"My husband's personal life is his private matter," she finally said.
"Not when it's about to become a media scandal, Mrs. Valmont. I'm giving you a chance to get ahead. To distance yourself from the dirt. Otherwise, the Vandermere reputation will be ruined by association. And from what I know you're not the woman who deserves what's coming."
44 kimmy
The room was bigger than I expected. The walls were matte black. The carpet was soft and dark red. The air smelled like latex and leather and oil. Music played somewhere in the background, volume low, just enough to add to the ambiance.
The only light came from two wall sconces—fake candles glowing deep red. In the center of the room stood a leather ottoman and a plush, overstuffed chair. Off to the side was a low table with a silver ice bucket that held a bottle of wine. A full-height mirror dominated the wall to my left.
I watched myself in it, trying to decide if I was still in there somewhere.
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but logic kept pushing me forward.
