Page 32 of Enzo

“The ball is beautiful,” I say. “It's just...”

“Just?”

“I was hoping there’d be some dancing.”

“There will be. Later.”

“Oh, good!”

We reach the doors to the banqueting hall and I hear a loud murmur of many voices. Mr. Valizar opens the door for me. I thank him and walk through, only to see a vast sea of tables and faces.

I quickly scan the hall, trying to find the mysterious man.

“I don't know how I'll ever find—” I look back, but Mr. Valizar hasn't followed me through the doors.

He's disappeared and the doors to the suite are closed. For a few seconds I wonder if I imagined it all.

Chapter 7

ENZO

“Enzo Knight?” Another man sitting a few places away from Caspar asks. He raises his voice because the noise in the hall is getting louder. He tells me his name, and that he's the head of an investment fund in the Cayman Islands.

I nod in acknowledgment.

The chatter begins again, and I start to feel restless, like I shouldn't be here. I can't stand sitting through such pretentious conversations with people I care nothing for.

“There you are!” Those words, that voice, and a hand placed on my shoulder. A jolt goes through me, followed by a rush of relief so strong it catches me off guard.

She's back.

I turn and look up at her.

“I've been looking for you everywhere!”

“I waited for you but—” I stand up, getting ready to pull her chair out.

“You saved me a place. You saved two. I don't need two, but that's very sweet of you.” She pulls it out herself and sits down before I can do anything.

She sinks down beside me, and I immediately feel a weight lift.

Dinner, and the rest of this evening, look hopeful again.

Everyone around the table stops talking and stares at her.

“Hi,” she says, smiling brightly as pairs of cold, arrogant eyes greet her. “Don’t let me get in the way of your riveting conversation.” She waves her hand dismissively. Then she sees Gloria.

“Thank goodness I'm not the only woman here.”

The smile on Caspar's wife's lips is so thin, it might as well not be there.

“I'm Molly,” she announces proudly. “I'm a kindergarten teacher.”

Her name is Molly.

Somehow, it fits her.

She also doesn’t seem to care that these people wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested in her. She seems just happy to be here.