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“Ten minutes,” Liam said. He was seated on the edge of my bed, already dressed in his tuxedo. He looked very dashing, his hair slicked back, and his beard carefully trimmed.
Adam set my radio and earpiece down on the vanity table and held out his hand. He was dressed in his own tux, though he wore a navy-blue tie in lieu of a bowtie. “Would you like me to do it? I don’t mind.”
I smiled. “Sure. I like it when you play with my hair.”
I was convinced at this point that Adam had miracle hands. They were deft and agile, combing and working and curling my hair into Hollywood worthy ringlets. He made me feel like a princess, putting my hair up into an elegant little updo. He even secured a couple of pearl studded pins into the loops of my hair, smiling at me the whole time in the reflection of the vanity mirror. He chuckled quietly to himself, wearing a mischievous grin.
“What?” I asked him with a light laugh.
“Just thinking about how we first met.”
“In the men’s bathroom?”
“The most romantic meet in history,” he confirmed. Adam leaned over to press a kiss to the top of my head. “There you go, angel.”
“You know,” came Charlie’s voice from the doorway. We all turned to see him there with Kris, both in their tuxes. “If you decide you want out of the security business, too, you could open up a hair salon next to my bookstore.”
Adam chuckled. “Maybe as a retirement plan. I’m happy where I am for now.”
“Are you ready to go?” Kris asked me.
I nodded and stood up from the bench, shrugging off the bathrobe I had on to serve as both warmth and protection for my dress as I did my hair and makeup. I revealed my dress to them. It wasn’t the emerald dress that I tried on in the change room, but a sleek black gown that hugged my curves in all the right ways. It had a high slit along the thigh, exposing the deep crimson lining of the dress underneath, giving the whole ensemble a very sleek, seductive look.
The feeling of their eyes on me was intoxicating.
“Something on my face?” I teased.
Liam shook his head. “You look beautiful.”
Charlie held his hand out to me. “Let’s move out.”
* * *
The ballroom wasalive with the murmur of polite conversation, the sweet harmonies of string instruments, and the hustle and bustle of the catering staff as they went around with trays of finger food and champagne flutes. There were balloons everywhere, as well as streamers and roses and banners. I’d never seen a more sparkly affair, so being invited to one felt almost like a dream.
The gala was the talk of Macau. Not just anybody could waltz through the front doors. No, they had to have a special invite sent by Duchess Arianna De Aguente herself. They were designed with custom barcodes that had to be scanned at the door, limiting any potential forgeries and people trying to crash the party.
It was a lot to take in. The sights, the smells, the constant buzz of noise. I did my best to stay near the duchess, though, determined to help the guys keep a lookout for anything suspicious.
Terrance has been quiet, Kris informed us on the car ride over.Too quiet. Stay alert. Be prepared.
I lost count of how many people came up to speak to the duchess. I was exhausted just watching her. How she managed to shake everyone’s hand with the same delightful smile again and again was beyond me. Arianna made it look easy. I supposed it made sense. This was the life she was brought up in. She was practiced in her perfection, in her politeness. And besides, it wouldn’t do her any good to be rude to guests, since every hand that she shook could be that of a future investor.
She spoke avidly about the new company she was founding, the plans she had. People paid me very little mind after Arianna introduced me as a member of her security team. Not that I minded, of course. I was there to do a job, not to socialize. And besides, I had the hearts of four of the most handsome men in the room. Anyone else’s attention would have been lost on me.
“This is going really well,” Arianna whispered to me once we got a moment to ourselves. She fluidly swiped a fresh champagne glass off a passing waiter’s tray. “Only a few more minutes before I get up on stage to make my big speech. You will be joining me up there, won’t you?”
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you, both for protection and moral support.”
Arianna smiled, almost giddy. “Alright then, come on.”
I followed Arianna up the three or four steps leading to the makeshift platform. A microphone had been set up for her in advance. It was admittedly intimidating, looking out at the sea of faces, the bright stage lights warm and almost blinding. Arianna tread lightly, making the whole ordeal look as easy as breathing. She approached the mic without a hint of hesitation or nervousness, smiling to the crowd.
“Hello, everyone,” she said, her voice carrying over the speakers. “Thank you so much for coming tonight.”
The room quieted, everyone facing the duchess. My eyes scanned the area, finding my boys with great ease. Adam was by the refreshments, chatting to one of the caterers with a rather stern look on his face. I liked seeing him so serious about his work. Liam was by the main entrance, assisting with invitation scans. Anybody who tried to get in with a fake would be sorry. Charlie was making the rounds about the ballroom, keeping an eye on the perimeter for anything suspicious. Kris was amidst the crowd, blending in and always within a few yards of the duchess in case I needed immediate backup.
Arianna cleared her throat and continued with her speech. “What better way to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day than to celebrate our love for the environment. Our planet takes good care of us, offers us bounties to thrive upon. I think it’s only right that we find ways to take care of it in return. In this room we have some of the brightest minds. Environmentalists, scientists, entrepreneurs. Together, I believe that we can—”
