Page 75 of The Donor’s Dilemma

Adam shimmied her away from the door before taking his coat off, egg dripping onto the polished floor. His usually jovial expression was lost under a creased brow as he glared at her.

Verity checked her dress, the near floor length midnight gown still looked immaculate, ready for her trip to the theatre.

“What were you thinking?” he demanded, tossing his coat in a heap. “They aren’t here to make friends, V.”

“But Georgie…”

“This is the third time I’ve called. What’s going on?” David marched towards them, red-faced with a phone to his ear. “What happened?” he asked Verity before seeing Adam’s coat. “They’re throwing eggs at my fucking donors, you get someone here now!” he snapped, hanging up the phone. “Are you both okay?”

Adam and Verity nodded.

“David…” she started, but two more donors rushed in, one in tears as the other picked egg shell from her hair.

“Come on,” David said, ushering everyone into the hall.

She could still hear them, muffled shouts echoing through the opulence. Chairs sat empty, the meagre turnout clustered by the refreshment table for safety. They were silent, but for a few words of worry or reassurance. Whispers swallowed up in the vastness of the hall.

“Sienna, Mike,” David called. “I know you guys have group chats, can you tell everyone groups cancelled. Tell them not to come.”

Unofficial group chats were discouraged, but David seemed to pick and choose which rules to enforce. Both pulled out their phones and started texting.

“Thank you,” David said. “The police are on their way and I’m messaging your clients to come get you all. Once those… people are gone if anyone doesn’t have a ride home let me know and I’ll take you. I don’t want any of you out alone right now, okay?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, making for the door.

“Wait, David.” Verity rushed after him. “Have you seen Georgie?”

David’s usually young-looking face was the picture of exasperation as he turned on her. “I’m sorry Verity, but I need to sort this out.”

“But Georgie…”

“Sienna’s telling everyone not to come so…” he shrugged. Sirens rang outside, shouts intensifying, as he made for the door.

Real fucking helpful.

Sienna. Gods, she didn’t want to talk to Sienna, but what choice did she have? Verity hadn’t seen her since that night at SubRosa and Theo said to stay away from her, but she needed to know.

“Sienna?” she called, stalking towards the woman. “Have you heard from Georgie?”

Sienna glanced up from her phone before returning to her task. “Heard what?”

“Anything,” Verity pushed. “Her dad’s out there. He says she’s missing.”

The woman looked up again, eyes roaming every inch of her with an arched brow. “Night on the town?” she asked with that sickly sweet smile.

“None of your fucking business,” Verity snapped. “Where’s Georgie?”

“What’s your problem?”

Verity scoffed. “Hmm… I wonder.”

Sienna rolled her eyes, phone buzzing as she replied to messages, warning everyone to stay away. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask Theo?”

“What’s that meant to mean?” she asked through gritted teeth. Gods, this woman!

“That donors go missing every day and your precious Lord Mayor does fuck all about it. Why should Georgie be any different?”

Verity blinked, blinked again, words escaping her. Georgie was the first she’d heard of. If donors were going missing people would know, it would be in the papers, on the news.