ignored hedge fund managers, and kept his path straight toward the head table where the Brandt

She knew the script. She knew e

ctly. She positioned herself near a wai

rallel to her, th

hadn't seen the foot that tripped him. This time,

ray t

as

the crowd like a gunshot. Red wine splattered across t

ed. Silence des

pped to her knees to help pick up the glass, and apo

ear her toes with mild disinterest, her eyes tracking the trajectory of the spill as if c

it!" a vo

d up from the main table. He pointed a shaking finger at Aless

s, immediately dropped to his knees. "I'm sorr

ipple of whispers spr

bbott

ate for

to tra

s expression was dark, expecting the tears, the denial,

," she said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "If you're in trouble

very eye in the room was judging h

ut the new Alessandra-the one who had held a de

She didn't look at Cornelius.

he rubber sole of her heel find

Brandt,"

t it was clear. It carrie

wasn't used to being addres

uring vaguely to her shoes, "that I would risk ruinin

ering somewhere between amusement and b

f the statement

ack satin, crystal buckles-then back up to her face. There was no fear

nelius sputtered, his face turn

She didn't raise her voice. She lo

d smoothly. "And I certainly wouldn't use a powder. I'd use something liquid, colorless, odorless, and metab

room deepened. It

hnically denying nothing, yet the sheer audacity o

p lifted-a fraction of an inch. It was the fi

e looked at Alessandra, standing amidst the wreckage of the wine glasses, l

l security. He

chest, his gaze locking onto

said softly. "