club swung open, letting in the faint hum of

ess with clean, unadorned lines. She wore no jewelry, no visible logos, an

, murmurs rippling through

ampagne. She was wearing an iridescent liquid-metal gown, sparkling brilliantly beneath the crystal

a gloating smile. She tucked herself closer into El

was telling Elton you probabl

g easily at her sides, her amber eyes scanning the

tly from Jaylynn as he looked Annabel up and down. H

bel? No jewelry? You look lik

't be too hard on her, Elton. She works so hard as an assistant. She can't afford bespoke pie

versations, turning their glasses toward

, her lips parting in a

n, you can't even afford

les whitened around her champagne glass, her

? Elton had this flown in d

front of Jaylynn with his chest puffed out. "Apolog

iet authority in her posture made Elt

t," Annabel said, her voice clear and level, carrying easily across the silent circle of onlookers. "Your dress is coated in c

alds leaned forward, squinting at Jaylynn's hip, before whispering

d. "You're lying! What would an architect

ture to someone wearing a kn

leaving Elton standing in the center of the room with his

ynn hissed under her breath

his voice tight. "Shut

her fingers against the cold glass, her eyes scanning the roo

h fell over

n, and the background hum of

gan Hays. Demetrius wore a charcoal three-piece suit cut so sharply it seemed to carve the air arou

go of Jaylynn's arm, adjusted his tie with trembling fi

w you were attending tonight's

Elton, his shoulder brushing past his nephew as if the you

until he stopped right beside Annabel's barstool, his d

allroom held