4: Embar

na'

dress, a black satin gown that hugged my cu

ll handbag I intended to use. I might as well make a good impression. It wo

'I'll have a word with you,' he'd said. I couldn't quite place it but

.. bar that night, my cheeks flus

r me, I had little faith

g against my skin. I could hear the faint humming of a car engine as I appr

at the car "I'm going out in that?" The thought sounded ridiculous to

gined Jacinta's reactio

and within half an hour I arrived at t

head to the attendant at the door as I walked in. I spotted Jac

oulder and I stopped beside her. "Long

behind the shades were bright. "My God, you look stunnin

we caught up, her eyes fixed on m

ed, slowly turning the glass

e loud enough to turn heads. I flinched sli

? The application didn't even take up to a week," Ja

ed, smiling at her enthus

I had to see you first. We needed this night, you know

always had a way of makin

m's attention, though," I teased lightly, noddin

t them look! Tonight

on us. Before I could suggest she tone it down,

polite but firm. "Could you lower your

ward him, her voice dripping with indi

l, ma'am.

smissively. "I'm celebrating. And if that's a problem

burning as I noticed

ing a hand on her arm. "Let

ally falling silent as the waiter gav

turned awkward, and I quickly

out?" I suggested. "We can grab some air

r eyes but shrugged

, grabbing my bags and we m

-

the bill as we steppe

the waiter's comments. I approached the c

frown appearing on his face. My heart skipped a bea

his voice. "The c

arper than I intended. "That

y, leaving me standing t

reeled. There had

pression apologetic. "I tried multiple ti

opped. "Empty

nding behind me, leaned c

d, my voice shaky. "I

explain further,

eone whispered fr

en Landon," anoth

g in my throat as their st

't have mo

mbarra

stares fix on me. It hadn't helped that Jacinta had been

voice low for the first t

alyzing, and my mind raced with questions. How could this ha

aid, breaking through

nized, one of Damien's acquaintances. He'd been at the w

cern. "Is everything all right? It's not every day we s

The whispers grew louder, the weigh

ut of here, but I