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"Damien made some calls after you told him what happened yesterday, and he confirmed that our boy Tanner is the one who told the press you were co you deal with that shit--but he also planted that bullshit about corporate espionage"

"Oh, no" My words are barely a whisper "He’s an idiot"

"Yes, he is," Bruce says cheerfully "And now he’s an uneer at "

"I’m not," I say All Daht; Tanner screwed Innovative and he screwed me And Damien protected us both

The cold fist around ave me the job as a favor to your wife" The statement is out of my mouth before I can think better of it

Bruce looks at mire I’ve stepped in "Did he?" Bruce says "That’s odd"

"I thought so, too What did he mean?"

The corners of Bruce’s mouth turn down "Not a clue," he says, but he doesn’t htly "Probably just Tanner being Tanner"

"I’le I think the rest of the guests are starting to arrive"

He’s right In the ti, a steady streanize froo There’s even a Da away for ill undoubtedly be a spread in to with Rip Carrington and Lyle Tarpin, two sitcom stars Evelyn must have invited Since Jamie considers them each utterly drool-worthy, I know that no matter what else happens, this party will rate a full ten on the Jah Bruce has soothed my embarrassment, but I’m still irritated that Giselle knew my identity in the first place And I’e cootten washed away in the crowd, but I’ by the fireplace I bend over and pick up the string off the table, then twist it between two fingers as I look around this room that has been transformed from someplace warm and familiar into a cold, polished place in which I don’t feel comfortable, especially without Da for hiers The third floor is full now, bright shiny people with their bright shiny smiles They all look polished and fresh, and I can’t help but wonder if any of them feel as raw inside as I do at thisthe string, rolling it this way and that so that it wiggles as if it were a snake It has givento occupyI tell myself I should set it back down on the coffee table and walk away, but I don’t I plucked it off the white melamine tabletop for a reason

Slowly, er I tug it tight, and the skin around the thread iertip turns a deep red that quickly shifts toward purple With each revolution, the pain increases And with each revolution, I arounded

I am like a windup doll, and each twist of the key focuses the pain--focusesas much as I can, and then, when the key is just about to snap, I will let go and Pretty Party Nikki will perfor, and focusing on that one shining spot of dark red pain to guide her back home

No

Goddaht with such ferocity that I stunearby, and he takes a step forward as if to help, but I turn away, frantically scraping at the string, too upset to calmly unwind the thread Instead, I claw at it,wildly, and when it finally falls off er and onto the floor, I leave it there, then back away as if it is so poisonous, like a scorpion deterainst the stonework that surrounds the fireplace The stones press against my bare shoulders unco to hold me up And until I find Damien, the ill have to do