Page 37 (1/2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

On the way to the et out of character No ht become for you Don’t break character"

"I understand," I say "No matter what, I won’t break character I proh indistinct, tells ’s estate at seven-thirty and are uard Victor holds our invitations out the carto hiuard inspects them first then walks over to a panel set in the side of a small rock security station and puts a phone to his ear I hear hi us and then describing the invitations A few seconds later he hangs up and gives the invitations back to Victor

He slips back inside his station and soon after the iron gate breaks apart allowing us access onto the enor over the cobblestone driveway the length of at least two acres, we park our car in front of the et out and Victor loops his ariant front double-doors, passing twobalcony We’re greeted at the door by another aruard and this is when I notice all of the other security guards posted about the property I remember what Victor told me about them and I start to feel a little uneasy But after our invitations are inspected again and alk inside, the uneasiness fades away, replaced by awe I have been toby far with tall ceilings that rise four floors in the center of the ht Beautiful Greek statues are displayed on the ground floor underneath it Whenever soently upon the h I’m inside a museum instead of a privately-owned California mansion I hear what sounds like a sht, underneath a fifteen-foot archway is a beautiful white-rock fountain situated in the center of that rooirl who has never seen such wealth in her life would, I shift ently as if a part of me is bored And when someone does catch nition to and who to ignore Mostly, I ignore the wo eyes

Victor walks with reeted by a er with sandy-brown hair and brown eyes

"Welco estate," he says He reaches out a hand and Victor shakes it "I a’s assistant"

"I am Victor Faust and this is my lady, Izabel Seyfried"

I hold my hand out to the ers and leans over kissing the top

I wonder if that’s really Victor’s last na his real first name…unless ‘Victor’ isn’t his real first naht now

‘Vince’ takes a glass of cha it The server presents the tray to us next

"Please, have a glass," Vince says and Victor takes one fro one for hiize," Vince says, "but I was curious as to where you obtained your invite"

Victor takes a sip and is slow to answer as though he’s ih to uests at Mr Ha There was an incident"

"Oh, yes of course," Vince says with a knowing, but respectful smile Then he turns to me "You were compensated with interest for your dress, I presume?"

"Yes, I was," I say and take a sip "But I must say, I think it could’ve been handled differently"

"Oh? In ay do you mean?"

"Well, it happened to be my favorite dress Sentimental to me, if you must know The waiter should’ve been relieved of his job"

"Ah, yes," Vince says "Well, that certainly can be arranged I will speak with Mr Ha about it personally That is, if you don’t want to speak to him yourself about it when he meets with the two of you later"

"No," I say and batto repeat myself"

I look at Victor who seems to be pleased with my performance

"Of course," Vince says "Say no ht, white teeth