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"M the risk versus the reward "I guess I can let you down for a few minutes"

"I think we both need to htstand, grabbed up a slip of paper and then tore it in half longwise "You take this half of the list and I’ll take the other Let’s get this done quickly or we are going to be up until ht"

I pulled out my phone and as silly as it e sat on her bed side by side and h the list in just a few hours

When ere done, I sighed and flopped back on the bed "We’ve got that Bay Island charity house tour thing to special to celebrate"

She seemed to deflate at the mention of the benefit I turned, propped my head up on ht some tickets for our friends So there will be people that you know there--Jenna, Alex, Heath, Kat, my cousins…"

She threw y with ht be more comfortable if they were there"

Her lips pursed "Actually I was going to bow out of that, if that’s okay with you"

I didn’t say anything and she scrutinized my face

"It bothers you, doesn’t it?"

"I’d like you to go--to be bymoment, then squared her shoulders "Okay I can do it for you I’m sorry That hadn’t even occurred to ood than for ain It had been easier for her in Paris, where everyone was a stranger But work acquaintances and friends, apparently, were a her crowd for her

I called up Sonia and asked her to coe for a make-up artist to come on the day of the benefit The better Emilia felt about her looks, the easier it would be for her

Chapter Thirty-Three

Mia

I was doing this for Adam He wanted me there I had to repeat that towhen I wanted to hyperventilate and back down, the fear so strong it threatened to steal roups, was one thing Even in public where the public was at a distance--like in Paris--that was fine But here…at his house, it was different

There would be people I’d worked with at Draco, and some of Adam’s rich and important friends I had decided to chicken out when the make-up artist had finished with my face She’d done my eyebrows realistically and applied sohcould account for the tiny bit of fuzz covering s but none of theht I settled on one with a short bob cut, the hair si a colorful dress that fit h, scooped neckline There was little to complain about, really, with my looks Yes, I looked different, but I now looked better than I had in months

I clamped my hands over o and there was no way I could force myself to do it Not even with the lure ofto cower in the house until the last possibleout withcrowd ardens, board the yacht and schmooze with Adam

There would be drinks and hors d’oeuvres on the lawn and then the group would progress to a dinner at a nearby exclusive restaurant Partygoers would tour the grounds and ho the downstairs of Adam’s house and his yacht If I hid up in my roo

Except disappointing Ada ready and totally unaware of the inner war I was fighting I was terrified and I didn’t want the pity looks, or worse, the "why is he with her?" questions And every tiht about it, it et"I can’t do this"

He sat down on the bed and looked atin dark jeans, a white button-down shirt and a black blazer His beauty took my breath away How could I stand next to that?