Page 44 (1/2)

Masks covered in gold dust were handed to the guests, and everyone – everyone – murmured their thanks arm smiles

“They’re all so polite,” Laneto worry about, after all

Realizing that the other had been deceived by the guests’ glamorous appearance, Julieta started to tell Lane the truth but changed her mind the last second

Chi a, and like it or not, all of this was now an integral part of who Angelo Valencia was

Julieta didn’t really like it, but then she didn’t have to

She wasn’t the one in love with her boss

Several long tables had been set up in the base their surfaces The dinneras a mix of porcelain plates and black utensils, complemented by miniature Sphinx centerpieces

“The staff did a great job, didn’t they?” Lane beamed proudly

“Yup,” Julieta said unhappily The world-faan to play, Julieta knew their naled the start of the party’s first phase of revelry

Dylan started to sing, and the guests clapped enthusiastically

Oh, joy Julieta quickly crossed herself, hoping God would understand that she was not a willful accoelo Valencia

Julieta was staring hard at the screen Try as shein the picture, but her instincts told her that she was e for Dylan and his bandto worry about on that front – for now

But was this really it?

His party was erous—-

A strange sound reached her, and she jerked in her seat

Surely, that wasn’t—-

She strained her ears, but when she couldn’t hear anything, she pressed the rewind button

Lane listened harder

And there it was!

Her eyes widened It had been afrom the pretty blonde seated at the end of Table 4 Why was she ed to hear it, shouldn’t the others have heard it, too?

She replayed the scene and slowed it down as well, and this ti became clear

The blonde’s date was doing so to her under the table—-

So like—-

Ohher come!