s. The air was thick with the smell of expensive champagne, roasted truf

der. She wore a modest, floor-length black gown. It was

tions of everyone who approached him. Her feet ached in

ud, booming voice cu

tomach instan

s fifties, his face flushed with alcohol, his tuxedo jacket straining at th

ly of stale cigar smo

is tone perfectly neutral

o crystal glasses filled with dark amb

. To the merger!" Mi

n glass of sparkling water. "I'm pacing myself

tures. He looked past Jackson and his eyes landed on Christina

y said, a sleazy smile spreading across his face, "why

hristina's face. The smell of the r

es darting to Jackson. Tell him no, she

k at her. He kept

ckson said, his voice smooth and utterly

ina felt the blood drain from her face

to the wolves. For a

uttural sound. "Hear tha

nd took the glass. The crystal was heavy. S

roat and hit her empty stomach like a lit match. She clamped her mout

ignaled a passing waiter and grabbed another

n. He was checking his phone, co

second glass

mach cramped violently, a sharp, twisting pain that made

hand clamped down on her waist, his fin

e Christina could smell the rotting food on his b

legs felt like lead. She pushed weak

He looked at the scree

. I need to take t

eating figure, Christina's peripheral vision caught another movement. The gentleman from Boston, Gaston Carter, was quietly excusin

ip on her waist tightened painfully. He

me," Mickey whispered, hi

Christina shoved him with both hands, using all her re

ristina gasped, turning and prac

the annoyed glares. She pushed through the heavy door

eaned over the sink, dry heaving. Her stomach violently r

tion. Her makeup was smeared, her eyes bloodshot. She

o the loun

k of expensive heels ech

ucet, splashing cold water on her

The air instantly filled with the scent of

na glan

own that draped perfectly over her slender figu

Carso

ed. She froze, the water

clutch. She pulled out a pristine linen h

dic, dripping with sympathy. "Wall Street parties are always

kerchief. She slowly reached

y," she said, offering

She wiped her face, her heart hammering aga

er. She filled a crystal glass with ice water an

lp settle your stomac

felt like heaven on her scorched th

nkles. She looked at Christina, her blue eyes sca

asked casually. "I saw you standing behind h

ened. The alcohol made her sluggish

ristina said carefully. "I d

beautiful smile, but i

stick from her clutch and perfectly reapplied it, pressing

ed her cl

Carson said, turning and

iet bathroom. She looked down a

avy, and deeply unsettling. Carson's eyes hadn't held sympathy. Th

he rest of the wat