4: 4
The next evening, the banquet hall of the InterContinental Hotel.
Giles had thrown his promotion party as loud as money could make it.
He worked the room in a sharp suit, glass in hand, moving between the guests, riding high.
Judy wore a white evening gown and stayed glued to his side, already playing the part of the hostess.
I wore a plain black work suit and picked an out-of-the-way corner to sit down.
Giles spotted me first and came over with his glass.
"Smart of you to show up," he said, looking down at me, his tone all charity.
"As long as you behave from now on and stop throwing tantrums over your grandmother, I'll forgive you."
Watching that small man gloat over his little victory, all I felt was disgust.
"Forgive me?" I lifted the water glass in front of me and took a sip.
"What gives you the right to forgive me?"
Giles's face darkened in an instant.
"Don't push your luck. Today is my big day. I don't want to fight with you."
Judy leaned in and slipped her arm through his.
"Dawnie, Giles put so much thought into this party."
"Even if you're upset inside, don't spoil it for everyone right now."
She leaned hard on the word thought, on purpose.
I glanced at her, my voice low but loud enough for the tables around us to hear.
"He did put a lot into it. Even the money for that necklace came out of embezzled public funds, didn't it?"
Giles's face changed completely. He slammed his glass down on the table.
"What the hell are you talking about!" he hissed, low, teeth clenched.
"Say one more word and see if I don't make sure you can't survive in this city."
I met his eyes and didn't back down. "Go ahead and try."
At the head table, Giles's parents sat surrounded by relatives, grinning ear to ear.
Carrie James clutched Judy's hand, her voice pitched loud enough that no one could miss it.
"Our Giles, he's really made something of himself! Once Judy marries in, she'll be an official's wife, guaranteed!"
The relatives all chimed in, laying the flattery on thick.
No one remembered who had slaved for the James family these past eight years.
Who had used her own paycheck to cover Giles's expenses.
Looking at that crowd of two-faced smiles, I felt nothing but how absurd it all was.
Eight o'clock, exactly.
The lights in the banquet hall dimmed all at once.
An emcee walked onstage with a microphone, his voice booming.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we celebrate Mr. Giles James's promotion to deputy director."
"Let's give him a warm round of applause and welcome Mr. Giles James to the stage to say a few words!"
Thunderous applause filled the room.
Giles straightened his tie, shot me a vicious glare, then turned and strode up to the stage, glowing with triumph.
He stood under the spotlight, flushed and beaming.
"Going forward, I'll continue to uphold the principles of fairness and integrity, and serve the people!"
He shouted the slogan without so much as a flicker of shame.
"Finally, there's one person I especially want to thank."
Giles raised his glass and gazed down at Judy with soft, tender eyes.
"She's the one who kept encouraging me and stayed by my side through my hardest times."
"Judy, thank you. This drink is for you."
Judy covered her mouth, eyes brimming with emotion, while the crowd below started egging them on.
"Kiss! Kiss!"
I sat in my corner, watching the ridiculous farce with cold eyes, and glanced down at my watch.
Eight-oh-five.
Time was up.
Just as Giles lifted the glass to drink his celebratory toast, the doors of the banquet hall were shoved open.
The heavy wooden doors crashed against the wall with a tremendous bang.
Several men in black jackets, faces grim, strode inside.
They ignored the security guards trying to stop them, walked straight up to the stage, and flashed their credentials.
"Giles James, we're from the disciplinary board."
"You're suspected of using your position to trade power for sex, as well as embezzlement and bribery. You'll need to come with us."
The whole room erupted.
The banquet hall, so loud a moment ago, fell dead silent.
The glass in Giles's hand crashed to the floor, water splashing everywhere.
