Serena paced the length of her room.
"You left the drive with him?" Jax's voice crackled in her earpiece. He sounded like he was strangling a cat.
"He can't open it," Serena said, checking her reflection. "It has a bio-lock. It's safer with him than in my sock drawer."
Her phone buzzed.
Julian: Sterling Hotel. Penthouse. 8 PM. Come alone. And come clean.
Serena typed back. Serena: My dearest fiancé, isn't that a bit fast for a first date? ;)
Julian: Don't push me. Be there.
She threw the phone on the bed. She needed to go. But downstairs, the house was waking up for dinner.
Victoria Vance, her cousin, breezed into the hallway. She was wearing a shimmering blue gown.
"Oh, Serena," Victoria said, her voice dripping with fake syrup. "I forgot to tell you. Aunt Eleanor wants us all to go to the symphony tonight. But... I assume you wouldn't enjoy it. Too... complex?"
Serena checked the time. 7:00 PM.
"Right," Serena said. "I only listen to banjo music."
Victoria smirked. "Well, don't worry. I told Aunt Eleanor you were feeling sick. Migraine from all the... thinking."
"You're a lifesaver, Vicky," Serena said dryly.
Victoria flounced off.
Serena waited ten minutes. Then she moved.
She shed the white dress. She pulled on a crimson slip dress. It was silk, backless, and had a slit that went up to her thigh. On her thigh, strapped with lace, was a ceramic knife.
She opened the window.
"Going somewhere?"
Serena froze. She looked down.
Chambers was standing in the garden, holding a pair of pruning shears. He was looking up at her, his expression unreadable behind his glasses.
Serena gripped the windowsill. "I need fresh air."
"Dressed like that?" Chambers asked. "The last time I saw a young woman dressed for a... formal evening... she was driving a two-ton vehicle out of a mud ditch. I trust tonight's excursion is less eventful?"
Serena sighed. "Chambers. I need to go. It's important."
Chambers looked at her. He looked at the dangerous glint in her eyes. He remembered the mud pit. He remembered the car.
He adjusted his glasses.
"The side gate is unlocked, Miss Vance. And if I may suggest... take the Jaguar. It handles corners better."
Serena stared at him. Then, a genuine smile broke across her face.
"Thank you, Chambers."
"I serve the family, Miss," Chambers said, turning back to his roses. "And you are certainly... family."
Serena dropped to the grass. She ran to the garage.
She texted Julian.
On my way. Have the champagne ready.
In the penthouse, Julian poured two glasses. He set them on the coffee table. He sat on the sofa, the drive sitting in the center of the table like a holy relic.
"Let the games begin," he whispered.
