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Scarlett nodded. “I’d like that very much.”

Sometime later, after Samantha had headed to her room in her apartment down the hall from Scarlett, a knock came at the door. She’d enjoyed her time with her niece and learned something new about herself, she wasn’t too old to watch cartoons or anime or whatever it was called, and she liked the plot. When she opened the door, there stood Dave, Kenny, and Edward. Kenny held a garment bag in his hands while Dave had a bottle of champagne and Edward had flowers.

She stood aside as the trio entered her place. All three were dressed to the nines, catching her momentarily off guard. “I thought it was a plus-one?”

Dave shrugged. “I have some pull. I told a friend I would be inviting some potential investors and well...”

The friend would be Maggie Stenhouse, the President of the charity. “I’m sure she is hoping to bring in more money from you.”

Dave laughed. “Well, you could use it right about now.”

Yes, they could. “Sorry, I’m bumbling this up.”

“You had pizza without us?” Edward held up a slice. “Vicious.”

“He hasn’t eaten yet,” Kenny groused. “Don’t be a pig.”

“I’m not,” the guy said around a bite of pizza. “So good.”

Scarlett shook her head. “I know we’re stretched for time, so, let me see this dress.”

Kenny handed over the garment bag. “I hope you like it.”

She did too. “I’ll only be twenty minutes, promise.”

She hurried to her room and placed the bag on the hook behind her bedroom door, then raced into her bathroom for a quick shower. She should have done it when she got home, but having Samantha there with her, threw a wrench in her plans. Yet, she wasn’t upset about it, she enjoyed spending time with the little girl and if all went well, she’d make Samantha’s dream come true, she’d take her to that Anime convention.

After she’d cleaned up, she went back into her room and opened the garment bag. There, in burnt gold and lace hanged a full-length gown. The V in the front would go almost to her belly button and the full-back gave her an ounce of modesty. The gown was sleeveless and clasped together in a halter with a golden ring. She loved it and in the same breath, it terrified her. She narrowed her eyes as she spied a scrap of dark golden lace shaped into a mask. She picked it up and ran her fingers over it and noticed two little tabs on the inside.

A knock came at her door before Kenny opened it. She clenched her towel, dropping the mask to the floor. He held up his hands, keeping his distance. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought you’d like the mask to give yourself some anonymity. I know these things are hard for you and you’re right, your scar will give you away. So, I thought outside of the box.”

She'd kiss him if he hadn't have startled her so bad. "Thank you." She stared at the dress then the lace mask she dropped on the floor, she felt like one of the characters her niece introduced her to earlier. "I appreciate it."

“No problem, Scar,” he murmured. “Now, get dressed, we’re burning moonlight here.”

She laughed as she picked up the mask. “Yeah, yeah. I’m going. I’ll be ready in ten.”

"We'll be waiting for you." Kenny gave her one last glance before exited her room.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, she bit her bottom lip.Well, are you a lion or are you a mouse?The corner of her mouth kicked up. Scarlett Leon was a lion and her sister was going to hear her roar.

Chapter Four

Dave guided Scarlett through the doors of the opulent ballroom. When she pictured the place, it hadn't been one of the swankest hotels in Colorado Springs nor had it been full of mega-rich donors.So, where's all the money going? At least two of their benefactors were billionaires. They should be rolling in fundage for their sanctuary, yet every year they struggled and in the last few months, it'd gotten worse.

Scarlett strode through the crowd, unseen by most. Those who did lift their gaze to meet hers didn't seem to recognize her, which meant the disguise was working or because she hadn’t been out in public, they didn’t know who she was. The thought sent a rush of relief through her. All it would take was one person to know it was her and Maisie would try to push her out. Since their conversation at the staircase, she couldn't put aside how vile her sister had been. It was almost a cross between pure hate and guilty anger. Scarlett hit several of Maisie's buttons and the tongue lashing Scarlett received for doing so, still stung.

Dave patted her hand as he led her over to the wet bar. He ordered them a drink then turned to her. “You're tense.”

“Shouldn't I be?”

He shrugged. “No one seems to recognize you.”

She laughed. “Because no one has seen me since that fateful day twenty years ago.”

“True.” He accepted the tumblers from the bartender. “Here. Drink up.”

“Whiskey?” She spied the glass with trepidation.