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“Try to stay where I can find you. No sneaking off with beautiful men.”
“No promises,” she says with a wink.
Laughing, I shake my head and walk off to make my way through the house, my eyes scanning small groupings of people in search for Governor Callahan.
Not finding him inside, I walk out back, stopping in place for only a brief moment to admire the grounds.
White tents are placed sporadically through the large backyard, the trees strung with lights that glimmer like stars.
Soft music carries on the wind and as I step out farther, I notice the man I’d seen arriving earlier walking toward me, his date in her gorgeous ombré gown beside him.
She doesn’t look happy to be here, her expression tight as she glances over her shoulder.
Following her line of sight, I spot Ivy in the distance, her face pale where she links an arm with a red-haired woman.
As the man and his date pass, he glances at me with dark green eyes, a chill running down my spine, but for what reason I’m not entirely sure. I get the sense he’s not one to mess with, not that I have time to play around with arrogant jerks. School keeps me far too busy these days.
A few quick steps and I’m off the back patio, weaving a slow trail through the crowd. A hand touches my shoulder and I spin to see Governor Callahan staring down at me.
“Brinley. I wasn’t expecting you tonight.”
I glance around, my cheeks heating because I’ve crashed his party.
“I’m sorry. I was supposed to be here yesterday, but-“
“It’s not a problem at all,” he grins, the practiced expression charming.
It’s impossible to deny that Governor Callahan is a good looking man, but also gross when considering he’s the same age as my father. Still, his dark hair is still full for his age, his body fit.
“Come inside,” he says, his hand closing over my elbow. “We’ll go up to my office to talk.”
Led inside, I search the room for Ames to make sure she hasn’t run off with one of the many beautiful men wandering around the mansion.
We reach the base of the stairs before I finally spot her leaning against a wall with a glass of champagne in hand, a mischievous glimmer in her eye as she smirks at a passing couple.
People can’t help but stare her direction, not that Ames is unaccustomed to the attention.
Even Governor Callahan notices her.
His eyes are locked on her as we climb the first step.
“Is she a friend of yours?”
I laugh.
“Yes. That’s Amelie, or Ames, for short. She goes to my school and is helping out with the flash drive.”
His curiosity piques as he studies her again.
“She’s the one decrypting the drive?”
I shake my head.
“No. But she’s friends with the people who are.”
“Ah,” he nods before leading me up to the top of the stairs and down a few halls to his office.
He closes the door before saying, “I trust your judgment about these friends that are helping you. Your father, I assume, looked into them.”