Page 188 of Gates of Tartarus

I can’t deny, though, that the hairdresser and makeup artist Elizabeth hired have worked wonders. My skin has never looked so dewy, and my eyes can rightfully be described as “doe”. My hair’s been swept into an elegant updo, but a few tendrils have been left to curl artfully over my shoulders. I turn my head this way and that, admiring, before smoothing out my dress, just to feel the plush, silver fabric. I’m pleased with my choice. The deep decolletage meets a diamond band which fits snugly around my waist, giving me a very nice cleavage, I think, and an hourglass shape. I crane my head over my shoulder; the material clings softly to my hips before falling straight to the floor, and the single row of six buttons trailing from the waist calls attention to, if I do say so myself, a rather fetching derrière. I put on the matching overcoat and smile. Despite the circumstances, this is the best I’ve ever looked, and I can’t wait for the guys to see me. I pick up the mask and walk into the living room, where Elizabeth and Kailani are waiting.

“Lovely,” Elizabeth declares. “You girls will do me credit.”

I bristle a little; did Elizabeth think we’d show up in hessian sacks? She doesn’t catch my grimace, but Kailani does and gives me a faint smile. Kailani’s looking stunning, a goddess stepped straight down from the silver screen. And Elizabeth is ethereal in an off-the-shoulder, satin creation, which hugs her slim frame.

“Now,” Elizabeth continues, fiddling with a glove, “I’ve got to go in a little early to take care of a last-minute hiccup, so I won’t be able to show you around, as I’d planned, but a limo will be waiting to take you to the Drapers’ Hall. In the meantime, relax and have some champagne.” She waves at the bottle of Dom Perignon, chilling in a silver bucket on a low mahogany table. “You’ll be meeting a lot of people tonight. Frankly, it can get a little tiring – small talk can be tedious – but I hope you’ll enjoy yourselves.”

“I’m sure we will, Elizabeth,” I say politely. “We’re looking forward to it.” Kailani murmurs agreement, and Elizabeth nods and gives a brief smile. “These events can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s for a good cause, and, who knows? You might meet your favorite singer! Look for Fallon when you arrive. She can show you to the VIP area and introduce you to some of the guests.”

As soon as she’s gone, I let out an audible huff. “Well,” I pull a face.

“Well,” Kailani replies.

“Champagne? Canapé? Wouldn’t want to faint in front of the celebs.”

Kailani shakes her head: “I don’t think I’d better.”

I peer sympathetically at her. “Still got a migraine?” She’d had to skip the spa yesterday, but you’d never know to look at her. She’s a siren come to life, and I have a feeling she’s going to be fending off men all evening.

“No, just nerves, I guess.” She shifts from one foot to the other. “God, I hate wearing heels. I feel a hundred feet tall,” she grumbles.

“But they’re Lou-bou-tins,” I bat my eyelashes at her. “Elizabeth insisted. I’ve never worn such expensive shoes. They cost more than last month’s rent. Well, they would if I were paying rent. Not at my new place, but definitely my old place.”

“So, you’re sharing a house with your team? What’s that like?”

“Oh, you know. OK.” I decide I can risk a canapé without smudging my lipstick and choose a little cheese confection.

“Just ‘OK’?” She smirks at me and waggles her eyebrows, but there’s a serious note there she can’t quite hide. Remembering the conversation I’d overheard that morning, I wonder if she’s actually asking for herself, but I’m not quite sure how to broach the topic.Hey! You know how you’re dating your co-workers? Well, me too! I was eavesdropping on Seef and Maddox, and… and Maddox kind of mentioned it. Soooo. I’m dating Emlyn, Jorge, and Kavi, and I think maybe Seef likes me too, and I don’tun-likehim. In fact, he’s turning out to be rather wonderful, but I still haven’t gotten my head round having three boyfriends, let alone adding a fourth. We’re all still feeling our way. Oh, and Maddox – pretty sure he would date you in a heartbeat. But that’s not my secret to tell.

“Well,” I say, swallowing, “I couldn’t leave my room without putting on foundation for the first two weeks – come to think of it, I still can’t – but living with the guys is actually pretty cool. We all get along, and, uh… yeah.” I’m feeling flustered and shove another canapé in my mouth.

Kailani nods and hums, and I wonder what she’s reading, but she mercifully doesn’t press me. Instead, she looks at the small ormolu clock. “What do you think? Shall we go in early too?”

“Mmm. If we stay here any longer, I’m going to get stuck into the champagne, and I need to keep a cool head at the benefit. The way I’m feeling right now, I’d end up drinking the whole bottle, and I doubt Elizabeth would appreciate me turning up rat-arsed.”

Kailani laughs as I search my coat. Coming up short, I mutter, “Damn!”

“What is it?”

“I love this outfit, but it doesn’t have any pockets. I can hardly carry my phone in my hand all night. I’ll have to leave it here.”

“I suppose it’ll be OK. We’ll have to come back for our other things at the end of the night anyway.”

“Yeah. Oh well, it’s not like I’ll need my wallet either. But I’d better not have an allergy attack. There’s nowhere even to stuff tissues. Why didn’t I fork out the money for a clutch bag? I’m such a cheapskate!”

Kailani snorts, and I point my finger at her. “I’m serious! Graduation was ruined by hay fever from the floral arrangements on the tables. All blasted night. I went home alone.”

“Poor you,” she murmurs, eyes dancing.

“Quite!” I give myself a once-over in the mirror. “Right. Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she replies and follows me out of the room.

???

Ten minutes later, we’re stepping out of the limousine and in through the ornate doors of the Drapers’ Hall, passing under a stone arch framed by two giants holding up Corinthian capitals and along a softly lit, oak-paneled corridor. To my right, I can see a statue in the center of a three-story, rectangular, stone courtyard, the lower level enclosed by arches topped with carved heads and dotted with tropical plants. As we near reception, Kailani’s phone rings. Looking down, her face breaks into a smile: “I need to take this. Catch up with you later?”

Nodding, I make a beeline for a uniformed woman wearing a headset and holding an iPad. She’s looking harried and frowns when I ask for directions to the Livery Hall. “The benefit doesn’t start for another twenty minutes – What? No! They cannot deliver to the front entrance! And where’s security? We have guests starting to arrive!… Sorry, ma’am. What did you say your name was?”