Suzette leaned into the elder’s earshot. “What’s the plan?”
The old woman turned and stared at Suzette, amused. “We go up and introduce ourselves, of course.”
She blushed at the thought.
Suddenly, everyone began moving and the buzz of socialization filled the room once more. When Suzette looked up, the man was off the stage, lost in the crowd somewhere.
The old woman’s hand gripped at Suzette’s wrist.
When she looked back, Lady Augustine was on her feet, eyes set on the celebrity. Suzette gulped and let the elder guide her through the crowd. Everyone proved too interested in themselves to notice them. As they pressed past the people, they could see Dorian Gray, bit by bit. He looked very handsome with his clean suit, his perfectly quaffed dark hair, strong jaw, and broad shoulders. As he mingled, he smiled a perfect smile. The more he came into view, the more nervous Suzette grew. And then their eyes locked.
Her heart stopped.
“Hello,” he greeted with a white grin.
It was only then that she realized that she stood before him.
“Why, hello, Mr. Gray,” the old woman said kindly. “My name is Lady Augustine. I’m such a fan of your work.”
Dorian took a drink. “Thank you, Lady Augustine,” he muttered, his eyes darting from the old woman to Suzette.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
The actor gave her a quick, “Yes, thanks,” and turned his attention back to Suzette. “And are you enjoying yourself?”
A little taken aback, Suzette stuttered, “I-I…I’m fine, thank you.”
“I didn’t quite catch your name,” he noted, turning to her.
Lady Augustine grinned tightly and reached back to draw Suzette closer. “Oh, this is my distant relative on my husband’s side, Beatrice. She’s taking a sabbatical from her studies to help keep an old woman company.”
Dorian held out his hand.
Suzette froze a little.
Dorian noticed. He gently took up her limp hand and gave it a soft, lingering kiss, glancing up to see her blush before letting her go. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Miss Beatrice,” he whispered, an alluring hum in his voice.
His presence was so charming that she never wanted to leave. But deep in her core, Suzette couldn’t help but feel that dreadful darkness she’d felt the first time they met start to creep in. She thought of Dante and wondered what he would do if he were standing there with them.
Dorian smiled, drawing back. “You know, you look awfully familiar. Are you sure we haven’t met before?”
Suzette’s mission settled back inside of her. She fought the desire to settle into his honey-coated words and instead straightened her back, feeling a strength build. “I’m sure I would remember meeting you, Mr. Gray.”
He chuckled at that. “Please. Call me Dorian.” Glancing over at the old woman, he nodded toward Suzette and asked, “Do you mind?”
Lady Augustine stepped away. “No, not at all.”
Dorian downed the rest of his drink and set it on the table. “Wonderful.” He stepped forward in one swift motion, capturing Suzette’s hand in his and tucking it expertly in the crook of his arm as he walked toward the dance floor. His fluidity showed that he was well-practiced. “I hope you’ll allow me to keep you company for a while, Miss Beatrice.”
Suzette’s breath caught in her throat for a moment, but she slowly let it out, settling herself in the act. “I’d be delighted.”
“So, you really just keep the old woman company?” he asked. The stink of alcohol lingered on him, showing he wasn’t as in control as she anticipated he’d be.
“Yes. And I help her schedule her appointments and things. She’s sort of labeled me as more of an assistant.”
Dorian whirled her out and drew her against him, swaying with the crowd of dancers. “Doesn’t seem like the kindest thing to do to a relative—just put you to work and make you an assistant.”
“Oh, no! I agreed.” She prayed to the Lord to guide her feet; she didn’t want Dorian to lose interest by her lack of dancing skills. Luckily, he seemed too tipsy to be concerned with his own feet. And surprisingly, she flowed with his movements much easier than she thought she would. She marveled at her ability to almost anticipate his next move. With that comfort, she relaxed into her character, Beatrice Portinari. Glancing around the room, Suzette paused at the sight of Lady Augustine socializing with the strange, dark man she’d seen on stage.
The old woman seemed so drawn into their talk. Her hand nestled over her heart as he spoke.
Suzette couldn’t help herself. “Who’s that?”
Dorian followed her gaze. “That’s the host. Baron Dragomir Constantin. He’s a very powerful man.”
She studied the odd, giddy smile that erupted on Lady Augustine’s face as Baron Constantin continued to talk. The old woman abruptly gestured to Suzette. The Baron’s eyes fell heavily on her.
She drew in a sharp breath and looked away before they could lock her in.
“You seem very interested in him.”
She glanced up at Dorian’s quizzical face and relaxed, knowing she was free from the odd man. “Oh, no,” she lied. “Just trying to keep track of Lady Augustine. You know, being a good relative.”
His interrogating stare softened. “You mean assistant?”
She sighed in faux-annoyance. “Of course.”
“If you were my assistant, I promise I would make it all worth your while,” he whispered.
“Oh really?” she challenged.
“You’d come to all my parties. Real parties. Not like this.”
Unable to think of something witty to say, she replied, “I’ve never been to a real party.” Her nerves made it breathier than intended, but he smiled.
“We’ll just have to change that,” he said. “What do you say? Drop the hag and come work for me.”
Suzette fought a smile. “Oh, yeah? And what will I get out of it?”
He chuckled darkly. “Whatever you want.”
“I don’t know.” She glanced up at him from under her dark lashes. “You may not be fun enough for me.”
He liked that. “Not fun enough, huh?”
She shook her head.
Leaning in, he whispered, “I’ll change your mind.”
“We’ll see,” she concluded elusively, acting bored. It was time to get to business. “So, tell me… Do you get to deal with any interesting people in your career besides celebrities?”
“I do. Queens, Counts, whole organizations, even,” he explained, trying to sound interesting. “Weapon specialists, scientists, that kind of stuff. I prefer those people over these mindless celebrities who would do anything to get their name in lights.”
That surprised her coming from such a pompous man. “The idea of people bowing down to the very mention of you never seduced you before, Mr. Gray?”
“Not anymore,” he said, serious a moment. “So many actors agree to things they don’t understand just to get what they want. I’d never do something I don’t understand. It’s ignorant.” His smile softened. “And please, Mr. Gray was my father. It’s Dorian.”
“Dorian,” she said, trying not to sound too uncomfortable. “So, you said scientists before. The advances in science these days fascinate me. Is that what prompts you to make connections with them?”
“They’re ambitious,” he told her. “They strive to make breakthroughs in the medical field and I fully support that.”
“Anything new that strikes your interest?”
“Yes, actually.” He grinned in excitement. “There’s advances in genetic studies that I’m looking into right now. They’re going to change the world.”
She raised an eyebrow, fighting back her own excitement. “Change the world, huh? And just who is this scientist who’s going to make it all happen? Anyone I’ve heard of?” She looked away, acting disinterested but desperately waiting for his answer.
He chuckled. “No, just some Jekyll fellow. You woul
dn’t know him.” He locked eyes with her once more. “I’m funding his project, providing him with everything he needs.”
“That’s very noble of you, Dorian. You must know him well to put such trust in his work.”
“You can say we’re close.” But that was all he said, and she had a feeling that was all she would get. His eyes lit up again as he took her off the dance floor. He grabbed them both a drink. “I bet you’re eager for a little excitement in your life, am I right?” He downed his glass before she could answer. “After all, babysitting an old woman hardly seems thrilling for someone your age. And I like women who are looking for excitement.” He winked at her as he grabbed another glass. “You might just make this party worthwhile for me.”
“And what makes you say that?” she asked.
He took a drink. “Because now I have something to look forward to after the party.”
Not understanding, she grinned a bit and brought the cup up close to her mouth. She didn’t know there was an after party. It wasn’t on the schedule.
When she caught on, her stomach churned in disgust until a plan quickly spun off in her head.
As he looked away, she exchanged her cup for an empty one on the passing server’s tray. When he looked back, she brought the empty glass from her lips with a smile. As he stared, surprised, she raised a brow at him.
The challenge thrilled him and he grabbed another flute of champagne and raised it. “To fun,” he toasted.
Choosing another full glass, Suzette raised hers in return. “To fun,” she echoed, clinking her glass to his. Then she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, letting him draw her deeper into the sea of party-goers.
Throughout their time, Dorian spoke only of himself, his accomplishments, and all the fun things he had done. Never once did he ask Suzette about herself. No, her time was over. Every now and then, she would switch her glass, sometimes with an empty flute, sometimes half-empty, just to keep him guessing. He would match her cup with another of his own, and after a while, his words began to slur, just as she expected. When she kept going with the cups, he almost seemed upset that he couldn’t hold his alcohol like her.
Finally, he began to sway. He grabbed her newest full glass and set it down.
“Hey,” he said in a husky voice. Then he grabbed her and pulled her against him. “This party’s boring.”
“I think so, too.” She smiled, pleased with how comfortable she felt in this façade—with the confidence she had in her plan.
“Let’s get outta here,” he whispered. “How ‘bout that after party, hmm?”
“That sounds fun,” she lied.
He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and jerked on a passing server’s arm. “Hey, get s’meone t’ pull my limo around,” he ordered.
The man nodded and was gone in a flash.
While Dorian mumbled after the server, Suzette surveyed the room. Everyone was too busy with their own business to notice their exit. Even Lady Augustine was too engrossed by the Baron to try and keep an eye on her. The Baron, however, glanced in Suzette’s direction, forcing her to turn her eyes away once more. After regaining composure, she tried looking around again. She picked through the faces, hoping to recognize the Hunter all dressed up and ready to party, but there was still no sign of him.
“Now I need s’meone to show me how t’ get outta this hell-hole,” Dorian started, raising his hand to signal someone.
Hastily, she lowered his hand and intertwined their fingers together. “Let me show you.”
Dorian laughed mischievously at that and let her guide him through the thick curtains, out the revolving doors, and outside where the photographers were long gone and the city seemed quieter. There, a limo waited for them. She helped him in, though it proved harder than expected now that he was tripping over his own feet. Once inside, he sprawled himself out on the backseat, humming to himself. Suzette sat at a distance, more comfortable with a drunk Dorian Gray than a flirty Dorian Gray.
“Driver!” he boomed. “You know where t’take me.”
The driver nodded and pulled away.
Dorian fell quiet a moment, but then he started laughing.
Suzette stared awkwardly for a moment and then asked, “What’s so funny?”
“I don’t know!” he confessed, as if he found something hilarious. Then he straightened up and pointed to her, full of energy. “I know you!” he insisted. “I’ve seen you before all this! Where?!”
“Maybe in your dreams.”
He laughed at the thought.
She laughed with him.
—
Abraham took the painting off the wall and propped it against the front door. He stared intently at the safe as he listened to the two partygoers laughing in his earpiece. He took the device out, draped the wire over his shoulder, and got to work. He grinned a little, amazed at his ability to isolate the sound of each gear and cog inside the machine, guiding him in the right path. After searching through Jekyll’s room down the hall and finding nothing, Abraham was certain what he needed was in Dorian’s suite. Apparently, the star didn’t trust the scientist enough to pass off the responsibility.
As Abraham listened for clicks while he spun the knob, he wondered how far off the girl was with the star, only knowing that they were in the limo. He couldn’t help but having listened amusedly to their party conversation while he waited for Jekyll to leave his hotel room. He could tell in Suzette’s voice that she’d been unbearably uncomfortable at first, but she’d seemed to slip into her role fairly easy. She had guided the conversation well, considering her company, even after having gotten caught up on whatever baron had hosted the party. Now, she and Dorian were both getting closer, but there was no telling how hard it would be for her to steer a drunk into an elevator. Hopefully, her inexperience would slow them down. Abraham knew what the celebrity would do if he sobered up enough, but Suzette could handle herself. If it were any other girl, he’d have been concerned, but not with Suzette. Even though Abraham treated her as incompetent, he knew deep within himself that she was far more capable—in more ways than one—of handling someone like Dorian Gray. She’ll be fine. And if not, I’ll be close by.
Abraham felt so in tune, that he managed to open the safe even while his thoughts wandered to the girl. He took the back of his free hand and ran it across his forehead, wiping the sweat off of it as he stared inside at the contents. A wallet, a crumpled piece of paper, and a stack of files. He took up the first file and opened it up to see Dante’s picture and a page of his information. Abraham studied it a moment and slid the earpiece back into place.
“Let me get that for you.”
The words rang through the machine in Abraham’s ear, but they echoed at the door as well. Blood boiling, he closed the safe and twisted the knob, shoving Dante’s file in his jacket. He quickly picked up the large painting and set it back into place in front of the safe. Then he darted across the living room, pushed through the blustery curtains at the far end of the room, swung open the glass doors, and stepped onto the balcony just as the couple walked in. Frustrated, he hung close, knowing she would jump on the chance to snoop through the suite whenever she found the opportunity. Shivering soon replaced his sweating as he lingered in the cold night air. He let out a quiet sigh, telling himself she wouldn’t find the files. No, he would get them later. She would breeze by them in her search. He just had to wait her out. But he felt uneasy. I can’t let her get those to files, he grumbled to himself. If I do, I’ll never see the end of her. He glanced in through the thin gap in the curtains to see how the scene would unfold.
The girl walked in with Dorian hanging off of her shoulder. Abraham chuckled once at the perplexed look on her face hidden under a small blush. When the door was shut behind them, the star loomed over her, closed his eyes, and sloppily tried to kiss her.
Her whole body tensed for a brief moment before she quickly turned and welcomed herself into the suite, swaying her hips in a mature, alluring manner. “Ni
ce little set up you got, Dorian.”
The actor stumbled forward and caught himself on the wall, knocking the painting in front of the safe out of place. Abraham flinched at the sight but quickly relaxed when it settled. Steady once more, Dorian chuckled at the girl and pushed himself up, struggling with the buttons of his jacket. When he couldn’t manage them, he popped his jacket open, sending the buttons clanking to the ground.
The sound drew Suzette’s attention. She turned away again, tucked her hair behind her ears, and coughed before facing him with more confidence.
Abraham began to chuckle at the scene but grimaced as the world around him began to swirl. He tottered back into the balcony railing and tried to still the stars that spun above him. Closing his eyes, he slid down to the cold concrete and held his head.
I need to sleep, he scolded himself. It had been days since he had even a nap. I need to sleep, but I can’t—not with the files so close.
But he knew the girl would be busy with Dorian for a while. And after the actor left the picture, she would be eager to find something to help her grandiose scheme. She wouldn’t—Abraham was sure of it. If she did happen upon the safe, he would walk in and snatch the files up before she could get a hand on them. There was no use hiding himself from her anyway.
I’ll wait, he concluded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny, golden cross, rubbing the old trinket between his finger and thumb. I’ll just sit here. Maybe close my eyes for just a little while I wait…
—
Dorian shrugged off the coat, tossing it aside onto the floor by the couch as his eyes trailed his prey up and down. Reaching for his shirt buttons next, he took a step. “Glad ya’ like the place, Beatrice.”
Suzette moved toward the coat, creating distance between them. “Where’s this after party you promised, huh?” She took up the jacket and draped it on the side of the couch. “I was looking forward to a little fun.”
He chuckled, his voice suddenly behind her. “The fun’s right here.”
Her body shot up and stepped to the side, elegantly leaning back on the furniture as the actor tried to advance.
Blind World (The Onyx Fox Saga Book 1) Page 31