Chapter 2
Marble stretched long under chandeliers. Light threw gold across floor. My heels clicked. Sound too loud.
I didn't look back. Andre's stare hit my back anyway. Guests held champagne mid-air. No music covered silence.
Clutch pressed left palm. Beaded straps dug shoulder. Slit brushed thigh with each step. I kept breathing even. In through nose, out slow. Silver sequins caught light with every move. Table edge came closer. Floral centerpieces blurred.
Dance floor ended. I reached marble border where carpet met tile. Hand tightened around clutch. Knuckles white under silver bracelet. Chandelier earrings swung once.
Gold shimmer moved behind me. Older woman in gold sequined gown followed. Short gray curls, pearl necklace bouncing. She caught my elbow. Light grip, not hard.
"Honey, please," she whispered. Breath warm, voice low. "Not here. Not tonight. Keep quiet for him."
I kept eyes forward. Didn't pull arm away. Didn't give her more.
She leaned closer. Champagne glass still in other hand. "He worked hard for this night. Forty means something. Don't make scene worse."
I swallowed. Throat tight. She wanted quiet protect son image. I understood motive. Didn't agree.
"He asked me to leave," I said. Quiet. Same words Andre heard seconds before. No louder.
Her fingers loosened. Eyes darted to Andre still frozen near cake. Cake sat left edge, black and gold tiers, white flowers, gold stand steady. Andre's 40th Birthday Party text caught light.
Second shadow cut between us. Woman in dark green satin gown stepped in. Thigh slit flashed as she moved. She held champagne flute steady. Other hand lifted green bottle with gold foil.
"Margaret, let her breathe," she said. Voice calm, low enough guests wouldn't hear. She tilted bottle. Poured slow stream into older woman's glass. Bubbles rose. Diversion deliberate. Guests' eyes tracked pour, not my face.
Older woman glanced at pour, then at me. Conflict crossed her face.
Green satin woman shifted body. Blocked line of sight between me and Andre. Her shoulder set square. Protected my exit without touching me.
"Walk," she murmured to me. Not command. Offer.
I took step. Then another. Marble reflected chandelier light under my shoes. Alcove opened past floral arrangement near hallway entrance. Hallway cooler, dimmer than ballroom. Quiet lived there.
Behind me Andre finally moved. Shoe scuffed marble. Watch on left wrist flashed. Ring caught light.
Older woman saw. Hand lifted fast. Palm toward him. Signal stay. Sharp small gesture mother uses stop child cross street.
Andre halted. Mouth half open again. Stunned freeze broke but mother held him place. Guests formed soft wall between us now, bodies turning, whispering.
I reached alcove. Back wall cool. Beaded sheer draping slipped off shoulder slightly. I fixed it without looking. Breath still controlled but chest rose higher now. Safe distance made lungs work harder.
Noise from ballroom dulled here. Warm gold light still spilled across floor but alcove shadowed. I pressed back against wall briefly. Clutch stayed closed against ribs. Contents pressed once, hard edge inside. Didn't open. Not here.
Older woman stayed near dance floor, hand now on green satin woman's arm. Andre stood beyond them, isolated by guests staring. Mother and son separated by three tables, floral centerpieces, poured champagne.
May you like
I stayed alone in alcove. Hallway stretched empty toward restrooms and exit doors I didn't take. Not yet. Door stayed closed. Night air waited beyond but I held position.
Footsteps didn't follow immediately. Space held.
