Page 132 of Suite 7

“Kane? You in here?”

We freeze.

Sloane.

Kane’s eyes find mine in the dark. His gaze moves — deliberate, brief — to the far corner.

I slide off the ledge. Move fast, barefoot, heels in my hand, into the shadow behind the pillar. A canvas leans against it — large, unframed. In the dark I can just make out the blurred fields of color. A Rothko.

I press my back against the pillar. From here I can see the door, the thin line of corridor light beneath it. I cannot be seen.

Kane crosses the floor. The lock disengages.

“Hey.” Controlled. Completely controlled. “What’s up?”

“What are you doing in here?” Sloane sounds amused, easy, unsuspecting. The door opens wider and light spills in a narrow wedge across the floor. “Your assistant said you’d disappeared.”

“Needed a minute. It’s a lot of people.”

“Fair.” A pause. I can hear her looking around the room. My pulse is very loud. “Come back out. Lisa’s looking for you.”

I press myself flatter against the pillar.

“I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Well don’t be long.” Her voice softens. “Actually, Kane. About the whole Lisa thing. I know you think I meddle.”

“You do meddle.”

“I meddle because I love you.” No deflection. Just her. “You deserve someone good. Someone who makes you happy. Someone uncomplicated who won’t bring drama into your life.”

Someone uncomplicated.

I’m hidden behind a painting in a dark room with his vibrator inside me.

“I hear you,” Kane says. Not one thing in his voice.

“Just think about it. She’s lovely. And she actually understands what you do.” A pause. “Have you seen Vera, by the way? I’ve been looking for her.”

I stop breathing.

“Vera? No. Why?”

“She keeps disappearing. She seemed off all night — flushed, distracted. I’m a little worried.”

She was worried. She has been walking around this gala, looking for me, worried about me.

While I was in here kissing her brother.

I press my forehead to the cold pillar and stay very still.

“She probably stepped outside,” Kane says. “You know her. If she needs air, she takes it.”

“I checked the side entrance.”

“Try the front. I think I saw her heading that way earlier.”

“Okay. Yeah.” Sloane sounds reassured. “Will you come help me look in a few minutes? Just — I want to know she’s okay.”