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To their credit, they all turned to smile at me before they went back to their conversations, some even giving me brief waves, but as she proceeded to lead me further in and tell me their names, I quickly learned that her and Alex’s so-called friends were some of the most influential people in town.

I’d read these names in news articles and seen pictures of these faces in the tabloids staring up at me from grocery store counters. They were successful people, important, wealthy, and way out of my league. Yet every last one of them was friendly enough as they shook my hand. Even if I heard two of the guys comparing notes on yachts—without laughing.

Holy shit, they’re not joking.

Alex stood when I approached. “Alicia.”

“Hi.”

He smiled and offered his hand. “It’s good to finally see you outside of the library. Jane was thrilled you were able to join us.”

“Thanks for having me.”

I shook with him, surprised once again that he seemed so normal. Alex Westwood was the stuff legends were made of in business circles, but on the very rare occasion I’d met him before, he’d never been pretentious or cocky. In fact, Alex and Jane had both always come across as nothing but kind and caring.

“Of course, I’m thrilled she’s here. You should be too. Alicia is the reason half our library events run as smoothly as they do,” Jane said from my side. “I’d be screwed without her.”

I felt my cheeks flush and prayed my dollar-store makeup was good enough to hide it. “Oh, I’m not sure that’s true. You’re the brains behind the operation.”

She shrugged. “My ideas wouldn’t mean anything if I didn’t have the best right-hand woman in the history of right-hand women.”

A few of the people who’d been with Alex when we’d approached finally tuned into the conversation.

Jane smiled as she looked around the circle. “I’m serious. She helps organize the galas and fundraising events every year and she’s incredible.”

I shook my head. “I’m moderately competent. At best.”

Alex laughed and Jane sighed, handing over a glass of white wine. I accepted it happily, grateful that it gave my hands something to do while also wondering whether these people could tell how often I ate noodles for dinner.

When the conversation finally moved away from me, I stood in relieved silence, simply listening to them talk about work, upcoming events, and kids. Just normal life stuff, which I found odd. Outside of that one conversation about yachts, nobody even mentioned a bloated stock portfolio or an exceptionally ruthless hostile takeover.

Huh, would you look at that? These people are actually nice.

I’d thought I would be going home and telling Tasha I’d spent the evening being judged by rich strangers, but instead, they included me in their conversations as we drifted toward the dining table, asking questions about my life, my work at the library, and even listening to my answers.

Alex took the seat next to mine, friendly to a fault as he turned toward me. “So, Alicia, where are you from? I feel like I’ve spent the last few years hearing your name more often than I’ve heard my own. The kids adore you. As does my wife.”

I chuckled. “I adore them right back, and I’m from right here, actually. Chicago, born and raised.”

“Really?” he asked. “Same here. Whereabouts?”

“Oh, I, uh, I have a house in Hyde Park, but I only lived there until I was seven. I grew up in the suburbs after that.”

A flicker of confusion mingled with surprise in his eyes. “You own a house in Hyde Park?”

“Yeah, I inherited it from my parents,” I explained lightly. “After they died, I was raised by my aunt and uncle at their house, which is why I grew up in the suburbs.”

Sympathy softened his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” I gave him the smile I’d been practicing basically my whole life. “It was a long time ago, though.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make it suck any less, does it?” He took a swig of his wine, sounding like he actually knew what he was talking about. Briefly, I wondered who he’d lost, but I decided not to pry. “At least you still have the house, right? It must be nice to have been able to keep that connection to them.”

“It was.”

“Was?” he asked, frowning. “I thought you said you still have the house?”

Shit.