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“Wow,” the Paradise Cove resident she’d been talking to commented. “Your opponent surely knows how to make an entrance. Niko has gone and brought Cinderella to the ball.”
Monique didn’t respond, couldn’t. But had she answered, she would have had to agree. Niko’s date was tall, equaling Niko’s height in her red-bottomed heels. She wore a wine-colored gown, which highlighted her tanned skin and jet-black hair, and stood out in a sea of silver. Even from across the room, Monique could tell that her features were flawless, her smile was radiant and she was exactly the type of woman Niko would choose. They made a perfect pair.
She wanted to head to the ladies’ room a moment to clear her head. But it wasn’t meant to be. Monique was cornered by a prominent citizen whose grandchildren attended Paradise Cove Elementary. She didn’t stop to take a breath while making a very strong case to have a full-scale fire department built in the town within the next two years. Monique listened, while taking small steps toward the hall that led to the ladies’ room.
“It should come before a hospital,” the woman added. “If we’d had one, the school may have been saved. And we’ve got a top-notch medical facility just thirty minutes away!”
After listening for as long as she could without appearing rude, she reached for the woman’s hand. “You’ve made an excellent point. If elected, my team will take everything you’ve said under careful advisement. Please excuse me. There’s something I need to do.”
That thing she’d told Niko she never did. Run!
But it was too late. When she looked up, there he was.
“Hello, Gladys,” he said to the woman who’d barred Monique’s escape. He turned to her with hand outstretched. “Good evening, Monique.”
“Good evening, Niko.”
“You look lovely.”
“Thank you.”
“Monique, I’d like you to meet Zaria Hakimi. Zaria, this is Monique Slater, my formidable mayoral opponent.”
Zaria smiled at Monique sincerely. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said, with hand outstretched.
She was even more beautiful up close, Monique decided as she worked to get five measly letters past her suddenly dry lips. She was flustered, angry at herself for how she was feeling, and chose to try to regain her footing by putting her relationship to him in perspective.
“Hello.” She shook Zaria’s hand. “Are you a resident of Paradise Cove?”
“Not yet,” she said, looking directly at Monique, though the comment was clearly not meant for her.
“It’s a wonderful place to live. And should you decide to move there…I’d like to be your mayor.”
Zaria chuckled, a wonderful sound, like bells in the breeze. Her lyrical accent was equally charming. She turned to Niko. “Going after your supporters right in your face. I like her.” Her eyes swept Monique’s attire. “I love what you’re wearing. That color is perfect for you.”
Seriously? Did she have to be beautiful and a nice person, too? “It doesn’t compare to your gown,” Monique responded. “It’s just amazing. With all of the crystals and that lace? I could never wear something like that, but on you, it’s effortless.”
She looked down just as Niko slid his arm around Zaria’s waist. It was more a gentlemanly than possessive gesture, but a monster greener than the emerald ring on Zaria’s finger sidled up beside her and whispered, Wish it were you?
She was saved from her own thoughts when Niko’s parents walked up.
“Monique, have you met my mother?” Niko asked.
“No, I haven’t had the pleasure.”
Monique greeted Ike Sr. and met Jennifer, who along with some of their children had been backstage talking to some of the organizers of tonight’s gala. She also said hello to Ike Jr. and his date before finally escaping when Lance found her and pulled her away.
“Enjoy the evening,” she said to the general group in parting. Niko looked at Monique. Outwardly his expression was casual, but Monique had studied his eyes enough to know that there was something going on in that well-groomed, close-cropped head of his.
