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“You must have gone to school with Rogen Angelini and Vin D’Angelo in River Cross,” Lex guessed.
“They and Jewel Catalano are three years older than me, so I didn’t see them in school after the sixth grade, but certainly at their estates. Scarlet Drake, as well, whose grandmother is—”
“L. C. Seymour,” Jax casually interjected. “The bestselling mystery writer.”
“A lot of her novels have been turned into movies,” Lily added.
“Do you also know Christian Davila?” Jax asked.
“Sure. He owns Bristol’s. The Angelinis hosted my graduation party there, and he and Rory St. James made an appearance. Chef St. James flew in a pastry chef from Paris to make my cake and other desserts, on behalf of the Angelinis.”
It’d been an incredible evening and she’d be forever indebted to Rogen’s family for treating hers so well. Lily knew the party was mostly a show of respect to her father for his years of loyalty and discretion; she’d been grateful for their generosity nonetheless.
“Well, then,” Lex mused as he closed the cover of his notebook. “The New Year’s Eve party Jax and I are throwing will be like a reunion for you, because all of the aforementioned people have RSVP’d. With the exception of Anthony, Sophia, and Jewel Catalano, who are apparently ringing in the New Year in Vienna.”
A convenient out for them, Lily mentally contended. Because the Catalanos wouldn’t be caught dead at the same party as the Angelinis. The wounds ran that deep.
Lily said, “This’ll be a treat for me. I haven’t been home in a while, so I never see anyone—and Rogen and Vin have been working in the Italian headquarters up until recently, I heard.”
“Just returned a couple of months ago,” Lex said. “That’s when Jax and I met them for the first time. At the Bayfront Yacht Club. They were sailing that day.”
“A favorite pastime for them both.” Lily smiled brightly at the prospect of seeing Rogen and Vin, who’d been goo
d friends to her while she was growing up. As well as Scarlet and Scarlet’s bestie, Bayli Styles.
Lily had lost touch with everyone when she’d moved to the city. Mostly because she’d chosen to rent an apartment in the Outer Richmond District, close to the water and the Cliff House. Jewel, Scarlet, and Bayli had lived in San Francisco during their college days, but might as well have been a million miles away in North Beach, so Lily had rarely seen them.
She was looking forward to some quick catch-ups while she served them all at the party. Naturally, she felt a familiar tinge of inferiority about being the hired help among her glamorous and jet-setting acquaintances, but it was no secret to anyone in River Cross that she came from humble beginnings and would stay there. Lily had always been a hard worker, and no one had ever discounted that. So she could let it roll off her back that she’d be the girl handing out the glasses of expensive champagne, not the one drinking them.
Lex and Jax polished off their plates, and Lily cleared the table again. She left the terrace with the cart. In the kitchen, she assured Greta everything had gone beautifully with the brunch service, and the house manager was pleased.
Over the next couple of days, Lily fell more comfortably into step with her tasks, not disrupting her bosses as they immersed themselves in their project. And she sensed the two men were finding a more productive creative channel.
Sure enough, on New Year’s Eve morning, Greta informed Lily, “Evidently, things are heating up with the new compositions, so I’m moving you to a suite upstairs. You will have to be available to Lex and Jax at all times.”
It came as a warning, though Lily was already well aware her duties weren’t limited to the hours of eight to five.
“I’m fully prepared for that,” she insisted. “Was expecting it, actually. My family lived in ancillary housing for servants on the Angelini estate, and my father spent the majority of his time in the mansion. I’m completely amenable to the commitment involved.” And it was just two months out of her life. With one hell of a big payoff—if she didn’t fuck it up by visibly drooling over her employers.
Greta further told her, “I’ve sent information for tonight’s festivities to your in-room iPad. Specifically regarding the VIPs who will surround Lex and Jax. I know it’s a tight time line, but you’ll need to put faces to names and know their preferred cocktails—though always ask if there’s something else they’d like.”
“Got it. I’ve worked a lot of private parties on the side, plus I know a number of the guests attending. And the memory rocks.” She tapped a fingertip against her temple.
“Good. Now, there’s one more thing. Your attire for the evening has already been selected by Lex and Jax and I’ve had everything delivered to your suite. The ensemble comes with accessories. Extremely expensive accessories. In fact, two guards from Cartier will be keeping tabs on the crowd—and you.”
With a soft laugh, Lily said, “So I don’t abscond with the jewels?”
“To make sure nothing happens to the jewels.”
“I can’t imagine anyone on the guest list would back me into a dark corner and steal whatever it is I’m going to be wearing.”
“Security is always of utmost importance.”
“As are appearances,” Lily said, giving a quick nod. “If they want the hired help glammed to the max, so be it.”
“Precisely.”
Another thought occurred to her. “Will Mr. Alexander and Mr. Sterling be playing this evening? For their friends?”
