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Felicity glanced at her phone, checking the time and making sure there were no SOS calls from the league of foundation volunteers who had agreed to help out tonight. There were still fifteen minutes until the doors would open and the guests would spill in. Before she’d let herself into the ballroom, she’d checked on the early volunteers who were seated at tables in the atrium near the ballroom, ready to check in the guests as they arrived.
Everything was in place and it all looked absolutely perfect. She took a minute to close her eyes, take a deep breath and savor the calm before the party started. When she opened her eyes, Austin was walking toward her, looking stunning in his Armani tux. She knew it was Armani, because she’d gone with him to render an opinion when he’d purchased it. Like something out of a dream, he floated toward her, smiling. The sight of him made her lips curve upward, too.
“Would it violate a human resources rule or make you feel uncomfortable if I said you look absolutely gorgeous tonight?”
“Not at all, because so do you,” she returned, basking in the glow of his compliment and feeling just this side of giddy because of how all her hard work had come together. “You clean up well, Fortune.”
Actually, he wore a suit to work every day and looked gorgeous. But this tux was above and beyond.
“Yeah, well, I try,” he said. “I met with the security team. I have all but four stationed by the check-in tables. I have one in the lobby, one at valet and two are in this room.” Austin pointed to two well-built men dressed in tuxedos, one stationed at each door. Felicity had thought they were part of the waitstaff.
“They look great. They’ll blend right in.”
“They all have a photo of Charlotte and if they notice anything suspicious, I’ve instructed them to call the police right away.”
Lisa had agreed to work with Felicity to help ensure that the program stayed on track. Austin would be the emcee for the evening, but Felicity would be close by to cue him if he needed to know what came next.
Felicity started to review a few points. “After the doors open, we’ll give people about an hour to get drinks and bid on the items in the silent auction—”
Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Kevin telling her he was at the hotel.
Come have a drink with me. I want to introduce you to my entourage.
Quickly Felicity texted back. Sorry, going over the final details of the gala. See you when the doors open.
Let me in now. I’ll bring you a drink.
She didn’t answer because she knew he would continue to argue the point. He and his entourage—who even said something like that?—would just have to entertain themselves.
When the doors opened, Kevin and his buddies—five guys and a woman—found her straight away. Unfortunately, Felicity was in the middle of trying to locate a missing basketball that had been signed by the New Orleans Pelicans. It had been there before the doors opened because she and Lisa had double-checked all the silent auction items.
Kevin made quick introductions and then she had to scurry off to locate the missing ball, which, it turned out had rolled off its stand and under the table skirt.
The next time Kevin found her, she was with Austin in one of the hallways off the ballroom that led to the kitchen, coaching him on his welcome remarks.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Kevin seemed a little miffed and looked at them like he’d stumbled upon a secret liaison. “Your dinner is still on the table. The servers keep trying to take it away. Do you want it?”
“Kevin, I’m so sorry,” she said. “After the opening remarks and the first dance, things should slow down a little. Thanks for bearing with me until then.”
He grunted something she didn’t quite catch and then disappeared out the way he’d come.
Austin’s welcome speech went off perfectly. The only small hitch to the program came right before he was supposed to take the dance floor with his sister, when Savannah’s shoe broke. The first dance was traditionally danced by a couple of the Fortunes and it was meant to get the party started. This year, the honor was Austin and Savannah’s.
“Felicity, I can’t go out there in bare feet. I’ll step on my dress.” Savannah held up a pair of five-inch heels.
