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My hand tightened around my clutch.
Elise crossed the room with a glass of champagne.
“Vanessa,” she said. “What a spectacular evening. No one understands elegance like you.”
“Thank you, Elise. I’m glad you could join us.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” Her eyes shifted to Grant. “Tonight feels important.”
“It is,” Grant said.
I watched them stand beneath my lighting, surrounded by my flowers, inside my design, and understood that they had mistaken the setting for their stage.
Elise glanced at my gown.
“Midnight blue is such a powerful color on you.”
“How kind.”
“Grant mentioned you might wear it.”
“I know. He asked me to.”
Something like amusement touched her mouth.
“Did he?”
“Yes,” I said. “He’s been very specific lately.”
Grant cleared his throat. “Elise, I think Douglas was looking for you near the donor wall.”
Elise’s eyes lingered on mine.
“Of course. We’ll talk later.”
“No,” I said pleasantly. “We won’t.”
Her smile held.
Then she walked away.
Grant turned to me. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You sounded sharp.”
“It must be the acoustics.”
His jaw tightened. “Vanessa, tonight is not the night for insecurity.”
There it was.
The old weapon.
I looked up at him. “You’re right.”
He relaxed.
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