Page 5 of Monster

“I thought I’d never find you in this crowd,” I said.

She wrapped her arm around me. “Gentlemen, this is my daughter, Charlotte. She’ll be taking over the firm for me when I finally choose to step down.”

A man in a gray suit barked with laughter. “Which will be never, Gloria. You know that.”

Mom smiled politely. “Well, I’ll die at some point and someone will have to take over that place.”

I hissed at her. “Mom, seriously?”

She shrugged. “It’s true! Can’t fight against the truth, can we?”

Gray Suit grinned. “But you can scoot it over a bit.”

I paused. “Wait, what?”

Mom hopped back in. “Charlotte, this is Niles and Raymond Buttress.”

I offered them my hand. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”

Gray Suit—also named Niles—shook my hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

Raymond shook my hand next. “Might I be able to secure a spot on your lovely dance card for the evening, Miss Charlotte?”

Mom smiled brightly. “I’m sure she’d love it. Right, sweetheart?”

However, as I looked over at my mother with Raymond pressing a kiss against the back of my hand, all I thought about was Mr. Mysterious.

And why he ran off so quickly when he figured out my name.

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