Page 184 of Gates of Tartarus

Elizabeth groans, rolling her eyes. “Really, Kailani. You’re ridiculous. Coffee?”

“Of course,” I reply, laughing, mind still darting like tiny fish in a pool, thoughts catching light from the surface and then drifting away as I run through my options.I can’t push too hard,I think.Figure it out, Kai, figure it out! Looking more serious now, smile falling away, I add a small tremor to my voice. How do I appeal to her in a natural way? “Do I... um... do I need something different for the VIP area? Like is my dress okay? My shoes?” Fiddling with my phone nervously, flipping it over and over in my hands, I shift in my seat. “Or, like, is there some way I should prepare? Study up on people so I know what to say? I like having a plan.” Sitting up suddenly, I lean forward. “If you brief me, I can be ready. I’m solid when I’ve done the research.”

I know Cole can hear the sincerity in my tone. And it’s true. Idolike having a plan; I’m best when I’ve done my background work. Standing up, she moves to the chair next to me, sits, and takes my hands. “I know you’re nervous, Kailani,” she says gently, “but I promise you that I won’t throw you to the wolves on your own. The VIP area is just to give people who don’t like being gawked at a place to retreat to, to be surrounded by others of their ilk. Anyone with enough money can buy a ticket to the benefit, and many do in order to rub shoulders with the social elite, trying to network. The Royal Family sends representation to this, for example. But so do the major news outlets. We typically get the major Hollywood stars, and global royalty is starting to take notice. Last year we even had Rama X and MBS. But, as terrible as it sounds, MBS isn’t going to donate what we need if he’s surrounded by people goggling at him and asking to take photos with him. Granted, we ask that peoplevoluntarilycheck their mobile devices at the door – it’s part of our security measure, and also enables us to control the media presence – but there are always slips here and there.”

Eyes wide, I point to my own phone. “I can’t... I can’t take this with me?”

She laughs again.EverythingI’m saying today is amusing to her for some reason. “Of courseyoucan, Kailani. I know you won’t be taking selfies with the surrounding elite.”

Raising my brows at her, I feign doubt. “I don’t know, Cole,” I say teasingly. “You mentioned Michael B. Jordan might be there, so no promises.”

Cole flashes a surprisingly devious smile at me. “If Jordan shows, I’ll take the photo for you myself.” Glancing at her watch, she frowns and sighs. “I don’t have too long this morning, sadly. I really thought I'd have time to escort you around the office, but we have some logistical nightmares going on with transportation to the venue. I’ll have Fallon show you where your office will be when we’re here, and introduce you to the vital staff members. Then I’ve taken the liberty of organizing an afternoon at the spa for you and Maela. My driver will pick you up at 2, and should have you home by 8 for an early night. Tomorrow I’ll have someone come over by noon to help you with hair and such… yes?” She cocks her head like a bird when I raise my hand like a child in school.

“Eh. I’m not so sure how that will go. The guys... getting ready in that cottage... it just…”It’s just that you can’t see the plans laid out everywhere, the concealed guns under their tuxedos, the wires strapped to their chests.

Elizabeth taps her mouth thoughtfully with her pencil, then nods in satisfaction. “Say no more. There’s a Bride’s Room at a hotel just down the road from the Drapers’ Company that should work out perfectly. In fact, that’s a wonderful idea.” Her face lights up. “I’ll have Maela come in as well. The three of us can get ready together. It will be significantly more efficient, and I can help with any problems that may arise in the moment.” I can hear Fallon’s fingers typing away behind me, clearly making adjustments to the plans, and I’m struck with a deep sense of having misstepped somehow.

“It’s fine, actually. I’m sure it will be…”

“No, no. This is ideal.” Elizabeth has already turned from me to her desk. “It will give me a chance to show you the layout, where dinner will be, where the VIP area is.” Smiling kindly over her shoulder at me, she adds, “You’ll feel more confident once you’re familiar with the place. Ahhh. Here it is.” Grabbing a folder off the shelves in front of her, she turns back to me and hands it over. “You can review this here, and here only, after Fallon does a quick walk-through of the building. She can take you to the cafeteria and you can grab a snack and a coffee while you look over the anticipated guest list and layout.” Her phone rings, the abrupt noise crawling over my skin, and she shakes her head, rolling her eyes at me in commiseration. “As ever, work calls. Please let me know if there’s anything you need at all. I’ll see you tomorrow, no later than noon!”

Waving me off, she picks up her phone, voice cool and collected. “Elizabeth Cole. Ah! Marcus! Delighted to hear from you…”

From behind me, Fallon gently touches my shoulder to encourage me to walk out the door.

???

“I don’tknow, Madds!” I say in frustration for the third time. “She mentioned a VIP area. I looked over the blueprints, but they were insanely confusing. There seemed to be rooms on them that weren’t on the schemes that we have currently, but I couldn’t be sure without our plans for comparison. Fallon was hanging over me the entire time, so I wasn’t able to study them long enough to memorize them.” Sighing, I rub my temples, the beginnings of a massive headache curling around my head. “The weather must be changing,” I mumble. “I don’t normally have migraines.”

Deo looks up sharply. “You have a migraine?” he asks, concerned, and I squint at him through suddenly painful eyes.

“It’s coming on,” I grind out through clenched teeth. “Christ. Gemms?” I call plaintively, and she uncurls from the corner, walking over to me. “Can you see if you can numb me out?”

I see her face tighten in concentration but don’t feel the usual coolness I associate with her blanking me. Frowning, she tilts her head. “Nothing?” she asks, clearly concerned, and I shake my head.

“It wouldn't, if it’s the weather,” I reply. “It’s okay!” I continue reassuringly. “It’s happened before.”

“Not for a while,” Deo interjects under his breath.

“I know, but given everything else... my shields are still pretty shit, and the time difference... I’m not really surprised. But Iwillhead to bed for a bit, if that’s okay, before I go out with Maela.” The guys all nod, making indistinct noises of comfort.

Well, all except for Madds, who asks again, “There’snothingelse you remember?” Sighing, I rub my temples again.

“I gave you as much as I recalled from the different guest lists. I can try to draw the rooms that I remember?”

Nodding, he passes over a paper, and I try to think through the hammering in my head. As quickly as I can, while still being accurate, I sketch a vague layout. “Livery Hall, capacity 450, Drawing Room, 120, Court Room, 100…” I mumble to myself, citing figures we’ve memorized inside and out over the past week. “Court Dining Room, 120, The Landing… the Garden, 180, the Courtyard, at 150.” Maddox follows along, eyes intent. “But then, Christ, my fucking head. Um... I really think I saw – here, and here, and then maybe here. Then a second grouping…”

The frown on Madd’s face is a canyon of concern. “We haven’t briefedanyof those…” he mutters, texting frantically on his phone.

“I could be wrong, Madds,” I say quietly. “The plans were strange, overlays that were slightly different on each page. The Livery Hall didn’t even appear on one set, and that’s the main room there.”

He shakes his head. “Naw, Kai,” he says distractedly. “Your word is bank. If you say there were extra rooms, there were extra rooms.”

Feeling absurdly touched at his absentminded declaration, I shrug, embarrassed. “Icouldbe wrong,” I repeat, hesitation clear in my voice.

Finally looking up, he levels an even stare at me. “Do you think you’re wrong?”

Sighing, I grimace. “No. I think we’re in trouble.” Looking back over the drawings and blueprints I frown. “Have you made a decision on Gemma yet?”

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