Page 43 of Jane's Story
The music broke. A splash of guilt washed over me for enjoying the evening despite our main objective. “I guess we should start questioning people to see how they respond.”
“Yes, let’s stay together as much as possible, though. Safer that way.” Charles placed his hand on the small of my back as we exited the dance floor.
I retrieved my camera bag from our table and took a moment to snap several more photos. The dance floor, groups of people still talking at tables or near the podium. I didn’t know most of them, but I could still tell who was the most influential. Some people attracted others, pulling them into their orbit. While others hung back in the shadows, looking to follow others’ lead.
“We could start withLance,” I suggested.
Charles nodded. “If we can get his attention.”
Lance socialized near the podium. Several professionals stood around him, asking questions. So we made our way to the group. A stout but broad-shouldered gentleman with a substantial mustache clapped Lance on the shoulder. “You’ve got some solid plans then, don’t you?”
Lance basked in the attention, which meant this was a good time to catch him off guard.
“Hey Lance, congratulations on your award. Well deserved. Too bad we can’t book you a suite on the eighteenth floor to celebrate.” Charles grasped Lance’s hand and shook it firmly while I snapped a photo.
But Lance didn’t even blink. He smiled broadly at Charles’s compliment. “Thank you. I have a vacation planned next month, which will cover my celebration pretty well.”
Either he was an exceptional actor, or he knew nothing of the eighteenth floor. I jotted his reaction in my notebook. Ashley stood in a far corner chatting with the same black gentleman as before. She flirted, reaching for and smoothing the front of his tux.
“Ashley is over there with another guy. We could say we’re getting photos of employees with you.” I gestured toward Ashley.
“That works,” Charles agreed. “The guy with her is Ethan. He helps with public relations.”
The corner of Ashley’s upper lip raised for when we interrupted them. “Hey Ashley and Ethan, can we get a photo of the three of us for the newsletter?”
Charles’s ability to charm people into compliance served us well. They both agreed, but before I clicked the camera, he added, “Hey did you know this building actually has eighteen floors? I thought it was only seventeen. Wild right?”
“Nice.” Ashley shrugged.
“I hadn’t thought about how many floors there were,” Ethan said without looking away from my camera.
“Thank you,” I said as I pulled Charles away. Then whispered to him, “No reaction I saw.”
Catalina had circled the room all evening, checking on guests, attending to their needs, and smiling like all she wanted in this world was to serve them. At the moment she walkedin our direction.
I hurried toward her. “Catalina. Can we get a photo of you and Charles together for the company newsletter?”
She blinked at me as if she hadn’t noticed my presence. “Of course. I’m relieved this whole event is winding down.”
Charles caught up with me and stood beside Catalina, and before I clicked the camera, he repeated the same line he’d used with Ashley to her. Just after I snapped the photo, a loud crashing noise echoed behind me. I nearly dropped my camera and spun around to see what had happened.
A server had dropped a tray of drinks. He stood by the slip hazard, shooing guests away as another server came running with a mop.
“Sorry, I need to help them.” Catalina jumped into action to minimize the disorder, steering guests away from the spill.
Owen and Kyle sat at a table, chatting with a few colleagues. Owen must’ve noticed me watching him because he waved when we made eye contact.
“Let’s talk to them.” I patted Charles’s arm, and we left Catalina to handle the servers. We wove through the crowd to their table.
Deep in conversation, Kyle didn’t notice our arrival. But Owen stood as we approached to shake our hands. “Charles, how’s your evening going? Jane, your dress is ravishing.”
I blushed. He probably didn’t realize the term wasn’t as well received as it might’ve been twenty years ago. “It’s been lovely. Such an elegant event. We’re still a bit…” I looked around at his group of colleagues, not sure if any of them knew about Armond. So I said nothing else.
Owen’s expression flattened, and he nodded, keeping his words cryptic. “Yes, it’s certainly that. Please have a seat. Any word on… you know?”
Charles nodded and tapped Kyle on the shoulder, inviting him to step away from the table for a moment. Once out of earshot, Charles apologized. “I didn’t want anyone else hearing us. But we’ve learned a few things. First, there’s an eighteenth floor to the hotel that the housekeepers use to access the upper levels of the penthouse suites.”
Kyle’s eyes widened. “What does that have todo with anything?”
