Zoe’s eyes found Archer in the crowd. Many people surrounded him, and he looked so at ease. While she stood there, like a stranger in the crowd. The thought made her heart drop. Archer’s ambitions needed one of those socialites by his side. One who could organize this type of event. He had come from the darkest part of Britain, but he had battled and risen to amazing heights. People might think that it was due to his late wife’s money, but Zoe knew better. He could have thrown it all away, gone back to the criminal side, but instead, he had honored her memory.
Vasiliev started talking to people greeting him, allowing Zoe to slowly inch away. Music started floating from a small band. Naturally, people started dancing. Night had fallen, but the evening was in full swing. As she debated going inside the solarium, Zoe noticed Ellen standing to the side with a cocktail in her hand. She was dressed to the nines in a black sequined dress and her platinum blond slicked back.
“Ellen!”
Immediately, a smile illuminated her face and she opened her arms. Zoe hugged her, but the woman winced.
“How are you, Ellen? I heard you were attacked! That’s awful, are you alright?”
“Yes, my dear. Don’t worry about me. I was lucky. I only have some bumps and bruises.” She gingerly touched her eye. Makeup perfectly hid what was left of her black eye. Apart from a little bruise, nothing showed.
“Did the police find anything? Do they have any suspects?”
Ellen sighed heavily and shrugged. “If only I could have given them a description. But it happened so fast. I only thought about what happened to poor Cynthia and I was scared to death.”
Zoe took her hand. “You’re safe now. Archer made sure everybody was protected tonight. And I see Kai and Lance standing nearby.” She tried to put a little humor into the situation. “And now your body is guarded by two of the most handsome men in Chicago.”
And as she expected, a smile bloomed on her face. “Well, that’s a way of finding the positive in this situation. Once this nightmare stops, I hope to have my whipped cream fantasy come to life. With more champagne, I might have the courage to ask!”
Zoe giggled as Ellen finished her drink. “I’ll get another one. And I’ll try to convince Lance to follow me. After a few more, I might feel more like a... what do you Yanks say... a cougar. Yes! I might feel like a cougar.”
Winking at Zoe, she swayed toward the bar. Ellen was a strong woman to say the least. Zoe wasn’t sure she would have been able to mingle or attend social functions so soon after her ordeal. However, wasn’t that what she was doing herself? Life had to go on…
Music changed to Frank Sinatra. Couples swayed under the stars, as people laughed and talked all around her.
“You look ravishing tonight, Miss Somersby.”
Sam Sarkhan, tall and elegant, slightly bowed to her, a charming smile on his handsome face. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles in a very gallant way.
“Mr. Sarkhan. It’s a pleasure to see you tonight. Aren’t you working? I haven’t had the chance to greet Mr. Al-Aamri. Is he here?”
“I always work. My employer is inside with other security personnel. I only have to coordinate things tonight.”
“A promotion, good for you.”
He smiled at her sarcasm. “And to celebrate it, I will invite a gorgeous woman to dance.”
He took her into his arms and made her twirl onto the dance floor. Zoe gasped as she’d never learned how to dance, but Sam led her like a maestro among the other couples. The man not only moved like a dream, but also made her feel as if she had danced all her life.
Once she settled into the rhythm and was following the steps, Zoe grinned. She had the perfect chance to confront the man. “A man of many talents. Is that because of your education, your money, or because you’re one of Archer’s brothers?”?
His step slowed, and his hold tightened a little. “You are full of surprises, Miss Somersby. Or you have very well-informed friends.”
“Let’s say all of the above. But you didn’t disguise the very unique trait common to you and your brothers.”
A smile slowly returned. “I’m not much about contacts. My mistake.”
“Not if you wanted to be discovered. How difficult was it for you to get the job of protecting Udi Al-Aamri when you learned about the possibility of Finch being there and possibly threatening Archer?”
His face remained perfectly blank. “You have a vivid imagination.”
“Without a doubt. But if that’s the case, tell me I’m wrong.”
“And you’ll believe me, just like that?”
Zoe angled her head and he made her turn. “I’ll know a lie. I’m not an agent, but I’ll get that gut feeling most women have.”
“And what if everything I did was to keep an eye on everything?”
