“She is,” Kathleen said softly.
Edith nodded once, then touched Kathleen’s arm. “I’ll find you later. I suspect the sharks are circling. Go enjoy your night while you still have some peace.”
With that, she followed after Darlene into the crowd.
Kathleen turned to Marise, her brow drawn. “What are you going to do.”
“Go find Darlene and flirt,” Marise said.
Kathleen scowled. “I know we agreed on this but I hate the thought of you sucking up to that woman.”
“I need to try to find out who she’s in with.”
Kathleen pursed her lips. “I know, but I don’t have to like it.”
“It has to be done. Let’s go inside and I’ll leave you to well-wishers while I find her.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Marise ushered Kathleen inside, and when she was quickly claimed by a colleague, she slipped away.
She crossed the floor slowly, her eyes scanning the room for Darlene. She found her near the bar, holding court with a man in a grey suit and a portly woman in a flowing gown. Darlene looked so comfortable amongst these people that Marise suspected there must have been something academic in her background.
She waited until the portly woman walked away toward the restrooms and the man answered a call before she moved in.
“Hello,” Marise said softly.
Darlene turned her head, lips curling. “You’ve got a nerve. Coming back in here like nothing happened.”
“Did something happen?” Marise asked, lifting her glass. “I must’ve missed it.”
“You’ve become picky with your clients,” Darlene said. “Not a good move for someone so overpriced.”
Marise smiled faintly. “Yet you are happy to pay it. So, might I add, is Kathleen Knowles. And she’s not so demanding.”
“Demanding?” Darlene sipped her wine, eyes narrowing slightly. “I merely expect performance for payment. That’s fair. You’ve been ignoring me, yet you accepthermoney.”
“Not everything’s about refusal,” Marise said enigmatically. “Some things are just... inconvenient timing.”
Darlene gave a low, amused sound. “And here I thought I was the inconvenient one.”
“Oh, you are,” Marise said. “But that’s half your charm.”
A pause. That was enough to soften Darlene’s edges. Her mouth twitched. “I see you’ve decided to get back into the game,” she murmured. “How serious is our brilliant little star?”
Marise leaned against the bar, her posture casual. “Enough to bring me to this.”
“But not serious enough to keep you at her side,” Darlene said, tilting her head. “Tell me something. Are you bored already?”
Marise gave her a slow look. “You know how it is. Genius on paper, dull in practice. Also, she’s high maintenance.”
Darlene hummed. “I suspected she’d be too needy.”
“She is,” Marise said. “But it’s not only that. It’s the earnestness. The idealism. You can’t say anything offhand without her reading too deeply into it. She’d have a nervous breakdown if someone moved her coffee cup.”
Darlene laughed, genuinely this time. “Well, I suppose someone has to put up with it. Might as well be someone who’s good at pretending.”
Marise let the jab slide. “It’s not pretence. I’m playing a role. Same as always.”
