Chapter 15

Ava POV

"Acting Luna," I muttered automatically, but I admit my heart was more interested in gloating at the look of shock on Anna's face.

"It's very nice to meet you," she managed to choke out.

Another attendant came in then, an older woman with a severe bun and impeccable makeup who sent Anna away with a flick of her eyes. She was holding a small, black velvet tray of diamond earrings, which she presented to both me and Chris.

"You have no need of a necklace with that collar, so I thought perhaps a pair of these," she explained.

"They're lovely, Doris," Chris said.

I could only nod. There were about a dozen pairs on the tray, all of them understated with just a few jewels, no chandelier or bar settings, but not just studs. My eyes went to pair of small white gold hoops with a crusting of small diamonds, and though I wasn't sure how she could tell, Doris saw what I was looking at, smiled, and pulled them from the tray.

"Excellent choice," she said, which I was sure she said to everyone but was still flattering to hear. "It fits the dress style perfectly."

"I agree," Chris said, watching as I removed the red gold studs I always wore from my ears and replaced them with the hoops. Another assistant held up a small mirror so I could see. I have to confess, they were perfect.

I stepped over to the three-panel full-length mirror and took in the whole thing: my hair, my makeup, the jewelry, the dress, the clutch, and finally the shoes. The entire experience had been so much like what I had seen in the movies or on Instagram when people had made-overs. They did a big reveal at the end where they looked so different and everyone applauded them for their "transformation."

But I didn't want to look different or "made over," and I was so pleased to see I still looked like myself, just quite nicely presented. I felt my confidence rise and laughed a little at myself.

"Party-ready," I said, meeting Chris's eyes in the mirror and smiling.

"With you on my arm, I'll be the best dressed man there," he said.

I laughed aloud and turned to watch as Anna returned with a sack she explained held my clothes, including my earrings. I reached for it, but she said they would have it sent to Chris's apartment, which I gathered was in the same city.

Doris, who had left while I was admiring myself, returned with a small bottle of perfume, which she had me smell for approval before she applied it lightly to my neck and wrists.

"The scent will last longer if you allow the perfume to dry on your skin without rubbing your wrists together," she told me in a low tone not meant for Chris to hear. I smiled at her, then turned to my party companion.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Can't think of another thing to do," I said.

A man I hadn't seen before walked in and presented Chris with something to sign-I assumed it was the receipt and made sure not to look at it-and then we were led back to our limousine.

"That was hilarious," I said when we sitting together in the car.

"Had fun?"

I laughed. "Yes, though I confess the idea of doing that again anytime soon sounds exhausting."

He nodded at me, and this close I could enjoy the smokiness of his cologne and see the extremely smooth closeness of his shave. His nails looked shiny as well.

"I agree," he said. "Some of my colleagues have no trouble going to fancy parties several times a week, but I try to keep it down to two or three a month."

That still sounded like a lot to me, but I kept that to myself.

The limo stopped at a tall spire of a building gleaming in the streetlights. Inside, a brilliant, cathedral-like lobby led to a glittering ballroom. I did my best to make Chris proud and kept myself from gawking. I was particularly pleased the shoes were so well made I could walk steadily at his side even though the heel was a little higher than I was used to.

"We're going to get stares," Chris murmured in my ear. "They know me, and they'll be curious about you."

"I've got your back," I replied quietly.

I was glad for the warning. Almost all the two hundred-odd people inside the ballroom, except for the waiters as they darted about with golden trays and the people dancing in front of the band playing light jazz, turned to watch us enter the room, and not everyone turned away all that quickly.

One of the waiters stepped up to us with crystal champagne flutes on a tray, and Chris and I took one with a smile. Before we even finished our first sip, an overtly rich couple around Chris's age took the waiter's place. His tuxedo was fitted, though not as well as Chris's, and her dress outshone the chandeliers above us. I noticed the diamonds and pearls around her neck and dripping from her ears and thought she looked like some Queen of the Sea, but again I kept the thought to myself.

"Good to see you, Chris," the man said, holding out a hand for a hearty shake. He nodded at me with a smile. "And to see your lovely companion."

"Craig, Ellen, this is Ava. You both look great, as always," Chris replied, all smooth charm. "Ellen, is that a new hair style?"

"Yes," she said with a coy little smile. She turned to me. "Are you new in town?"

"I live across the 'pond,'" I relied, using a term I knew was popular with humans. "A member of the Moonstone Pack."

"That's your pack, isn't it?" she asked Chris, who nodded. She smiled. "Ha! Is this the girl next door?"

I smiled, getting the reference, and Chris laughed lightly. "I've known Ava since childhood, yes. I consider it a victory I haven't managed to scare her off yet."

Everyone laughed a little, including me.

"Did you go to school together?" Craig asked.

"I'm thirty-five," I explained, never having understood why women were reluctant to share such basic information.

But maybe I got a clue about why when both of them looked at me in puzzlement.

"Are you Chris's beautiful new business partner then?" Craig asked. He looked briefly around the room, and for the first time I noticed the champagne fountain. "I didn't see you come in with anyone else."

"No, no," Chris said with a smile but a slight edge in his tone. "Ava is very much my date."

There was a pause, and then Ellen said, "Good on the both of you," and tipped her glass at us before taking a sip.

For a moment, I was annoyed, but I wasn't sure at whom. Another couple joined us before anyone could say more, though. I smiled and was introduced again. I noticed, again, the pair were Chris's age, as was the couple who joined us after that.

Talk soon turned to business, which in Human-like fashion was all numbers and marketing reports, not talk of environmental impacts or community building.

My champagne was quickly finished, but instead of getting another I set the flute down on a passing tray and drifted over to one of the large French doors that led out onto a balcony. The air was lovely outside, lifting up my hair a bit and fanning my face. Only a few stars could struggle through the light pollution in the night sky, but those I could see cheered me.

"You look lovely," a familiar and highly unwelcome voice said to my right, and I turned in surprise to see Ethan standing there.