_OceanofPDF

“He’s right. Your name suits you. Star.”
“Just one of many in the sky.” She shrugged.
“The dress,” I said, trying not to stare at the way her breasts were
pushed above the edge of it.
“My father made it for my mother,” she whispered. “Princess
Sikhanyiso wore a similar one to her brother’s wedding.”
“I’m sure you look better in it.”
“Sure.” She didn’t believe me, because we were fake, but I was being
completely honest.
“Why are your eyes darting around? Are you waiting for the cops to
pick you up?”
“Bianca. She’ll be here, and I don’t want her to see me wearing this. I
didn’t ask.”
“You mean you stole it?”
“My name’s on the label,” she snarled, then smiled. “But yes.”
Even though a stolen dress had the potential to complicate the evening, I
laughed. Who wouldn’t be delighted at a crime so in character, so justified,
and so aesthetically pleasing all at the same time?
I offered her my arm. “Come with me, star.”
She smiled and jabbed me with her elbow.
Leading her across the room, I nodded to people I knew, and some I
didn’t, avoiding all attempts at a conversation until we reached an archway
with a velvet rope in front of it. I tilted the pole to let Ella through, turned a
corner behind a floating wall of bookcases, then led her up the sweeping
stairs that weren’t connected to the glass walls, giving the sense we were
climbing air.
“How big is this house?” she whispered as if we were in a church.
“Not as big as Byron’s original plan.” I laid my hand on the small of her
back to guide her and realized she was taller than usual. I looked down at
her heels. “How are you in those shoes?”
“These?” She kicked one up. I could have used the heel as a chopstick.
“They’re vintage Papillion. I could walk a mile in them.” The shoe clapped
down, and I guided her to a roped off stairway with two guards in front.
“Where are we going?”
“After the cocktail hour, family and friends are coming to this side.”
The guards recognized me and opened the rope without saying a word. “She
won’t find you.”