“Mandy, my dear,” the playwright exclaimed, grasping the medium’s hands with a dramatic flourish. “The crowds I’ve fought through to reach you—why did you leave the house so early this morning?”

“Daniel!” Shiloh interrupted, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd as she wove her way towards them. “Daniel, I must—”

“Anyway, please accept—” Mr. Warner began, hurrying along as he caught sight of Shiloh.

“Accept my hand,” Mandy interjected, her voice steady.

A brief silence followed. Mandy blinked, turning to John, who had just spoken. Mr. Warner appeared momentarily taken aback.

“Yes, I will,” Mandy replied, though her voice carried a note of uncertainty.

“Uh, excuse me...?” Mr. Warner stammered, clearly caught off guard, but he found no words to counter.

“Daniel—” Shiloh persisted, reaching for his arm.

“Wait!” Noah called out as he maneuvered through the crowd towards them.

Ariel turned her gaze from the unfolding drama to face the young heir.

“Hey Ariel, do you want to stick with me today?” Leroy asked, peering down at her.

Ariel’s heart leaped.

“Yes,” she answered quickly, looking up at him with gratitude.

She glanced down, a pang of guilt striking her as she remembered the earlier encounter with Jasper.

“Noah,” she began, but he offered her a quick smile.

“One moment, Ariel,” he said, brushing past her.

Ariel blinked and watched as he approached Shiloh.

“I would be honored if you would take my hand,” he said in a rush.

Shiloh, still holding Mr. Warner’s arm, looked at Noah with surprise.

“Me?” she asked, astonished.

Mr. Warner’s face brightened with enthusiasm.

“Oh yes, what a fine idea! Our esteemed Mr. Marlowe and Yvonne as partners today—what could be more fitting! Excellent thinking, Williams!”

With a look of relief, Mr. Warner disentangled Shiloh’s hand from his arm and placed it with Noah’s.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Couldn’t have planned it better myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he added, casting a brief glance at Mandy and John before retreating.

“Max!” Taylor’s voice cut through the charged air. “How about spending the day with me?”

The Chinese man stood stiffly as the priestess approached, taking his arm with a confident smile. Unable to refuse, he silently acquiesced.

Ariel shook her head, surveying the array of pairs gathered around her. If someone had told her that morning that she would end up as Leroy’s partner, that Jasper would be paired with Miss Marlowe, and that Noah would choose Shiloh instead of herself, she would have laughed. She glanced up at the monk beside her, wondering if he had hoped to be with Taylor. Slowly, her gaze shifted from the monk to her boss.

Like a prize she was delighted to win, Miss Marlowe held Jasper close, her radiant smile illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the windows. Beside them was another surprising duo: John and Mandy. The medium, initially relieved to be free of Mr. Warner, now seemed to have second thoughts, casting uncertain glances at the priest beside her. John, too, appeared slightly uncomfortable. Ariel caught Mandy’s eye, and they exchanged a silent message: despite their usual rivalry, it was time to unite against a mutual foe—Miss Marlowe.

“Are we ready?” Jasper’s voice broke the silence.

Ariel could barely meet his gaze, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

I must have looked so foolish standing there... opening and closing my mouth like that.

“Sure we are. Let’s eat,” Miss Marlowe encouraged, gesturing towards the dining room.

Leroy gave her shoulder a light squeeze.

“You were a little late,” he whispered as they began to move towards the double doors.

Ariel looked up at him sharply, her cheeks still flushed.

“No thanks to you!”

“Me?” the monk replied, surprised. “What did I do?”

“Don’t play dumb, Leroy. You told me Noah was coming when it was really Jasper!”

The monk looked at her with wide eyes.

“Noah really was coming. I had just waved to him when he waved back and kept going. I tried to flag him down so you could get away, but he wouldn’t stop. Then Jasper strolled up with that dazzling thing on his arm,” he explained, glancing at Miss Marlowe.

Ariel’s cheeks burned further, this time with anger.

“I looked like an idiot. Couldn’t you have warned me?” she persisted with a frown.

The monk held the door open for her.

“You looked like an idiot? What about me? I was standing there doing this out of nowhere,” he said, pulling a finger across his neck repeatedly. “If that wasn’t enough of a warning, I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to grab my trusty neon sign.”

Ariel sighed and shook her head, taking his arm again.

“I was so focused on what I was going to say, I guess I didn’t notice you trying to stop me. Maybe it was for the best that I couldn’t find my voice. Asking him and then being shot down like Mandy would have been worse.”

As they stepped into the dining room, Ariel was greeted by the sight of crowded tables and the cacophony of lively chatter. Navigating the space with a mix of dance and walk, she avoided chairs being pushed back, elbows jostling, and even a waiter. Jasper found a table for them at the back of the room, near the windows. Absent from their party were Noah, Shiloh, and Mr. Warner. Ariel could think of someone else she wished was missing.

Ariel sat heavily, her glare barely concealed as she faced Miss Marlowe seated across from her, the sunlight casting a halo-like glow around the heiress. John and Leroy flanked Ariel, while Mandy boldly took her usual place beside Jasper. The reformed rivals exchanged a satisfied look.

“So, Ariel, would you flag someone down? I’m starving,” Taylor said, settling next to an uncomfortable Max.

Ariel narrowed her eyes at the priestess, but her stomach’s rumble made her relent. Resignedly, she began searching for someone to help them.

“Is Ariel good with the staff here?” Miss Marlowe wondered, turning to Taylor.