I rolled my eyes, matching her half-grin. “I know. I know. My thoughts are a bit jumbled, but that’s the gist of it. Besides, if he didn’t like you already, I doubt I ever would’ve gotten the floor.”

“What do you mean?”

She’d been about to apply her lipstick when she paused.

“You know.” I shrugged. “You were the one who got the number for the apartment, remember?”

She turned back to looking at herself in the mirror. It was like she hadn’t thought about it that way, or something…

I paused now too, my frown matching hers. “Sia?”

“Huh?” She was deep in thought.

“What’d I say?” I’d said something wrong.

“No. Nothing.” She shook her head, putting her lipstick away. “Never mind.” A bright smile formed on her face, and she rolled her shoulders back, fixing one of her straps. “You ready? I’ve got thirty minutes left to dazzle the best of them, and then we’re off to Gianni’s.”

“Yeah…” What had just happened?

“Great.” Her smile spread another inch. “We should go. I locked the door so we could have our girl time in here, but I’ve got a feeling some of the socialite housewives aren’t going to be happy with me.”

“Just tell them you had to fix something.”

Sia crossed to the door, unlocking it and pushing it open. She groaned. “God. That’s even worse. They’ll complain that the Gala isn’t ‘up to code’ or ‘appropriate’ enough for them. I’ll have to hand out champagne for the gift baskets at the end.”

She was right. Two ladies, both decked out from head to toe in diamonds, waited outside, and both looked annoyed. One had her arms crossed over her chest and was actually tapping her fingers along her arm. The other harrumphed, “About time,” as she swept past us.

Sia met my gaze, a hidden smile lurking there. “Your sexy and very powerful—” She raised her voice on that last word. “—man is in the back section. I sent him there while I came to get you.”

I got the message and nodded, trying not to laugh. As soon as the grumpy woman heard powerful, her irritation seemed to vanish, replaced by curiosity. She eyed me now, and I could see the wheels spinning. Who was I? How much money did I have? Where was I on the totem pole compared to her?

But then Sia swept in, putting a hand on the lady’s arm. As I left, I heard my best friend doing what she did best: charming the pants off that lady, or at the very least charming away any potential complaint she might’ve had.

I glanced around the crowded room. I’d come early to support Sia, and people had been trickling in ever since. It was nearing the end of the event, and usually people started to leave around this time, so I was surprised at how packed the main floor remained. I didn’t see Jake anywhere. Snagging a champagne from a server, I started for the back room. It was darker, with lots of hidden corners, and I knew that was why Sia had sent Cole there. He and I could stand back there and be part of the event, but also be on our own.

I was passing a side entrance when I heard my name.

“Addison.”

I turned, a polite greeting on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it when I saw Liam’s mother. I grew cold. “What are you doing here?” She knew this was Sia’s event. This was my territory.

Carol stopped. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but instead she closed it and started toward me.

I looked her up and down. She wore shimmery black pants and a black sweater that crossed over her waist. She looked nice, but she wasn’t dressed for an event like this. I couldn’t hold back my sneer. It wasn’t often that I got to sneer at her. I wanted to take advantage of it when I could.

“You look…nice.” I stepped back and made sure she saw my appraisal. Then I wrinkled my nose.

I thought she’d react. I was waiting for it, and I even had another veiled insult ready to go.

She glanced over her shoulder, reaching inside her sweater and she moved closer to me. “I’m so sorry, Addison,” she said. “I actually am.”

“Wha—”

Her hand flashed out, and I felt the prick of a needle in my neck.

I shoved her away, but I was too late. She blurred in front of me. Two large shapes moved around her as I started to fall. The world was falling with me. Something caught me just as everything went black.

I heard voices first. A woman and a man—and she was pissed. I couldn’t make out their words, or even tell where they were, but they were somewhere nearby.

“I said no!” the woman yelled, then she stormed away.

I felt her footsteps underneath me, and a door slammed, making my headache the second thing I noticed. It pounded behind my forehead, like I’d been hit.

I tried opening my eyes, but closed them right away. The light made it worse.

What had happened to me? I tried moving my hands, but I couldn’t. They were tied behind me, and I was sitting in a chair. A cool draft chilled my face and feet. I moved my feet around and felt a blanket. The backs of my arms were warmer. I felt heat back there.

I’d been at Sia’s event at the Gala.

Cole had been there.

…and Carol. I’d been going to see Cole when I saw Liam’s mother—and then felt the cold prick of a needle.

That bitch drugged me.

“Is she waking up?” a male voice spoke, sounding far away. It had echoed a bit.