off in six weeks.” Eva’s eyes probably resembled an owl’s as she took in the opulence, how the candle sconces along the wall flickered and hummed, how the oil paintings in gilt frames and antique brass statues accented the grandeur of this palatial venue.
“Most of it was already planned for the wedding that was canceled. Other than the last-minute advertising and contacting donors—which you and the heart center took care of—it merely required a bit of finagling to get all the services donated.”
“Was that part difficult?”
“Some vendors were resistant at first.” Kim flashed her straight teeth that were all too white for someone who drank so much coffee and diet soda. “But when I reminded them I’d soon be recommending vendors for the Carlton wedding, well . . .” She glanced down at her phone, which had lit up with a call. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this. Remember to mingle and urge people to locate the pledge table at the middle of the room to get more chips or enter the raffle.”
“Will do. Thanks, Kim.”
At three hundred dollars a head and approximately four hundred guests in attendance tonight, they’d already raised more than one-tenth of their goal. But it would be up to her, Marc, and Angela to schmooze and urge people to open their wallets even more. They figured the best way to raise the money was for guests to pledge on a per-mile basis.
If they convinced even three hundred to pledge twenty dollars a mile, they’d have more than enough to reach their goal of $1 million. But to add in some extra incentives, Kim had organized a few amazing raffle prizes, such as lunch with Senator Elliott Carlton and an exclusive dinner party for six hosted by Theodore Maine, an executive chef from one of the city’s top restaurants.
Kimberly’s staff bustled about, prepping the last-minute details of the dinner and seating arrangements. Classy lounge music filtered through the wide double doors from the next room over. Hopefully Marc and Angela were already in there, chatting up the donors and making connections.
Eva took a deep breath. Time to make Brent’s dream a reality—the next step of it, anyway.
She strode into the room, which was bursting with life at every turn. Women in dazzling dresses and men in tuxedos stood around the roulette wheel, some groaning and some cheering as it spun and the ball landed. A table full of blackjack players snuck looks at their hands, serious concentration fixed on their faces while their dates looked on.
Roaming members of the catering staff offered glasses of champagne and wine. Eva took a glass of red off a tray carried by a young female server with a nose ring as she passed by.
Cupping the bottom of the glass in one hand, she allowed the strong scent to embolden her. She continued scanning the crowd but caught no sign of either of her partners in crime just yet.
“Eva!”
She turned to find Maryanne at her elbow. Despite her unusual taste in clothing, Eva’s boss glowed in her soft yellow gown, a genuine grin playing across her features as she leaned down to offer a hug. She’d been out of town on vacation the last two weeks and had flown back early to be here tonight.
“Hi, Maryanne. So glad you could make it.” Eva pulled back from the hug and offered the woman a smile in return. “Thank you again for agreeing to speak. I’m sure nothing will inspire people to give more than hearing from the director of the center we are donating tonight’s proceeds to.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, hon.” Maryanne snagged a flute of champagne from a passing tray. “I believe it will be your speech that will guarantee your success tonight. I have no doubt that you will speak from the heart, and that hearing your story will move people to action.”
Eva pressed the glass to her lips and drank to keep from bursting into tears at Maryanne’s sweet words. The wine went down a mixture of sour and sweet—just like this whole thing. “That is nice of you to say. I’m just grateful that all of these important people were willing to pay so much for a ticket and happened to be available.” Several people who were here had canceled other plans to attend. Others sent in donations. It was more than Eva could have hoped for.
“That is all a credit to your husband, and you too.” Maryanne gestured around her. “Brent was beloved in the heart community.”