There was no sign of the malicious man I'd witnessed on a secret video Cary had captured during a garden party at the Vidal residence.
Cary stepped forward, looking at me for cues.
My first instinct was to refuse Christopher, and then I looked around.
"Are you here alone?" "Does it matter?" He tugged me into his arms.
"You're the one I want to dance with.
I've got her," he said to Cary, sweeping me off.
We'd first met just like this, with him asking me to dance.
I'd been on my first date with Gideon, and things had already begun falling apart at that point.
"You look fantastic, Eva.
I love your hair."
I managed a tight smile.
"Thank you."
"Relax," he said.
"You're so stiff.
I won't bite."
"Sorry.
Just want to be sure I don't offend whoever you're here with."
"Just my parents and the manager of a singer who'd like to sign with Vidal Records."
"Ah."
My smile widened into one more genuine.
That was just what I was hoping to hear.
As we danced, I kept searching the room.
I saw it as a sign when the song ended and Elizabeth Vidal stood, catching my eye.
She excused herself from her table and I excused myself from Christopher, who protested.
"I have to freshen up," I told him.
"All right.
But I insist on buying you a drink when you come back."
I took off after his mother, debating whether I should just come out and tell Christopher I thought he was a total asswipe of epic proportions.
I didn't know if Magdalene had told him about the video, and if she hadn't, I figured there was probably a good reason why.
I waited for Elizabeth just outside the bathroom.