I didn’t know whose company was worse: Angel’s or Madam’s. Either way, it seemed like I was getting my fill of both whether I wanted it or not .

“Darling, Kendra, what a pleasant surprise.” Madam took me by the elbows and leaned close to kiss my cheek. “You look fabulous on Kelly’s arm .”

“Thank you.” I eyed Jerome who remained close by. By the look on his face, he seemed bored with having to follow Madam around. Without even cracking a smile, I thought that a good spanking would wake the man up .

“In fact,” Madam’s head swiveled on her shoulders like an owl, “where did your handsome man go ?”

When she turned back to me, I held up the two drinks I was still holding. I had barely taken a sip of my own, and I was sure Kelly was wondering if I had gotten lost or just caught up in the conversations I couldn’t seem to escape. It seemed as if everyone wanted to talk to me, but I couldn’t complain. It was a nice distraction from the initial apprehension I was feeling when we first arrived .

“Oh, my.” Madam covered her mouth with her hand. “My apologies for interrupting. Has it been long ?”

I watched her long lashes bat beneath the rim of her large hat as I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t feeling myself. For a woman who always had something to say, I was unnaturally quiet, unable to look at her without wondering what else she might know about my past—and how she might eventually use it against me .

“You haven’t seen him, have you?” I asked .

“Can’t say I have.” Her voice sang in the melody of her southern accent .

It was like she had forgotten completely that she’d turned my life upside-down. Her mood lighter, more casual than what I knew her to be like when at the office. And as I stared at her, wondering what happened to the Madam I had grown to know, I couldn’t stop putting the pieces together. My uncle’s surprise visit was not a coincidence .

“However, sweetie,” Madam brushed shoulders with me, “we both know that man well enough to know he’s probably charming a client or preaching social justice to some unlucky patron.” Madam guffawed .

Forcing a laugh, I knew Kelly couldn’t have gone far. But with the crowd growing by the second, I knew that finding him wouldn’t get any easier. Now was my time—if only I could find a way to move on from Madam without it seeming like I didn’t want to talk to her .

When I let my gaze travel to the other side of the room, I quickly found Angel flirting with Timothy Parker. My skin crawled at the sight of her hand smoothing down his arm. It was enough to send a chill up my spine. She was unbelievable and I hated myself for not assuming she would be here tonight. The nerve she had, I thought, gritting my teeth .

When I noticed Madam following my gaze, I asked, “Do you know her ?”

She shifted her weight and unfolded her arms, deciding that it was best not to answer me. Instead, she turned to Jerome and beckoned him closer so she could whisper something in his ear. She covered her mouth, hiding any chance of me reading her lips, and soon he was nodding. And no matter how much I tried to hear—even just a snippet of what she was saying—it was impossible against the murmur from the conversations that surrounded us .

Without saying goodbye, Jerome left me alone with Madam. She sidestepped and filled the space next to me. My eyes were still fixed on Angel, and I was surprised that Timothy hadn’t bothered to acknowledge me tonight. We hadn’t seen each other since our date, and despite how that night ended, we’d shared a wonderful night together. There was no reason to give me a cold shoulder .

Squinting my eyes, I was sure he knew I was here. But perhaps he also knew who I’d come with, and because of Kelly, Timothy didn’t want to add to the drama between them .

“So, you don’t know who she is?” I asked Madam again .

Madam tilted her head as if trying to place Angel’s face .

“Because she seems to know you,” I said, letting my eyes fall to the Madam .

Madam’s lips thinned into a straight line just before she denied it. “Can’t say I do .”

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But I couldn’t .

Without hinting my doubt, I knew Madam well enough to know she wouldn’t dare reveal her secrets to me. And that was what Angel felt like—Madam’s hidden agenda. With what Angel led me to believe from our conversation tonight—and the fact that Angel knew exactly who the Madam was—I remained skeptical that Madam didn’t at least know who she was. Madam knew everyone—especially women with the kind of beauty Angel possessed .

“She’s dating Oscar Buchanan,” I added, hoping to spark her memory .

“Is that right?” Her voice was quiet, void. Then she turned back to me, bringing her usual flare back. “Forgive me for what I’m about to ask, but did you hear ?”

My lips pursed as I searched her expression for any kind of clues to what it was she was referring to. With her, it could be anything. And I had to be ready for whatever she was about throw my way .

“Kelly.” She paused as her eyes raked over my face. “He was arrested. Charged with assault .”

Letting my gaze travel across the room, I watched Timothy lean in and whisper something in Angel’s ear. She tipped her head back and laughed as they continued their own song and dance. “I heard,” I murmured. Then I rolled my eyes back to Madam. “But that was part of your plan all along, wasn’t it ?”

Her eyebrow lifted and arched into a perfect angle. There wasn’t the slightest facial tick of irritation and I considered whether or not I should continue while I was still ahead. But in the end, I decided I needed to know just how deep her actions dictated what happened around me .

“To set me up with Timothy just so Kelly would react.” My muscles quivered with nerves, not knowing how Madam would react to my accusation. But it had to be said—if not in defense of Kelly, then for me .

She pinched her lips together as she stepped in front of me. Lifting her hands, she began fixing my hair, smoothing out the wrinkles in my dress, straightening my necklace until it was perfect. Then she said in a calm tone, “Sweetie, you should be thanking me .”

“For Kelly ?”

“Yes. For giving you, Kelly.” She lifted her head and revealed her dark, manipulative eyes hiding in the shadow of her hat. “Girl, I can feel your anxiety.” Her brow wrinkled with concern .

My temperature spiked, along with the pulse ticking in my neck. Refusing to look her in the eye, I turned away, hating how well Madam could read people’s emotions. This wasn’t about me. This was about her. But, somehow, she’d turned the tables back and had my thoughts all tangled up until I didn’t know which way was which .

“Kendra, baby,” she held her hand over my racing heart. “What has your emotions running so high ?”

Staring down into the glass of white wine I was holding, I finally curled my lips over the rim, pulling my first full sip over my tongue. The sweet flavors warmed my insides but did little to calm my mind from knowing how best to respond without completely revealing the hand I was holding .

“I understand what a man like Kelly Black can do to a young and vulnerable woman like yourself.” Madam’s voice droned on, sounding more maternal by the minute. “And with what you learned last week about him, I can only imagine the pain and injustice you must have felt at him representing a possible murderer—and rapist.” She nodded, working her fingers into my tight shoulders .

Swallowing down the lump forming in my throat, it was like Madam knew everything that I was going through. Perhaps even better than myself. And as much as I hated to admit that she was right, she was. “I was there this morning,” I murmured. “At the precinct .”

Madam fixed her gaze on mine. Her eyes were wet with compassion, along with a rare hint of trust-worthy glimmer sparkling somewhere inside them. “Tell me, darling,” Madam leaned closer, “if Kelly is treating you badly, I can stop it right now .”

“Something is happening with him,” I finally admitted .

“Would you like it to end ?”

Shaking my head, I said, “It’s not that .”

“Then what is it, dear ?”

“The charges being brought against him.” I wet my lips. “His obsession with bringing Maria Greer justice,” my eyes fluttered closed as I sighed, “and he can’t seem to tell me the reason why his wife killed herself.” My heart stalled in my chest at the thought of what Nora did, and why .

Squeezing my shoulder, Madam told me not to worry about any of that. “It’s none of your concern, sweetheart.” Her cherry red lips curved into a smile. “Let the man solve his own problems .”

I nodded just as I felt a warm hand press to the small of my back. I turned to find Kelly smiling, sending my heart flying to my throat. “I thought I lost you.” His deep voice prickled my skin .

Dropping my gaze to the floor, I laughed. “I did, too .”

He stepped forward to greet Madam before reaching for the sparkling water he’d requested what felt like forever ago. “Cheers.” He smiled to the both of us .

“Cheers,” I said .

I was happy to have my hand back, but that didn’t even out the feeling of shame I felt tightening my chest, knowing my confession to Madam was probably more than I should have said .

“Hope I didn’t interrupt something.” Kelly shifted his gaze between us .

“Nothing at all.” Madam fixed her eyes on me. “Just telling Kendra how great she looks on your arm .”

“Is that right?” Kelly’s cheeks shined as he raked his eyes over me .

With flushed cheeks I watched Kelly get greeted by another man. Not a second later, Madam was leaning close to my ear and whispering, “Be the arm candy you were hired to be. Nothing else matters. Got it ?”

I nodded, nervous Kelly would hear .

“And I think it’s time you and I had a talk at my office. Stop by tomorrow.” Her hands were still clamped on my waist as she pulled away just as Kelly turned his attention back to us. It was clear he wondered what he had missed but Madam beat him to it, saying, “And if you would be a doll and go fetch Jerome for me.” She smiled, shifting her eyes to Kelly. “He tends to get himself lost at functions like this.” She winked .

Glancing at Kelly, he pulled me in for a quick kiss, agreeing to let me go find Jerome .

And as I turned my back, grazing the heat still lingering on my lips from Kelly’s searing kiss, I listened to Madam’s cackle crack the air behind me, scared to know what Madam was about to tell Kelly .