When dinner was over we walked with Paul and Aubrey to view the auction items on display in the gallery. We discussed bidding on a Swiss chalet together and taking a couples’ trip at the end of spring. Vaughn scribbled his name on a set of golf clubs. I bid on a spa package at a resort near Versailles.

When the last bids had been placed and the winners announced, we waited for Paul to say goodbye to his friends. Vaughn saw someone he knew from Mertech and ran over to talk about an account. He played his role to the bitter end. He was a perfectionist.

“Oh, Kate, I see a potential art client. She bid on three pieces. Do you mind if I say hello to her?”

“Go for it,” I coaxed. “You should do it.” I wanted to tell her to take a few breaths and act less tipsy, but it was too late. She had already sashayed to the bar. I was impressed by her confidence.

“Beautiful gala, wasn’t it, Kate?” Eloise was behind me.

“Why yes.” I made a small swivel on my designer heels. They were the most expensive shoes I’d ever had on my feet. I towered over Eloise at this height.

“Before I leave tonight I wanted to congratulate you.”

My knees began to shake. The physical demonstration of my nerves was hidden by the dress.

“Oh?” I forced my voice not to crack.

“Your execution was flawless.”

I couldn’t believe she had the balls to discuss this here, but as the patrons headed for the exit, I realized everyone had been drinking and no one had a clue that Eloise was complimenting me on high-level theft of intellectual property. I was certain no one would be thinking that as they left a charity event for children.

“Thank you?”

She smiled. It was the first time she looked less sinister. I wondered if it was the bright pink dress. It made her feel more real. More like Aubrey and me.

“I’d like for you to consider working at the office.” She stopped my immediate protest. “Uh. Uh. Hear me out. I think office training would be a good fit for you. Maybe we could have coffee this week to discuss it.”

“I’m not sure what to say.” I was dumbfounded.

“At least agree to coffee. You do love Marie’s.” She waited for my response.

I nodded. “I do. It’s my favorite in the city.”

“Ok. Coffee this week and I’ll bring along more details. I think this will be a good fit for you. Suitable with your skill set.”

“All right.”

“Tell Leo I said goodnight.” She heaved the long train, embroidered with fuchsia flowers, into her arms.

“I will.”

I had a new level of relief when I witnessed her departure in a chauffeured car a few minutes later. Vaughn had been right. She was here either to scope out new clients or was doing work for a current one.

Never once did she let on that she knew our plan. I couldn’t believe it.

“I’m back,” Aubrey announced. “Where’s my husband?”

Paul and Vaughn walked toward us and we filed into the coat check line. There were several couples in front of us, but most of the attendees had filtered outside and were being shuttled into limousines.

Once I had my fur wrap, Vaughn cleared his throat.

“I have a surprise for my wife.”

“Ohh?” Aubrey was tipsier than she had been all night.

He revealed a key from inside his tuxedo. “I reserved a room for us. A surprise overnight vacation.”

“What?” I pretended to be stunned. Was it over the top? I didn’t know.

“Oh my God, that’s so romantic.” Aubrey looked at Paul, who seemed uninterested in the gesture. I thought she might be waiting for him to make the same offer.

“We’re staying here tonight?”

Vaughn nodded. “And I’ve ordered room service for breakfast. All your favorites.” He pulled me against him. “We won’t be home any time soon.”

I looked in his eyes. “It sounds perfect. I can’t believe you did this. But I didn’t pack anything.”

“You don’t need clothes.” He winked. Shit. This was for show, but it was revealing and intimate to act this way in front of our friends.

“Holy fuck,” Aubrey whispered. I’d never heard her swear like that before.

He laughed, taking my hand. He turned to Paul. “Thanks for an amazing evening, but I think I’m going to take my wife upstairs now. Sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, but I wanted to surprise Kate.”

“I understand. Thank you for coming,” Paul answered. “I appreciate your generosity. The money is going to change children’s lives, and there is nothing more honorable than that.” He slapped Vaughn on the shoulder. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, friends.”

Kate hugged me. “Lucky, lucky you. No clothes?” she giggled.

I smiled. “I am incredibly lucky. You are too. You and Paul have something I hope we have in ten years.”

“Ten?” She cocked her head to the side.

“Eight,” I corrected. “You know, after we’ve been married for ten years.” I pulled her in for another hug. She’d never forgive me, and I understood. “Goodbye,” I whispered.

Paul waved goodnight and guided her through the doors.

A few of the guests milled about the ballroom. We walked past, casually, as if we weren’t headed for the single most life-altering act of our lives.

“I can’t wait for you to see the suite,” Vaughn gushed. “The bed is huge.” His voice was loud. I blushed, realizing everyone who heard him thought we were headed for a night of insanely hot drunken sex. Any other night, that would be true.

I gripped the stole at my breastbone. I’d had bare shoulders all night and felt warm with the wrap covering my skin. We waded through more guests before stepping onto the elevator.

Just as the doors began to slide closed, my gaze landed on a familiar face. A face I had convinced myself I’d never see again. His eyes lifted to mine, confirming what I already knew. Those were eyes I could never forget. Pale gray, watery eyes that always seemed incapable of emotion.

My nails dug into Vaughn’s palm.

Agent Kenneth pushed toward me. “Emily!” he cried out as the doors closed.

“Fuck. A buddy of yours?” Vaughn gritted his teeth. He tapped more buttons. I watched in horror as the doors retracted and closed for two more floors before we finally landed on our own.

“Oh my God. That was Agent Kenneth. He’s half a day early. What do we do? What are we going to do? He’s here. He isn’t supposed to be here.”

As soon as the doors opened he pulled me along the hall. “We run.”

We stepped off, sending the elevator to hit every floor from here to the top of the hotel.

He shoved the key into the lock and threw open the door. Our bags were packed and waiting near the dresser. Our changes of clothes were laid out on the bed. I spun for Vaughn to unzip the gown. I’d never struggled like this to keep my body moving forward. Something in the back of my head told me to just surrender. To collapse and let Agent Kenneth take me.

But every time I looked at Vaughn I remembered I was the light. I couldn’t collapse now.

I kicked off my high heels and pulled on the black T-shirt and pair of jeans we had bought at the mall the week before. I released the pins from my hair, tugged my bun low enough that I could adjust a blond wig on top. Vaughn fit a ball cap on my head that matched his.

He strapped a huge belly under his shirt that made him look like he was carrying an extra eighty pounds of fat. There wasn’t enough time to dye his hair. The fat suit was what he was counting on. I tied the laces on a pair of running shoes. I needed them tonight.

“Ready?” He looked at me.

“How are we going to get out if the agents are here?”

He looked at his watch. “It has been four minutes. We can do this. Believe me. We’re faster.”

I nodded. “We can.”

The bag I had packed had an extra strap. I slung it across my body so that my hands were free.

“Oh wait.” I hurried to the glittery clutch I had carried all night.

“Come on. Come on,” Vaughn urged.

I reached inside the purse and grabbed the piece of coral from the nightstand. It was the one thing I had meant to pack earlier.

“Ok. Got it.” I shoved it in my pocket.

We ran to the elevators. I chewed the inside of my cheek as we waited for the doors to open. If federal agents were standing on the other side, we were screwed. The game was over.

I was relieved when an empty elevator arrived. Vaughn tapped the button for the lobby.

We were headed into the lion’s den, but we didn’t have a choice. The stairwell exits would be the first thing they would block. Our best bet was to assume the agents believed we were hiding out in a room somewhere. I prayed they were preparing to search every floor. Every room.

“When the doors open, walk casually. Don’t race. Don’t fidget,” Vaughn instructed.

“Ok,” I whispered.

It was possibly five hundred feet from the elevators to the lobby exit. Never had five hundred feet felt like five thousand miles. I wanted to run. I wanted to use every ounce of energy I had to propel myself faster and farther, but Vaughn’s grip on my hand kept me from sprinting ahead of him.

The steps seemed small. Slow. Agonizing.

We passed the large arrangement of ornate orchids. We moved out of the way for a bellhop. We walked past the doors to the ballroom. The auction items had been packed away and were ready to be delivered to the winners.

I took another breath. Another step.

The coat check was just ahead of us.

The light was turned off. Everyone was gone from the gala. My expensive fur was upstairs in our room with the gown. When Agent Kenneth discovered the room we had used, he would walk in on a scene that looked as if two people had vanished from inside their clothes. They were in perfect piles where we stepped out of them.

We glided past the counter. The next landmark was the door. Vaughn squeezed my hand. It was right there. Only a few feet away.

The sweat ran under my arms. My throat was locked. My stomach cinched in a vicious knot. Only a few feet. Just four more.

Three.

Two.

One.