"Late again," Emily muttered under her breath, clutching the hem of her crimson dress as she climbed the grand staircase of the Barrett Organization's luxury hotel. The heels she'd picked for elegance were now her worst enemy, wobbling with every hurried step. She was over an hour late to the most prestigious event of the year, a charity ball her father had insisted she attend. "I don't have time for this." She adjusted her mask-a delicate lace design that sat prettily over her nose-and pushed open the ballroom doors. The scene inside was breathtaking.