Beneath The Mask.

r with Elena Laurent, but something told

ging glasses, but every now and then, her gaze flicker

n obvious way-but enough

Don't slip up. This was just another job, just another night. She was

new

, nodded toward the other end of the counter. "VIP

tightened. Of

her way back to the VIP lounge. She had done this hundreds of times in d

he type to let peo

hed, a lazy smile playing on he

fully, her fingers grazing th

skey, swirling the liquid before bring

ry t

smile muc

on blank. "Not part of

. "You're inte

ven Elena that name to protect herself, but

ned forward, her gaze sharper now. "

t flinch.

efore

n was dig

teady. "Different pla

er. "A man alwa

all smirk. "Some

onger before exhaling softly. "I

the tray tighte

the couch, crossing her

gs she had expected, that was

ified, swirling her drink. "

silent, wait

are... traditional. They've been pressuring me to settle dow

arefully. "And you th

she were analyzing her. "You fit the role. You're not over-eager

nched. Too muc

t out of this?" s

't waver. "I'll pa

ed. "Not i

not used to rejection. "You

o leave. "Doe

le

ing next to her. He had been silent up until now, merely

d Elena, voice low. "Yo

alter, but her eyes da

d. "You might s

turned back to Kara.

d, walking away as fast as she could

way to the back when

ai

top. She didn't want

w, away from the tabl

er arms. "I al

head. "You didn

ed. "Go o

loser. "I know

d. "People

eople who need money but d

ran cold. D

s different. Less playful. More calcula

wallow

ling with," Elena conti

n to keep her sister alive. And now this woman-this strang

ed, her voice gentle but firm.

nse, she turned and walked away,