nd let's get ready for

a," he whispe

on to Mr. Bartlett's birthday party. Not for the celebration, the politi

Two months since he last saw her smile. She was the only woman who ever had hi

d a rivalry soaked in betrayal. But tonight, with Isabella back an

e last two months she traveled aboard, Isabella had been his one and only love since college but he

om the front seat, Miss Maya

at up.

xpected. Her flight from Pa

d she attended

d down his face. "What a... devil."

er person for the job. A few days later Isabella was offered another job and headed for New York and Maya for Paris. Maya has always been feisty, envious, two-faced and has always

just for him; he carried the kind of quiet confidence that didn't need flashing lights or a crowd's attention; it fol

lm, unreadable expression that makes people wonder what he is thinking. There w

sleeve, then stepped onto the red carpet without hesitation

s, and headed straight toward a cluster of executives near

smoothly. I heard yo

ast week, Mr

o offered a small

d members, men his father once tried to force on him. Now they looked a

her throat. Elio Wilson, the man who had never glanced her way the same way he did with Isabella. His calm confidence, the way the crowd instin

scent of spiced vanilla trailing behind her.

ping right in front of

e a brief nod. "You're back earlier than expec

idn't reach her eyes. "Did you thi

n't ev

in front of him. "I was starting t

lied, barely g

loser, forcin

er voice teasing. "You should le

of her, but because he'd had enough,

aid, voice quiet but sharp. "

ile cr

li

ound her like she was furni

the front of the crowd; Maya stood frozen for a second,

and there she was, Isabella Scott, arriving with her fath

that somehow drew more attention than any grand announcement could.

oved with the kind of grace that couldn't be taught. She wore an ice-blue gown that hugged her figure and slipped into a soft step behind h

ond studs catching the chandelier light. Her makeup was barely there, just enough to enhance what needed no help. She didn't wave,

shock, the moment she saw him, everything else blurred. Her heart forgot how to beat, and for a second,

watching her blend into the crowd; his jaw tigh

t look at me

asn'

It had been so fast, just like a flicker, no

it deliberate" He couldn't

ed, always in control

d just walked through, Elio's eyes followed her throug

ver her hips with every step, effortless, seductive without trying.

e muttered

ffect she had on him hadn't faded. If anything, the distance, th

it. And he remembered the feel of her once, that night, brief moments, innocent touches that lingered too long. No

ond, he imagined what she looked like beneath that dress. He imagined walking up behind her, brushing her ha

but his body didn't c

m brush past her like she didn't exist, but now? Now he sto

the crowd with her usual icy grace, completely unaware, or maybe comp

oticed som

olite interest, It was hunger. That deep, buried k

stomach

profusely angry, she only wanted him to look at her that way and yet here he

ghtened around he

thing," Maya thought bitt

f the world had disappeared, that's ev

e hall, the soft sound of a g

's welcome the one whose life we celebrate t

e app

g, ladies a

ee so many familiar and cherished faces here tonight.

e roads traveled, the lessons learned, and the people who made the jou

rce. Here's to 55 years of memories, and to many more years ah

le l

e, to friendship, and to never g

ee

ee

e the MC voice from the central podium

thing smoother, richer, a live band easing into jazz. Waiters moved with

room cam

one blended i

didn'

as speaking to a few familiar guests with that quiet charm she always

smiling for anyone who looked her way, but her eyes kept drift

wasn't about champagne or business deals, the clinking

art, smiling politely when spoken to, nodding through empty conversat

denly brus

ide him again, this time with a

arp and unreadable.

ing it off like a joke. "C

id no

ella who gets your

e his ja

her, lowering his voic

iled wider.

oor, just as the tempo shifted into something slow and smooth. Cameras subt

a's waist, the other holding hers. His posture was perfect,