Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Chapter 301

The crowd's whistles and shouts came in waves across the packed bar.

On stage, a woman moved with the music, step by step, heading straight for a man in the audience.

Suddenly, with a dramatic flourish, she whipped off her mask and tumbled right into his arms.

There were so many people pressed up against the stage, Sylvia couldn't see either of their faces clearly. But as the man caught the woman, the stage lights caught his wrist-and the glint of his designer watch.

CL.

The initials, spelled out in tiny diamonds, sparkled so brightly that Sylvia recognized them instantly.

Chris Lennon!

Which meant the woman had to be Fanny.

Sylvia never would've guessed that the famous Ms. Lance would go so far as to get up on stage and dance just to impress a guy.

Pocketing her phone, she grabbed her glass of whiskey and slipped through the throng toward Chris and his friends' VIP booth.

Chris really was the boss. His table had the best view in the whole place—not only could you see the stage perfectly, but you could also watch all the action on the dance floor: guys in skinny jeans, girls in cocktail dresses, and everyone in between.

Sylvia glanced over at them.

shirt open far enough to show off most of his

on his lap, tapping his chest lightly with her

you didn't

"Didn't I just

leaned in, took her half-empty glass, and—without breaking eye contact— tilted it back, finishing the rest with a bite of the rim. The cocky move earned him a look from Fanny that

voice chimed in

a doctor. When he's busy, nobody can get ahold of him. You're the only one who can drag him out on a night like this. Seriously, think about it has he

Bridget,

didn't quite reach her eyes. And while Fanny poured herself another drink, Bridget and Chris exchanged a

gaze was half-annoyed, mostly

later, Fanny snuggled closer to Chris, whispering near his

but he didn't pull away either. Their faces

do you think?" he

in for a kiss—just as Chris picked up a fresh

the snack tray and held

to

Fanny grinned and took a

of their friends started to hoot and tease them. Bridget just sipped her cranberry juice, eyes drifting back again and again to Chris her innocent gaze glossy under the neon lights, soft and a

Chris before, always joking about being just friends, even describing him as a "no-strings" kind of guy. So why was she now looking

soon had her

set down her glass and