Privilege 3 - Perfect Mistake (20 page)

"Come on. He's good for way more than that," Soomie said, following after her with starry eyes.

Christian jumped out and reached back for Ariana's hand. "Milady."

Ariana shot him a smile, but got out on her own. "Sorry, Chris, but I'm not anyone's arm candy," she said, patting him on the arm. "Save me a dance, though."

Christian's face fell, but he recovered quickly, sidling up next to Maria. Random Boy's feelings were the last thing on Ariana's mind. After her tiff with Palmer, this night had become all about work. She glanced over her shoulder at the next limo, which had transported Kaitlynn,

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Tahira, and Zuri, plus Allison--whom Brigit had invited because she was a Stone and Grave potential--among others. Ariana had to wait for them to get out of the car without making it too obvious.

"I'd never call you arm candy," Palmer whispered to her as he slipped by. Then he slapped Christian on the back and the two of them walked into the party together.

Lexa and Conrad were next out of the car. Lexa put on a big grin for the paparazzi and Ariana heard a few whispers of "Lexa Greene" and "senator's daughter" skitter through the crowd. She looped her arm through Conrad's and looked at Ariana.

"You coming, Ana?"

"Actually, I'm going to wait for Lily," Ariana replied, her smile forced. "I'll be right in."

"Okay."

Lexa and Conrad walked the red carpet, looking every bit the movie--star couple. Ariana wished Lexa would fully invest herself in the guy already. She seemed to really like him, so why did it also seem like part of her simply wanted to make Palmer jealous?

Kaitlynn, Allison, and Zuri were piling out of the rear car now. Allison and Zuri made their way up the red carpet, arms linked, posing for the cameras as Kaitlynn ducked her head and moved quickly inside. Smart move, and one Ariana would be making as well. If either of them was caught on camera, it would all be over.

Behind Ariana, Brigit and Adam edged their way toward the door of their car. Ariana leaned over and stopped them.

"Wait."

208 "What's wrong?" Brigit asked.

"Tahira's just about to go through," Ariana said. "Y want to be last, right? The big finale? Don't let her steal your spotlight. Y know how much

ou ou she'd enjoy it."

Brigit nodded and smiled. "You're right. Thanks, Ana."

"No problem,"

Tahira got out of the car with Rob, and right away, all lenses were trained on the princess of Dubai. Tahira ate it up, waving, posing, flashing her wide grin, swiveling her hips. She made her way to the top of the red carpet so slowly, Ariana had to take baby steps just to get there when she wanted to--right in front of Tahira.

"Hello, everyone! Well yes, of course! Brigit and I are dear, dear friends!" Tahira shouted, answering reporters questions. Ariana felt like hurling. Or, at the very least, stepping on the girl's glittery gold train so she'd trip and fall on her overly made--up face. But instead she had to concentrate on walking slowly enough to get through the door just ahead of Tahira, and on making sure that none of the cameras could get a clear picture of her face.

"What're you doing, Covington?" Tahira hissed under her breath, keeping her smile on. "Trying to throw me into shadow with your big head?"

"Ah, Tahira. It would have to be bigger than yours to accomplish that," Ariana replied blithely.

Tahira's smile only faltered for a moment, and she went back to working the crowd. By the time they finally reached the door of the embassy, even Rob was checking his watch.

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"Can we get on with this? I'm starving," he said under his breath.

"Do you think of nothing other than your stomach?" Tahira snapped. "This is practically my job, you know. I have an image to maintain."

"I know. Sorry," Rob said, chagrined. He lifted his hands in surrender as the line edged forward.

"Omigod, Rob, did I tell you? I got the best dirt on a donor," Tahira said out of nowhere. The hairs on the back of Ariana's neck prickled.

"Really?" Rob whispered. Clearly Tahira had broken the rules and told him all about Stone and Grave and her secret task. Ariana wondered if the Stone and Grave members knew about this. Or if there was some way she could let them know.

Of course, after tonight, it wouldn't matter anymore that Tahira had broken the rules.

"What is it?" Rob asked.

"I'll tell you later," Tahira said. Then she leaned toward Ariana's ear from behind. "But somebody's going daaa--own!" she sang under her breath.

It took every ounce of Ariana's willpower to keep from turning around and smacking the girl across the face.

She had to go. It was either her or Ariana. Simple as that. Ariana arrived at the front of the line.

"Please place any metal objects in the container on the belt, then move through," the guard instructed.

Ariana had nothing metal on her person, so she slipped through

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the gate with no problem. Up ahead, revelers were gathering in a huge anteroom, partaking in champagne and appetizers. Ariana hesitated, loitering among the few Hatches of people who had stayed behind to chat in this first hall.

Tahira received the same instructions from the guard and, like Ariana, placed nothing on the belt. She moved through the gate in front of Rob, and Ariana held her breath. Instantly, the red light atop the arc of the gate started to blink and a discreet but irritating alarm pealed out. The key had done its job.

"Miss, would you mind stepping this way?" a middle--aged guard said to Tahira in a Norwegian accent.

"Me?" Tahira asked, annoyed.

"Yes, please. I'll need to check the contents of your bag."

Ariana pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. So far, so good.

Tahira groaned and tipped her head back dramatically. "Do you have any idea who I am?" she said, thrusting her clutch at him.

He blinked at her, his face a blank. "No. I'm afraid I do not."

Then he unceremoniously dumped her stuff out into a plastic bin. Ariana moved slowly in the direction of the door, loitering just behind the guard. She glanced down at the bin and saw a compact mirror, a tube of lip gloss, Tahira's ID, and her EpiPen. The key Ariana had planted to make the metal detector go off hadn't fallen out. It was probably wedged into the tight outside pocket, which the guard hadn't noticed yet. All the better for Ariana. He looked the things over and, finding nothing metal, turned to the second guard.

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"We'll need the wand," he said.

"The what?!" Tahira screeched as the second guard approached with a metal--detecting wand. She backed up a few steps, nearly tripping on the long hem of her gown. "You are not using that thing on me. Rob! Get your ass over here!"

Rob, however, was being detained by a third guard on the other side of the metal detector, which the security team evidently did not want to use until the current situation was sorted out. The line of partygoers was starting to back up, and everyone was standing on their toes and straining their necks to see what the commotion was.

"Can't do it, sweetie!" he said in a bored voice.

"I have rights, you know!" Tahira shouted. "And I'm a dignitary's daughter, which means I have bodyguards! God, why did I tell them to stay home? If you give me my phone I can have them here in five minutes and they'll kick your scrawny Norwegian butt right back to Oslo."

"As appealing as that sounds, it's not necessary," the first guard said, approaching Tahira, who was trying to wrench her arm out of the second guard's grasp. "Now if you'll just stand still for a moment, miss. We're simply attempting to do our jobs."

"Y people suck, you know that?" Tahira ranted, making an even bigger scene. So much for that image she was trying to maintain. "I don't know

ou why we're allies with you old--school bastards. Norway sucks. In fact, Europe sucks!"

There was a general gasp from the waiting crowd, which was probably full of European dignitaries.

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"Yeah, that's right! I said it!" Tahira said, still squirming. "I hate Europe!"

Now the crowd started to murmur and shout. Ariana laughed and, with both guards now fully occupied by a screeching brat and a potential revolt, she quickly grabbed Tahiras EpiPen and slipped it into her purse. Then she turned and joined the party.

Part two of her plan was complete.

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THE TOUR

"Ana! Ana! Ana!"

Brigit half--scurried, half--wobbled across the crowded ballroom, forcing ladies in couture and men in tails to dodge out of her way as she went. A woman in a glittering tiara laughed in an indulgent way as the princess raced around like a girl half her age. Ariana smiled as she caught Brigit in her arms before she could fall forward in her high heels. It must have been nice to have an entire country looking after you, indulging you, like you were a favorite daughter.

"What? What is it?" Ariana asked with a laugh, clutching Brigit's elbows as Brigit clutched hers.

"I did it! I did my task!" Brigit whispered breathlessly, her chest heaving up and down.

"You embarrassed the crown prince of Jordan?" Ariana replied under her breath. "How?"

"I was standing with him and Prince William and a couple of the

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senators' sons and I said I smelled dog poo and I made diem all take off their shoes to check, which of course they did because I'm the princess and when you're within these walls you pretty much have to do whatever I say," Brigit rambled, leading Ariana toward a velvet bench near the wall and dropping down. "That was pretty much all I had to do," she said, lifting her palms and laughing. "Make him take off his shoes? How is that embarrassing?" Ariana asked, setting her empty champagne glass down on the table next to her. It was immediately whisked away by a white--gloved waiter.

"Because the crown prince of Jordan wears lifts," Brigit whispered conspiratorially. "When he took off his shoes he was at least three inches shorter, and now all the guys know! You should have seen the look on his face. I thought Will was going to die laughing."

"Wow. You are evil," Ariana said jokingly.

"I know, right?" Brigit said, holding her hand over her mouth. "Maybe I should have asked him to teach me how to walk in these heels." She tugged her skirt up slightly to show off her sparkly shoes. "Can I take them off yet?" she whimpered. "I swear I almost took down one of the tapestries back there just trying to bow to that guy from the Japanese embassy."

"No. You are not removing the shoes," Ariana said, placing a calming hand on Brigit's arm. "You're doing fine. It's only a few hours."

Brigit rolled her eyes just as Kaitlynn appeared with Lexa, Conrad, Adam, and Soomie in tow.

"Brigit, this party is amazing," Kaitlynn said, her face flushed with pleasure.

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"Eh. It's okay," Brigit said with a shrug.

"And this building is beautiful," Kaitlynn added, looking around at the high ceilings. "Would you mind giving us a tour? I mean, of whatever parts we're allowed to see?" she added with an endearingly self--deprecating laugh.

"Sure," Brigit said, reaching her arms out to Kaitlynn for help. Kaitlynn hoisted Brigit up onto her heels as gracefully as possible. "Y coming,

ou Ana?"

"I'm in," Ariana replied. Even though she had assured Kaitlynn countless times that she was taking care of the Stone and Grave situation, she still didn't relish the thought of leaving Kaitlynn alone with any of her friends. "Let's do it."

Brigit took the lead with Adam and Lexa; Conrad and Kaitlynn fell in behind them. Along the way they picked up Soomie, Christian, and a few other APH students who wanted to get in on the exclusive tour. Palmer hung back and waited for Ariana to join him.

"Hey," Ariana said, her heart fluttering at his close proximity. "Having fun?"

"Yeah. I'd be having more fun if I had a date," he replied lightly.

"Palmer, I thought you understood," Ariana replied. "I need to fly under the radar for now."

"What's the big deal?" Palmer asked. "People break up and start dating other people all the time."

"Yeah, but not best friends," Ariana replied as Brigit led them across the lobby and through a pair of double doors on the other side.

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"How can you guys be best friends? Until two weeks ago you hadn't even spoken in years," Palmer whispered.

Ariana's heart turned. How could Palmer question her and Lexa's connection? Did Lexa not want to be her best friend? Had she said something to Palmer about her before they broke up that implied that she didn't really like Ariana?

"Don't be mean," Ariana replied firmly.

Palmer blew out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I just ... I want to be able to be with you, that's all." He glanced ahead at the rest of the tour group, slowing his steps to put some distance between them. "I want to be able to do this." He lifted her hand and kissed her wrist lightly, looking right into her eyes. Her entire body actually shivered, which made Palmer smile.

"You can do that all you want," she whispered. "Later."

"Promise?" Palmer asked with a sexy smile.

Ariana grinned. "Promise."

They would just have to find someplace private for him to do it.

Brigit was explaining the origin of some Renaissance--style painting as Ariana and Palmer caught up. Then she turned toward the back of the mansion and threw open another pair of doors, so tall they practically reached the ceiling.

"Whoa," Adam said, his eyes wide as they stepped into a huge room with a broad, winding staircase at the center. There were ladders and scaffolding positioned all around the room, and white paint peeled from the domed ceiling overhead.

"They usually hold the NoBash in this room, but as you can see,

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it's under construction," Brigit said, her heels clipping at an uneven pace as she crossed toward the staircase. "I'll show you guys my dad's office upstairs. He still has my nursery set up next door and it's just the way it was when I was a baby."

She started up the steps, holding the skirt of her gown up with one hand and clinging to the oak railing with the other. Her heel caught on the carpet about halfway up and she stopped, took a breath, and kept going.