The attendant examined the gold-trimmed invitation in his hand, giving me a cautious look. "Where did you acquire this invitation, if you don't mind me asking?" He had been trained to maintain utter professionalism, so even if he suspected it was stolen, he couldn't accuse me directly.
My composed mask cracked slightly, the spike of anxiety visible in my eyes. I took a slow breath and forcibly restored my calm demeanor.
"I believe there's a misunderstanding," I explained smoothly. "My name isn't on the primary guest list because I am attending as the official representative for Mr. Valmont. You are welcome to confirm with his office directly. He handed me this invitation himself."
I knew this was a calculated risk. I was betting on the fact that my father hadn't bothered listing a speci
