14
Lifestyles Of The Rich And Dangerous
I sneezed.
Well, fake sneezed. As I squeaked out a semi-convincing achoo, I blew the coke out into a fine cloud over the barman’s black apron. I expected Sokolov and Yurkovich to go apeshit and tear into me for wasting what was bound to be the very best s**t. Instead, they burst out laughing. Funniest thing they’d seen in ages, apparently. I stood up straight and pretended to look disappointed, the other girls shaking their heads at me. Before another line could be prepped, the hostess of the event clinked a spoon against a glass.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said, “the big moment is here. Would you please follow me to the gallery, where Mr Antonenko will unveil the Arina Diamond.”
Murmurs of excitement surged through the room. Feet shuffled towa
