Chapter 3: The GalaThe plane ride was only a few hours, but, for Tess, a nervous flyer, it was far too long. She fidgeted in her seat the whole way, and had to be gently shushed by Colette more than once when she began to ramble. They flew first class, of course, and Tess wasn’t sure if she liked it. Sure, the seats had so much leg room, and they were offered drinks as soon as they sat down, but it felt like a waste of money.
They arrived with only an hour to spare before the gala and were whisked away by another driver, this time sent by Colette’s mother. He drove them through the city, until they came to the outskirts, where the skyscrapers and apartment blocks thinned out and turned into long driveways and luxurious family homes. Tess stared as they passed neighborhood after neighborho
