They buffed the clear coat that protected the deep red paint until it gleamed, and the chrome trim had been polished until it sparkled with brilliance. The leather interior and carpeting had been cleaned until not a speck of dust existed, and the burled walnut trim accenting the seats and panels had been made lustrous with the softest cloths known to man. Not one item on the car was overlooked, so when David turned the automobile onto the long, curved driveway leading to the mansion belonging to Bradley Easterbrook, he sat tall in his seat. He may not have been the registered owner of the car, but tonight it belonged to him.

Addison had prepared herself for what she thought was about to happen, but as soon as the tires of the Phantom hit the interlocking brick of the driveway leading to the Easterbrook mansion, her jaw dropped open as what seemed like a thousand flash bulbs went off at the same time. Flash after flash lit up the vehicle, and the metallic paint reflected each back onto the bystanders, creating almost an endless strobe of lights flickering in the night.

The smile on Bradley’s face almost reached the back of his head as he stood on the front patio of his palatial mansion. Anticipating the excitement, he had hired a force of security men. Looking quite official in their crisp gray uniforms, they stood outside the ropes of velvet, preventing the photographers and onlookers from approaching the car.

“Jesus,” Joanna said, shielding her eyes from the light. “I can’t bloody see.”

“Yes, a bit more than I was expecting, too,” Addison said, giving Joanna a quick look. “Just look down for a minute. It’ll clear.”

Feeling the car come to a stop, Addison looked through the window. Thankful to see more velvet ropes in place to protect the stairs leading to the house, when David opened the door, Addison took a deep breath and stepped out into the crisp winter night. Her amusement at the hubbub as reporters repeatedly called her name showed on her face, and turning back to the car she held out her hand and waited for Joanna to take it.

The only thing Joanna could think of was to pray. Nervous didn’t come close to what she was feeling. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and her palms were wet, and if there had been a compartment in the Rolls in which to hide, she would have gladly climbed inside. She had spent weeks drilling Evelyn on all the pomp and protocol of events like this, but the crowd and the noise had erased all that she had learned. And when she saw Addison hold out her hand, the fluttering feeling in her belly turned into a tsunami. Joanna inhaled as much air as her lungs could hold, and letting it out slowly, she licked her lips, held her breath, and took Addison’s hand. Showtime.