Page 55 of All Fall Down

“You broke it, you bought it.”

I have no idea how Sabine and Levi got up here,” he says gruffly. “Security has been notified that they can’t so much as step foot on the sidewalk.”

“And yet, they’re here.” Judging from Monroe’s reaction, they wouldn’t be for much longer. A chilling thought occurs to me as we approach them. If it was that easy for two people to crash this party after all the security upgrades that had been made since Nathaniel’s death, how many other people can get past the surveillance and guards—tonight and the night of the murder?

As we approach the threesome, we’re joined by Hugo and Leighton. My pulse speeds up and I clutch Jameson’s hand. I’d once considered them the Belle Mere axis of evil. Circumstances had torn them apart this summer, which means there’s no way to know how ugly this argument could get.

“You weren’t invited.” Monroe delivers her dismissal in a lowered voice, but Sabine only laughs at her.

“I know every staff member of this hotel. I’m always invited.” Sabine has eschewed the traditional uniform of pink I usually see her in. Instead, she’s rocking an electric blue number and a silver, Venetian carnival mask. Next to her Levi shifts on his heels.

Jameson doesn’t bother to tell his former friend that he’s unwelcome. He handed down that edict when he first learned that Levi planned to play him in a damning biopic. The role would have made Levi’s career. Now the movie was dead in the water along with their friendship.

The tilt of Jameson’s head is hardly perceptible but a few moments later, Maddox appears behind our small group.

“Mr. Stone, please follow me.”

Levi shoots Jameson a pleading look, but it’s too little too late. Sabine stays frozen in place even as her boyfriend follows our hulking private muscle toward the elevator.

“Monroe,” Sabine begins, but Monroe holds up her palm.

“Leave,” she commands.

“What’s going on with you two?” Leighton interjects. She doesn’t bother to keep her voice quiet, and all around us, heads turn. Apparently, she’s still a little hazy on what’s happened in her absence. I glare at Hugo accusatorily. He brought her here knowing full well that their little friendship circle is broken forever.

“Tell her,” Sabine says, stamping her heel on the tile. Now the whole party is watching. “Tell her what’s going on with us, Monroe.”

“It’s best you go.” Monroe turns but not before Sabine moves closer.

“Tell her who pushed her out the window.”

A low buzz breaks out around us as people figure out what she’s saying.

“Get her out of here,” Monroe shouts to the security guards who are standing by hesitantly.

“No.” Hugo steps in. “I want to hear what she has to say.”

“Tell them,” Sabine sneers. She might lose the war but she’s going to win this battle and it seems there will be casualties.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Monroe begins, her eyes flash to each of us. No doubt she’s hoping one of us will save her. The trouble is that none of us have reason to.

“You pushed her through the window,” Hugo screams, and I’m reminded of how swiftly he’d turned on someone he considers his best friend. It doesn’t matter if Monroe did it so long as Hugo believes she did.

Before I can nudge Jameson to intervene, Jonas steps out from the crowd. More than anyone, he doesn’t owe Monroe any favors. But when Hugo takes a purposeful step toward her, Jonas grabs him from behind.

“Let’s cool off,” he coaxes his best friend.

“Why? Because I can’t hit a girl?” Hugo asks. “Because she’s no lady. She’s a cold-blooded bitch. You know that.”

“Drop it,” Jonas urges, struggling to keep his hold as Hugo thrashes. After a few moments, Hugo goes limp. But before we can breathe a collective sigh of relief. He casts a scornful glare at Monroe. “Assault. Prostitution. What else are you capable of, Madam West?”

The accusation goes off like a bomb and the low murmurs of gossip die down as everyone strains to hear her response. Looking around, I realize more than a few people have been filming this encounter. Within hours, Monroe West’s private life will be subject to an online smear campaign.

Monroe raises her chin in defiance and then she does the last thing any of us expects: she shrugs.

“Caught me,” she says with a wicked smirk. Next to me Jameson doesn’t move. I’d wondered before if he knew what she was up to, and now I know. He had no clue.

Security finally does their job and escorts Sabine to the elevator. Hugo begins to follow but Leighton just stands there staring. Monroe doesn’t meet her minion’s eyes until Leighton’s soft voice calls for her attention.