Page 66 of Shatter

"Invitation?" he asks.

Oh.

Duh.

"Oh. I'm so sorry," I say, pulling out my little orphan Annie. "Harrison King told me to come. He didn't mention an invitation." Do eyelash flutters work on old men anymore?

I wasn't sure.

He hesitates, and I'm ready to throw in the towel. I don't want this man to lose his job because I'm having a temper tantrum. I can wait for Harrison out here all night if I have to.

I'm about to open my mouth and offer as much, when he softens visibly in front of me.

"Of course he would want you to attend. Tonight is for you, of course."

Wait.

What?

I don't have time to ask him what he means before he opens the door. I'm not about to blow my cover, so I thank him politely and walk into the hotel.

It's an opulent place, full of black marble and copper and brass tones. A well-dressed couple comes in behind me, brushing past me, so I follow them, acting like I'm with their little group.

They turn into one of the open doorways into a grand ball room, decorated to the nines. Romantic string lights are everywhere. Dozens of round tables sporting white clothes and chinaware litter the floor. It's not a scene I'm unfamiliar with, but it still takes me off guard. The doorman's words still linger in the back of my mind.

Finally, I spot Cassidy, standing to the side with Declan and Harrison. It stings, knowing Declan and Daniel are probably here with their women. And Harrison didn't want me here.

A DJ stands on a podium and strikes a knife against a glass, calling for silence and attention. Harrison and his crew sit at a table in the front left of the ball room. Deciding to use this moment to make him the most uncomfortable I can, I walk directly to his table, standing just to his left and back. I slide my hand along his neck and lean into his ear.

"Forget my invitation?" I purr, my voice laced with warning.

He's tense at first. Cass's eyes are wide, watching, with a salacious grin on her face.

Finally, Harrison's entire frame melts with defeat. I want to cause a scene, fight, shout at each other, but he does the last thing I'd expect. He wraps an arm around my waist and drags me to sit on his leg.

Wait. What?

It's the third time tonight I've been taken off guard and I don't know how to react. But I don't get the chance to fight him because the DJ speaks up.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the tenth annual Children in Entertainment Defense Fund Gala...."

My jaw hits the floor.

Children in entertainment.

Defense Fund Gala.

Tenth annual?!

"What is this?" I whisper.

"Just listen," he replies.

"For the past decade, this organization has worked to protect one of the most vulnerable groups in the entertainment industry: children whose careers, finances, and futures are often placed in the hands of adults before they’re even old enough to understand the contracts being signed on their behalf. Do we wish all parents had their children' s best interest at heart, yes, of course. But when large sums of money start changing hands at the expense of a child's labor, the waters can get murky. The Children in Entertainment Defense Fund was created to provide independent legal advocacy for child actors and actresses, with a specific focus on conservatorships, trusts, guardianship agreements, employment contracts, and financial arrangements with one goal only - ensuring that the child's best interest remains everyone's priority."

Oh, God.

Tears prick my eyes.