The red carpet treatment was not something I expected.

We pulled up in front of the PC Hilton, and someone immediately opened the door. I stepped out and straightened my coat, as I took a quick look around and winced at the sight of cameras and people.

I turned and took Cassandra's hand and helped her from the car.

"You'll be fine," she said, as she stood up next to me and smiled wide, looking to the people waiting for us to move.

"Sure, I will," I said through a clenched smile. "Can we just sprint through this, or would that be bad taste?"

"Just smile and walk; you don't have to stop," she said, as she weaved one arm through mine.

"Good, 'cause I'm not gonna."

And, we didn't. A few people hollered out, called me by name, called Cassandra by name, and we smiled and nodded. She waived to a couple people, but we just kept going.

The doors opened wide for us, as we approached, and in we went.

Out of the frying pan.

"Mister Carter," said an unfamiliar man, as he approached me from the other side of the room with a large smile and an outstretched hand. "So happy to see that you came," Trice said, as he took my hand and shook it firmly. "Robert Trice."

"Head of the PC Business Association?" I asked, and his smiled widened slightly at the recognition.

"Guilty as charged. Miss Trellis," said Trice, as he turned to Cass and took her hand, bending low to kiss it. "Always a pleasure."

"Likewise, Mister Trice."

"Going up?" Trice said with a chuckle, gesturing to the elevators.

I nodded and smiled to Trice, and he fell in beside me, as we all walked.

"My wife's a big fan of yours, Mister Carter," Trice said, as he slapped me on the shoulder, as he draped his arm around them.

"A fan?"

"She likes your American accent," he said, as the elevator doors opened, and he stopped to let us step inside, following behind. "It's unfortunate for her that she couldn't make it tonight."

"Well, we'll have to schedule something for later then, Mister Trice," I said. "It would be good for City Hall to strengthen its relationship with city businesses, and what better way than to butter up the head of the business association?"

"Too true," said Trice with a laugh. He reached inside his coat and came out with a business card, holding it out to me.

"I'm afraid I forgot to bring my card," I said as I took his. "But, I should be easy enough to find. Big building on Main and all."

I smiled, as Trice laughed and again slapped me on the back.

"I like you, Mister Carter," he said, the elevator stopping and opening. "We will definitely have to do lunch in the very near future."

"I'm looking forward to it," I said with a nod, as Cassandra stepped off the elevator, and I followed.

"I will be sure to catch you again before the night is over," he said with a waive, and the elevator closed.

"Is he the greeter or something?" I asked Cassandra, as I turned to face the room while tucking Trice's business card in my coat's inside pocket.

"He is," she said, snaking her arm through one of mine. "You did very well."

"He was a large man, Cass," I said. "I wasn't about to be rude to him."

She laughed, as we both took in the crowd.

Good Lord, I wasn't ready for this.

"Would you like to meet my father first?" Cass asked, as we started to walk deeper into the room, deeper into the prying eyes and the attention of people I would rather not associate with.

The place reeked of money.

The place reeked of superiority complexes.

"I think I'm having second thoughts," I said with a smirk and Cass squeezed my arm.

"Well, you're not getting out of this," she said, as we approached a small group of people talking, those facing us taking notice and pausing, causing the others to turn.

"Hello, father," Cassandra said to the gentleman who had had his back to us.

He was taller than I expected, a good half a head taller than me, and she had to stretch her neck to give him a peck on the cheek. His smile was warm and contradicted his build, his broad shoulders, the sharpness of his dark eyes.

"Allow me to introduce Jeffery Carter," she said, gesturing to me. "Jeffery, this is my father, Oliver Trellis."

His eyes locked onto mine, and I registered their confidence, the lack of any need to size me up. He knew where he stood.

"Mister Carter," he said, as he firmly grasped my extended hand and shook it.

I returned the firmness, but not too much, just enough to hold my own. I wasn't about to get into one of those pissing contests, but I wasn't about to back out of a firm shake either.

"Mister Trellis," I said with a nod. "A pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Believe me, Mister Carter, the pleasure is mine. As I'm sure it is for these gentlemen as well," Trellis said, gesturing to the group he had been speaking to. "Theodore Longerbeam here is a member of the board for Pacific City First Bank and Trust. And, this is his wife Katherine."

Longerbeam was a large man in the exact opposite way that Trellis was. Short and round, he reminded me of Commissioner Barry Jordan, only less sweaty.

"Mister Longerbeam," I said with a nod, as we shook hands.

"Mister Carter, how nice it is to finally see someone from City Hall show an interest in Pacific City's businesses."

"Well, I'm sure we can forgive the Mayor for concerning himself with ensuring the safety of the city's people before turning his efforts towards its businesses." I turned my attention to his wife before he could retort. "Missus Longerbeam, I must say it is a great honor to meet such a stunning woman."

I bent and kissed the back of her hand, hoping my sarcasm wasn't showing, hoping I could find a way to get out of this godawful event before too long.

"Charmed," she said with a practiced grin.

"Grace Masters," continued Trellis, as he gestured to a truly amazing looking blonde whose mere presence uttered her first name, "is the heiress to Masters Design."

"Miss Masters," I said, as she held out her hand for a limp shake.

"Please, Mister Carter, call me Grace."

"Likewise," I said with a smile. "Though I'd rather be called Jeffery, I'd answer to Grace as well."

And, they laughed at that. As lame as it was, they found it humorous in a very fake, stuffy laugh sort of way.

"This is my husband, Gregory Robinson," Masters said, as the gentleman next to her simply nodded at me, never offering his hand.

"Of Craig, Thomasm and Robinson?" I asked and he nodded again. I chuckled slightly and shook my head. "I suppose there's little chance I could convince you to drop the maintenance workers' litigation, eh?"

"No chance, Mister Carter," said Robinson. "Unless you're willing to grant their demands."

"That decision is in the Mayor's hands," I said with a shrug. "But, I'd certainly be willing to look into the matter and see if my opinion counts."

"If you all don't mind," said Trellis, as he wrapped one big arm around my shoulders, his other around Cassandra's waist. "I'm going to have to borrow our friend here for a few moments and give him the introductions."

"It was a pleasure meeting you all," I said, and they responded, as Trellis turned me away from them and started walking with them.

"Cassandra, dear," he said. "Have you impressed on Mister Carter how utterly useless it is to actually talk to these people?"

"He seems to feel the need to be utterly polite and professional," Cassandra said, and her father shook his head and stopped, released her waist, and stepped in front of me, both hands on my shoulders.

"Jeffery, a bit of advice," Trellis said. "These people are not listening to you. Do not try and convince them of your way of thinking. Simply smile and nod as they speak and refuse to commit on any issue unless it is the legitimacy of your birth."

I laughed and nodded.

"I'm afraid I may have to do a bit more than that, sir."

"Second bit of advice," Trellis said, as he halted a server with a tray of drinks and removed one for Cassandra and then handed me one before taking one for himself and thanking the server verbally and financially. "There are no 'sirs' in this room other than yourself. You are better than them. Make them know it."

"I do have a particular pretense to keep..."

"Not with these people, Jeffery," Trellis said. "You have what they want, the keys to the city. Make them beg for it."

I shook my head with a grin.

"Cassandra," he said, as he stepped aside and pulled Cass in front of me. "You keep working on him. I have to go placate a little more. Take care of yourself, Jeffery, and take care of them," he said, pointing at the crowd behind me.

He kissed Cassandra on the cheek and whispered something foreign in her ear before breaking away.

"I think he likes you," Cass said with a smile, and I again shook my head.

"What was that he spoke before he left? Mandarin?"

"Cantonese," Cassandra corrected with an arc of her eyebrows. I guess she was impressed at how close I was. "Our family is from Hong Kong."

I nodded.

"And, here I thought you were rebelling against your family with your radical thoughts."

"They're pretty consistent through the generations," she said, taking a sip of her drink.

"So," I said, looking around the room again, as I turned and stood next to her. "Are we having fun yet?"

"The party's just getting started," Cass said, as she looped her arm through mine and started walking with me toward another group of people.

Yippie.

"So, the rumors are true," said Tina Wilson, as she stepped toward us with a smirk.

"Unfortunately so," said Cassandra, glancing to me with a big smile and laughing, as she turned back to Tina. "You two already know each other, I'm sure."

"Anything you'd like to grill me about tonight, Miss Wilson?" I asked, as she I shook her extended hand.

"I'm taking the night off, Mister Carter, so you get a break."

"If you both will excuse me," Cassandra said, suddenly breaking away. "I'll be right back."

And, she gave be the biggest grin, as she stranded me with Tina Wilson.

"She did that on purpose," I said, shaking my head and taking a sip of my drink.

"She did," Tina said. "So, I've got something up my ass, do I?"

I nearly choked on my drink.

"She ratted me out, huh?"

"She didn't have to," Tina said with a smirk. "You're quite the open book when it comes to your opinion of the media."

"Just trying to do my job, Miss Wilson."

"As am I, Mister Carter. I'm not about to cut you some slack because you're sleeping with a Globe employee."

"I'm not asking for any special favors," I said. "I'm just hoping for a fair shake."

"Once City Hall starts giving this city a fair shake, maybe I'll give you one."

"Is that an admission of bias?"

"Never."

I smirked, as we both drank.

"Just the same, you look lovely this evening," I said.

"If you think flattery's going to help..."

I cut her off with a laugh.

"I can't win, can I?"

She let her smirk be her answer.

"How do you think Mister Turner over there is going to take our talking?" I asked, as I pointed to Peter Turner from the Bristol Star over her shoulder and across the room.

She turned to see him staring right at us, me in particular, his glare almost laughable.

"Not only do I show up to this thing with one PC Globe employee," I said, as I stepped up next to Tina. "But, then I end up having a lovely conversation with another. Folks are going to start thinking the Globe loves City Hall."

"No one cares what Peter Turner thinks," Tina said.

"I do. It was lovely chatting with you, Miss Wilson. I'll see you at Monday's morning briefing I suppose."

I smirked and nodded before stepping away from her and going straight for Turner.

"What do you want, Carter?" he asked before I was even six feet away from him, stuffing his face with some shrimp thing he grabbed off a passing tray.

"I thought I'd stop by and say hello," I said, setting my now empty glass on another passing tray.

"Well, you've said it," Turner said, his eyes looking around the room, avoiding mine.

I stepped up beside him and turned to look over the room as well. He looked to me for a moment, as he backed away, trying to figure me out, I suppose.

"So, where should I start, Petey?" I asked.

"What?"

"Well, you're the gossip columnist," I said. "I'm sorry, POLITICAL gossip columnist, and seeing as how I'm fairly new at this, I thought maybe you could give me a quick who's who of the room and get me started off right."

"Can't your arm candy do that for you?"

"She could, but I figure you're the man in the know."

"Well, Mister Carter," Turner said, grabbing something else to eat off of another passing tray.

"Call me Jeffery."

"Mister Carter," he said with a bit of emphasis. "Take your pick. Just about everyone here is worthwhile, all have a very low opinion of you, an even lower opinion of City Hall, and each and every single one of them are probably very eager to have you ear for whatever pet project they have in mind."

"As much as they might not like me or City Hall, they want to talk to me?"

"They don't like you or City Hall because they can't talk to you."

"Well, thanks for your time, Pete," I said, as I turned to him and held out my hand for a shake. "I appreciate the tip."

"Break a leg," he said, ignoring my hand that I pulled back.

"Literally, right?"

He looked me dead in the eyes.

"One can hope."

***

"Jeffery, this is Richard Daggon, CEO of Burke Enterprises."

I resisted the urge to crush his hand.

"Richard, Jeffery Carter."

"From the Mayor's Office?" asked Daggon, his fake smile widening. I nodded. "Well, Mister Carter, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"And you, Mister Daggon," I forced myself to say.

"I hope that City Hall and Burke Enterprises are able to keep their close working relationship, despite the change in management."

"That decision ultimately lies with the Mayor," I said. "But, I don't see why things should change because of some in-house issues on your end. After all, Burke Enterprises took City Hall's change in leadership in stride."

"Fair enough, Mister Carter, and very reassuring. Especially given your personal relationship with Miss Burke." Do what? "Though, given that it does seem to be past relationship," he said, looking to Cass and then back to me, that damn fake smile gleaming, "perhaps my concern was unnecessary."

A feminine hand came over Daggon's shoulder, and he turned to look at and reveal its source.

Oh, no.

"Mister Carter, Cassandra, let me introduce my fiancŽe, Emma Randolph."

My stomach flared, pain wracking my body, as all too familiar green eyes locked with mine, Emma's hand slowly, hesitantly coming out for me to receive, limp, palm down, as if I was expected to kiss the back of it.

"A pleasure, Miss Randolph," I said after swallowing hard, following through with the formalities of kissing her hand.

"Is it, Mister Carter?" she said, a smirk, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "I must say that you are looking in much better spirits than when we last met."

"You two have met before?" asked Daggon, a delightful surprise in his voice.

"Yes," I said. "Though the circumstances were less than ideal."

"For some," said Emma, a full smile now on her face. "Miss Trellis," she said, finally letting my hand go, shaking Cass'. "I hope you realize the handful you've got with Mister Carter here." She had looked to Cass but locked eyes with me again with the end of her sentence. I noticed Cass glance to me out of the corner of my eyes, but I did not look away from Emma.

"If he gets to be too much," she continued. "I recommend you go for the gut."

"With your gut," Daggon tried to correct, completely oblivious to the conversation as a whole, let alone the undertone.

"Of course, dear," Emma said, lacing her arm through her fiance's. "Lewis Adder was looking for you a moment ago," she said, as she looked to him.

"Well then, let's not keep him waiting. Mister Carter," Daggon snatched my hand. "A pleasure to meet you. I look forward to a strong working relationship with City Hall in the future. Cassandra," he said, turning to her, Emma locking eyes with me again, smiling, daring me, taunting me.

I missed what Daggon said to Cass.

"Do take care of yourself, Jeffery," said Emma.

"Likewise, Miss Randolph," I said, giving her a short nod.

I stared at her, as she and Daggon turned and walked away.

Stared.

Glared.

And, my stomach roared.

"Murderer," I hissed through clenched teeth.

"Jeffery?"

Cassandra's hand gently touched my cheek, bringing me back, the tone in her voice telling me it wasn't the first time she'd said my name, but she wasn't angry. No. Concerned.

"I need some air," I said, still staring at the back of Emma's head.

That's when the window's exploded.