Geoffrey met her downstairs in her usual black outfit. She looked at the bodyguard and sighed. "Do you think you could change?" she asked.

"Out of my uniform?" Geoffrey asked. "Why?"

​​

"I don't want to draw attention to myself," she answered. "If I show up with a bodyguard, people are sure to notice."

"I don't have any dresses," Geoffrey said nervously. "And I certainly don't have any heels."

"Hmm," she said. "I think I might have something you can borrow."

Geoffrey's freckled face went pale, "No, Mrs. Blair, I couldn't possibly."

"I told you, call me Catherine," she said. "And yes, you can."

She grabbed Geoffrey by the hand and led her up the stairs to her bedroom. Once in the closet, she browsed through the racks of clothes, finally settling on a pair of black slacks, a sleeveless silk blouse, and black loafers.

"Here," she said, handing the clothes to Geoffrey. "You'll be able to move comfortably, but you won't stand out."

Geoffrey looked doubtfully at the clothing, but she accepted it and went into the bathroom to change. She came out blushing bright pink.

"I look ridiculous," she said, fidgeting with the blouse.

"You look like a girl," Catherine laughed. "Come on, let's go."

The drive into the city was short, and Geoffrey left the car to the valet. Catherine took Geoffrey by the arm and led her into the hotel toward the ballroom. Just inside the ballroom doors, Melanie and Madison stood side by side, greeting the guests. They exchanged a glance when Catherine entered, plastering huge, fake smiles on their faces.

"So glad you could make it," Madison said. "But you didn't tell me you were bringing your bodyguard."

"Of course I brought her," Catherine said. "She comes with me everywhere."

"I mean, I didn't realize she'd be a guest," Madison said.

"Is that a problem?" she asked. "You invited Sean, but since he couldn't make it, Geoffrey is my plus one. It's the same number of people."

Melanie's eyes narrowed, "No, no problem at all."

Passing Madison and Melanie, Catherine looked around the room. The ballroom was bright and airy. Tall French windows lined the walls, and gold panels decorated the ceiling. About one hundred people milled around the room, and Catherine recognized classmates, Stewart family friends, and even a few teachers from the school. She spotted Sophia halfway across the room and rushed to join her.

"How are you, Soph?" she asked.

Though Sophia wore makeup, Catherine could tell that her friend was tired. Her eyes were dull, and she looked as if she'd lost weight.

"I'm fine," Sophia whispered.

"You don't look fine," Catherine said.

"I'll tell you later," Sophia sighed. "I don't want anyone to overhear us."

"Catherine is that you?" a freckle-faced girl shouted.

"I can't believe she'd come here after what happened at the pub," a boy on stage whispered.

Catherine bit her tongue and pretended to ignore them. She reached for the crystal jug of water at the center of the table, but Geoffrey shook her head very slightly. Catherine rolled her eyes and reached for the jug again, and Geoffrey's hand closed over her wrist.

"What?" Catherine hissed. "I'm thirsty."

"It's not safe," Geoffrey whispered. "It could be drugged."

"Are you serious?" Catherine shot back. "This is a graduation party full of teenagers—I don't think anyone would try something like that."

"Wasn't it a group of teenagers at a high school party who hired that man to attack you?" Geoffrey asked.

Catherine sighed, "They're not here anymore. Sean took care of that."

"We're not taking any chances tonight," Geoffrey replied, pulling a water bottle from her purse. "If you're thirsty, you can drink this."

"Great," Catherine muttered, twisting the bottle open and pouring it into her glass. "Way to blend in."

"Hey Catherine," someone shouted. "Where are you going to uni?"

"She's not going to uni," another person snickered. "She's not smart enough for that."

"She's smart enough to snag a rich husband," said another. "She'll live it up on his money while we work our asses off. Life isn't fair."

"But he'll get tired of her after a few years and trade her in for a younger model," said the boy. "She'll have nothing, and we'll all have our degrees and careers."

"Why did you want to come here?" Geoffrey whispered. "These people are horrible."

"They are," Catherine agreed. "But I can't spend my life hiding from them. Many of them will be at my uni, and I don't want them to think I'm afraid of them."

"Cathy," Sophia whispered from her other side. "I think I just saw Susan, Lily, and Ivy."

"That's impossible," Catherine said. "They've all left the country."

"I swear it was them, though," Sophia whispered.

Catherine scanned the room and found the three girls clustered together in a corner whispering with Madison. At the same time, they lifted their heads and stared back at her. Slowly, they walked toward her, moving together in perfect unison.

"So that's why Madison invited me," she muttered. "Well, then girls, game on."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sophia asked. "Those girls are dangerous."

"I know," she said. "But I have Geoffrey here, and I'm not going to run away with my tail between my legs."

"What's between your legs, Cathy?" Susan asked.

Catherine looked up and saw the four girls standing next to the table. They giggled at Susan's childish joke.

"What hasn't been between her legs, that's the question," Lily sneered.

The girls laughed again, and several people at surrounding tables turned in their seats to watch the showdown. Catherine took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.

"Do you want me to teach them a lesson?" Geoffrey asked.

"That's okay, Geoffrey," she said. "They're not worth the effort."

"Why do you think such a slut got married?" Ivy asked. "Girls like her usually end up dancing on the pole at nineteen, not marrying some businessman."

"I bet that's how he met her," snickered Susan.

"Maybe he knocked her up," Lily suggested.

"She always seemed like the type to get pregnant as a teenager," Ivy added. "How is she so different from you, Madison?"

Catherine almost snorted. If anyone in their class was known for sleeping around, it was Madison.

"You know," Catherine said loudly. "Getting married so young might seem strange, but at least there's someone who wanted to marry me. I feel so bad for all those girls who end up bitter and old and single."

"And I feel bad for dirty sluts," Ivy snapped.

"At least sluts have people who want to sleep with them, Ivy," Catherine said. "It must be so sad to know that no man will ever want to touch you."