She hadn’t been able to trust her other drivers. Most had been nice, polite, but disinterested. Lydia had been nothing more than a paycheck to them. They didn’t care. She noticed Jo glancing at her in the rearview mirror, and she smiled back at the driver.
“Is everything okay?” Jo asked her.
Lydia nodded. “Yes, fine. I just . . . have some things on my mind.”
“Hopefully you’ll have an enjoyable evening.” Jo’s tone was civil but cautious.
Lydia was suddenly overwhelmed by memories of her mother. She missed her terribly, and she realized yet again that she didn’t really have anyone to talk to. Her mother had been her best friend, her confidant—but she hadn’t shared everything with her.
She didn’t have many friends, certainly no one close. And she wanted to talk about her concerns now, but who could she approach? Kline was out of the question. He was loyal to JD, and loyal to himself. Still, she wanted to talk to someone, to unburden herself.
Jo was eyeing her as if unsure what to say. Lydia grimaced. She was the boss, but she was still human. She wasn’t unapproachable.
“It’s okay to talk to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jo waited a moment. “Is this an annual banquet?”
“Yes,” Lydia replied. “There are some people I look forward to talking to, people I haven’t seen in a while. But sometimes I . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Jo glanced at her in the rearview mirror again. “Ma’am?”
“Do you ever feel like you have to be on, even though you don’t want to be?”
Her gaze went back to the road. “I know what you mean.”
“Did you feel that way in your military career? There were times you wanted to say things, but you knew you couldn’t?”
A smile flickered on Jo’s face. “That happened a lot.”
“I feel that,” Lydia said. More often than not.
She turned to look at the Dallas skyline, the buildings all lit up. It was a beautiful sight, but she couldn’t enjoy it right now. Her thoughts turned to Kline. He didn’t trust Jo, and Lydia wasn’t sure why. He would’ve done a thorough background search on the woman, overturning every rock in her past. She never would’ve gotten to an interview if she hadn’t passed all the criteria. If her background had shown anything fishy, he would have stopped right then.
So why did she get the feeling he didn’t like Jo?
The woman seemed competent, like she knew what she was doing. Then again, she hadn’t seen Jo in action yet. She needed to see how the woman reacted tonight, how she was with crowds, with all these people around. Lydia wasn’t worried that anything would happen to her, but as JD said, she could never be too careful. Especially now, with him focusing on his political career.
Lydia sighed. She missed the days when she could go shopping or to the grocery store and didn’t have to worry about anyone around her. But as JD’s wealth had grown, they’d had to be more careful. Nothing could happen to her or the boys.
Her thoughts roiled. Old feelings that she’d suppressed for a long time had been bubbling to the surface. She and JD had gone through a time several years ago when he’d been incredibly stressed. He hadn’t told her anything, but she’d known something was off. She had that same sensation now, a tingling at her nerve endings, leaving her shrouded in confusion. She talked to the boys some, but they always told her everything was okay. That was to be expected. They loved their father, and they’d always been loyal to him. They almost idolized him. And maybe, for a time, she had too. But marriage taught you things, and you saw your partner in a new light. You saw the good and the bad. Some things you didn’t want to see at all, so you pretended you didn’t.
JD could be unscrupulous in his business, but she’d never heard of him being outright dishonest. And as his wealth had grown, she’d felt as if she were doing good. What was the point of money if you couldn’t help others? Lydia had helped others a lot.
But what good was all that if she couldn’t help herself?
They were near their destination, and she drew in another breath and focused. They drove to a sprawling hotel property, lights ablaze, people heading up carpeted steps to glass double-doors. Her new driver followed a line of other vehicles, then pulled up to the curb near the front of the building. She hopped out and hurried around the front of the SUV, then opened the door for Lydia.
“Thank you,” Lydia said.
Jo nodded politely, and she handed keys to a valet with instructions to let her know where the vehicle was parked before walking Lydia inside.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Jo was wary as she followed Lydia into a humongous foyer filled with people. A chorus of raised voices, clinking glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter floated to elegant crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds. Lydia immediately recognized someone and strode over, kissing the woman lightly on the cheek. Jo held back, close enough where she could intervene if necessary, but far enough away to allow Lydia freedom to engage with the other guests.
Jo scanned the room, assessing any potential threats. Two uniformed security guards stood by the main doors. She mapped out the space, then moved to her right and saw another exit door at the far end of a wide hall. If she had to get Lydia out of there quickly, her options were limited.
She focused on the crowd next. They were well-attired, the men in suits or tuxes, the women adorned in a colorful and elegant array of dresses and pantsuits. Jo spotted a few men she pegged as bodyguards, given the distinctive bulges under their shoulders. Just like Jo, they stayed back at a discreet distance. However, if anything happened, they would move at the speed of light to protect their clients.
She was trained to look for signs of danger, not just people carrying weapons. She paid attention to the nuances of conversations and body language, watching for anyone acting strangely. This crowd was merry, everyone enjoying themselves. No one seemed particularly focused on Lydia, but Jo remained vigilant.
Waitstaff moved like ghosts between the clusters of people. Lydia took a champagne flute from a tray offered by a tall waiter, and she sipped it as she engaged in conversation, a smile plastered on her face. She waved at a couple that passed, her fingers flitting lightly, and then she turned to yet another pair. She began to work the room, floating between people, engaging in chitchat, always with that smile on her face.
Lydia may have been fooling them, but not Jo. Her blue eyes held a strain that she was keeping in check.
After a while, the crowd moved into a grand ballroom with round tables draped in cream-colored tablecloths, with various wild animal sculptures as centerpieces. The silver shined, and the china was gold-rimmed. Lydia sat at a table near the center of the room with a woman wearing a white pantsuit, gold rings on her fingers, and heavy eye makeup. Jo took a perimeter position, her back to the wall. The guests sat through a short introduction and then were invited to buffet tables set up on the left side of the room. Jo stayed back, keeping a careful watch on Lydia all the while. Once people had served themselves and returned to their tables, the room filled with the sounds of voices and silverware clanking on plates. Lydia ate demurely, her plate only half full. The woman in the pantsuit sat with her husband, but he engaged in conversation with another man next to him, so she turned to talk to Lydia.
At first, their conversation seemed to be light—both smiling, their demeanor relaxed. Then the other woman leaned over and murmured something, her lips moving rapidly. Lydia’s shoulders stiffened, and her champagne flute stopped halfway to her mouth. The woman said something else, and Lydia’s jaw tightened sharply as she put down her champagne glass.
The other woman seemed to realize she’d gotten a rise out of Lydia, and she punctuated her next words by tapping on the table. Lydia stared at her for a moment, her face like granite. Then she forced a smile, said something, and stood up. The woman looked at her, clearly surprised. Lydia put her napkin on her chair and, still smiling, snatched up her purse and stepped away from the table. The rest of the group didn’t notice anything as she walked away. A few other people mingled about, but no one paid attention as Lydia sidled between tables, making her way to an exit across the room.
Jo hurried along the edges of the tables, following her out the doors. She glanced around and saw her boss disappearing into a bathroom. Jo hurried after her, stepping into a sitting area with two benches in front of large mirrors. In the next room, Lydia had disappeared into a stall.
Jo waited by the door. Lydia emerged a minute later, and as she headed for a bank of sinks, she glanced to her left and saw Jo. She was startled but didn’t say anything. She took a moment to wash her hands, and then she walked into the sitting room. Another woman emerged from a stall, washed her hands, and smiled at Jo and Lydia as she exited the bathroom.
Now they were alone.
“Are you okay?” Jo asked.
