The Lowest Maintenance Sugar Baby novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: The Stolen Purse

Vera's charity dinner was in the grand ballroom of the Rainsford Grand, under a chandelier the size of a car.

I wore a navy gown I'd bargained down to a third of the price.

I carried my tote bag, because I was not going to a party without snacks.

Carlton walked beside me in a black tuxedo with his hand on the small of my back.

"If this goes wrong, I'll take the blame," he said.

"If this goes wrong, I'll take the leftovers."

He laughed, tight and nervous.

Two hundred guests sat at round tables.

In the middle of the room, under a spotlight, a velvet pillow held a diamond necklace.

It was the evening's silent auction prize.

The card beside it said, "The Rainsford Heirloom. Starting bid: $90,000."

Vera stood on the stage with a microphone and a smile.

"Friends," she said. "Thank you for coming. Before we begin, I'd like to introduce someone."

She held out her hand toward our table.

"Carlton's guest. Miss Millie Pennock, the girl from the video."

The spotlight swung over and hit me in the face.

Somebody clapped.

Somebody else laughed.

I stood up politely and waved.

I'd had worse.

Vera let the noise settle, then lifted her eyebrows.

"Now, if everyone will bear with me. I have some bad news."

She pointed to the pillow.

The pillow was empty.

A wave of gasps went through the room.

"The necklace was on that cushion ten minutes ago," Vera said. "Security has already locked the doors. I'm so sorry to do this, but I'm going to ask all of our guests to open their bags."

"That's ridiculous," Carlton muttered.

"No," I said. "Let her."

"Millie."

"Let her."

Two security men in black suits started at the back of the room, quickly and politely, going table to table.

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