Ten

At the end of the party, Sienna stood on the patio where a an aisle made of flower was placed. With a polite smile plastered on her face, she greeted the last of the guests who filtered out from the grand hall and the garden, their laughter and conversations trailing into the night. Damien was a steady presence at her side, his hand resting lightly on her lower back in a gesture that was both protective and possessive.

The party had been a success, the kind of glittering affair that left everyone talking for weeks, although currents of tension had woven through the event when she’d sat with the DeMarque. Sienna Williams knew this well, for she had been the one to set those currents in motion, pickling at their weaknesses. Her demeanor betraying the provocations she had seeded throughout the night.

When Aaron approached, Sienna’s demeanor barely changed as she gave him the same smile she’d given to everyone who greeted and applauded her for a wonderful party. Gisela was still fuming fr