"Why not?" Nigel protested at once, looking deeply aggrieved. "What''s so wrong with me?"


    "It''s not about something being wrong," Calliope replied coolly, giving him a once- over. “I simply don''t like you. Why would I choose you? Sure, you''re good-looking, well-off, and aplished-but I want for nothing. If I want a handsome guy, I can find one. Money? I''ve got plenty. Ability? I don''t rely on anyone for that."


    The truth was, her heart already belonged to Ss. Maybe Ss would ultimately leave her for that other woman, but her own feelings couldn''t just vanish overnight.


    Calliope felt a cold knot tighten in her chest at the thought of Ss with another


    woman.


    She didn''t want to go on talking to Nigel.


    "I''m tired. I need to rest," she said, voice clipped. "You should go back, too."


    She didn''t give him a chance for another word, turning away and heading straight to her room.


    Nigel lingered outside her door for a long moment, then turned to Lnd, who stood quietly nearby. “What does Ss have that I don''t? Does she really not care for me at all?"


    "You''re the best, sir!" Lnd said with conviction.


    Nigel stared at him, then shook his head, clearly doubting the value of Lnd''s opinion.


    Calliope had assumed Lisette would beying low for the night—especially after drinking too much and suffering such a humiliating scene. But she had underestimated just how persistent Lisette could be.


    Sometime past midnight, Calliope''s phone buzzed with a message from Lisette. Apparently, she had something ''important'' she just had to discuss.


    Portia, still awake, noticed Calliope checking her phone and rolled over. "Who''s texting you?"


    “Lisette, I think,” Calliope replied.


    Portia snorted. "She''s texting you now? Hasn''t she embarrassed herself enough tonight? That crazy witch-she honestly deserves to be taken down a peg."


    Calliope smirked. "Rx. The drug should be hitting her any minute now."


    Portia blinked, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" Was Calliope actually saying she''d slipped Lisette something?


    That would make things interesting.


    Calliope shrugged. “When she tried to drug me at dinner, I got to her first. She and


    Blythe White thought they could set me up—but I saw through it.”


    Portia''s eyes widened in delight. "Wait, you figured out her whole scheme?"


    Calliope nodded. "Every detail."


    "And you turned the tables on


    Portia nearly bounced with


    excitement. "This is brilliant!


    vel


    Whatever she tries, you''re reve


    pay her back double!"


    Portia sat up, fired up now. "So, what''s your n? I''m in!”


    "First,” Portia pressed, "what exactly was she nning for you? Need me to find more backup?"


    "Whatever it was, we are not letting Lisette get away with it," Portia said with a steely glint in her eyes. "She tried to ruin you? Let''s see how she feels when her reputation is in shambles."


    Calliope''s expression hardened. “She wanted Robert Goldman to cause trouble for


    me," she said evenly. "I''m going to see her first."


    She paused, thinking it through. "I''lK text you when it''s time. Gather a crowd, especially Valerian Jewell and a few of the best gossips you can find you know who I mean."


    "Done. I''m on it!" Portia gave a sharp, confident nod and squeezed Calliope''s hand.


    "She picked the wrong day to mess with us."