"Children don''t eat on furniture," Mrs. White cuts me off, raising her hand to stop me. "And pizza is very unhealthy.''


    I blink. “It''s not like it''s an everyday thing,” I say slowly. "And Miles is very neat when he eats. You can put a towel down if you''re concerned, but he won''t make a


    mess.


    The nanny ces one hand on her hip. "I''d rather he eats at the table."


    I sigh, not really having the energy to argue over something so mundane. "Alright." I dig into my purse, withdrawing a couple of twenties. "This is for the pizza and anything else you might want. Treat yourself."


    She eyes the money suspiciously and doesn''t take it. I decide to leave it on the counter anyway, just in case. On my way out, I give her onest smile, not that I expect to receive one in return.


    "Let me know if you have any trouble," I say. "You have my number. I''lle home right away if you need me to."


    "That won''t be necessary." The nanny shakes he head curtly. "Miles will be perfectly behaved tonight."


    Something about the way she says that-perfectly behaved-unsettles me ever so slightly, but I let it go. On my way out the lobby, I ask Cliff to check inter, and he agrees. I make a mental note to check the nanny cameras at least once during the night just to make sure everything is going smoothly, then head to Alice''s ce.


    Alice''s apartment is a quaint little brownstone not far from Marsiel Gallery. She lets me in with a ss of wine and a smile, and we sip and chat as we get ready. "Oh, Iris, that dress is fucking stunning," she says as I slip into the midnight ck gown. "It fits you like a glove." I take a deep breath, turning to the full-length mirror. It really does fit just the way it did when I bought it, the fabric hugging my curves and pooling slightly around my feet. The dress shimmers when I move, and once I throw my hair into a curly updo and add some shimmery eyeshadow and deep red lipstick toplete the look, I feel like a siren-especially with the slightly plunging neckline.


    Arthur will think- I begin thinking to myself, but quickly block out the thoughts. No. I''m not going tonight for Arthur.


    At least, that''s what I keep telling myself. But each time I do, it feels even more unconvincing than before. Of course, for good measure, I put on my usual sses and tweak my hair and makeup toplete my ''Flora'' disguise. Although, my heart does pound a little at the thought of potentially being recognized.


    "As if it''s not bad enough that people recognize me as Arthur''s human mate," I muse, adjusting my ne around my throat, "thatst news report on me and Selina likely has people talking about Flora."


    Alice sighs as she primps her hair in the mirror beside me. She''s wearing avender purple gown that looks stunning with herplexion. "Well, if it''s any constion, the event tonight is closed. No photographers allowed."


    My eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"


    "Mhm. A lot of high-profile socialites attend this g every year, and surprisingly, it''s only the celebrities who like to be photographed at events. Real rich people, as in the higher echelons of society, are actually quite low-key. They petitioned for cameras to be removed a few years ago, and they were."


    “That''s..... reassuring," I say, feeling marginally better.


    Alice grins and turns to face me, showing off her curvy figure in her gown.


    "Well? How do I look?"


    I can''t help but smile. "Gorgeous," I say, linking my arm through hers. "Let''s hit the road."