Chapter 33

The Alpha's wife is hosting another party that Friday evening, and the Alpha and I decide that it would be best if I was there the entire time that the Alpha is there. I will keep an eye on his food and administer his evening medication before dessert.

It will also give me a chance to listen in on conversations as I circulate the room, and to watch for anyone who looks suspicious around the Alpha's food and drink. He's not allowed alcohol anymore, because I don't like how it mixes with his medications, so he sticks to sparkling water.

At least that's somewhat less easy to tamper with, I sigh to myself as I freshen my lipstick in the desktop mirror I keep in my office. Roger has sent for my evening gown to be delivered, so that I don't have to go home and drive all the way back for the party two hours later.

Although, there are a lot of poisons and medications that might mix tastelessly with water, I acknowledge. It'll be best if I can keep an eye on everything that the Alpha ingests, even if the odds of someone having gotten to it are low.

I've decided that I need to keep possible poisoning in mind, because Charles might get angry or impatient if the Alpha and I successfully block his attempts at slow food tampering.

It's riskier to kill the Alpha outright than to merely screw with his health until he dies of what will look like natural causes, but desperate men do desperate things. And I have a feeling that Charles is going to start feeling pretty desperate very soon.

And, besides, poisoning the Alpha at a large dinner party would be the best opportunity to kill him and get away with it. There will be so many people around, most of them not even household residents or staff, that a quick sleight of hand over his glass would likely go unnoticed – and be virtually untraceable.

The Alpha and I discussed putting up more security cameras, because that would help deter such attempts, and to catch out anyone who is trying to harm him. But we're also afraid that moving too quickly will tip off the culprits and force them to go further underground with their efforts.

It's safest for the Alpha if they don't know that we're onto them. We could put up hidden security cameras, but those would only help us after the fact, and we very much want to avoid an incident in the first place.

Visible cameras would make everyone wonder why the Alpha – who has historically been against indoor surveillance and what he calls "spy cams" – has suddenly changed his mind after a lifetime of insisting that he refuses to treat his staff and guests like potential thieves.

It's a messy business, I reflect, blotting my lipstick on a tissue and tossing it into the trash can under my desk. It seems no matter what we do, we're leaving the Alpha open to more risk.

I did make the point that we could put up the hidden security cameras, anyway, to see if they help us catch any thwarted attempts on film. The Alpha is considering it, but there's no way to secretly install them without anyone else noticing before the party tonight.

So, it'll have to be just us two, keeping an eye out. God, I hope I'm up to the task. I'll never forgive myself if something goes wrong and the Alpha is harmed or worse. It'll be my fault for not sharing everything I know right away, and I'm not sure I'll be able to live with myself if that happens.

I did try suggesting that the Alpha give the party a miss, citing ill health, but he refused.

"I won't be run out of my own home by these cretins, Evelyn," he said firmly. "Besides, we agreed that it's best that we don't tip them off, yes? And my wife, if no one else, will be very suspicious if I miss one of her parties."

"Surely you don't think your wife has anything to do with this!" I'd exclaimed in horror.

"Oh, good lord, no," the Alpha said. "But she will be suspicious and displeased, and when Jeanette is suspicious and displeased, she complains to everyone who will listen. Whoever is behind this tampering will certainly hear about it, and we don't want to risk that."

I must have looked dubious, because he patted my hand kindly in reassurance.

"All will go well, Evelyn," he said. "Between the two of us, we will keep me safe. I might seem like a gentle old dog now, but in my day, I was a real firecracker. I think I still have some of that heat in these old bones, yet. Nobody is going to catch me out just yet."

So, the Alpha will be at the party, and so will I. I look grimly at myself in the mirror, steeling my resolve.

There's a knock at my door, and I shout for the person – probably Roger – to come in.

It is Roger, bustling inside with a long garment bag in his hands.

"Hey, love," he says cheerfully. "Got your dress here. I had Maddy pick it out; she's got a sixth sense for style and sizes." Maddy is one of the upper-level assistants.

"I'm sure it'll be perfect," I say, accepting the dress with a smile. "I'll see you down there?"

"Seven on the dot, sweetheart, and don't be late! Colin is so excited to finally meet you," Roger says, blowing me a kiss and sweeping out the door.

Colin is Roger's partner. They're getting married next spring in what Roger tells me is going to be a glorious display of over-the-top glitz and sparkle. I'm invited to the wedding, and I'm looking forward to it.

I pull out the dress and have to stop myself from jumping up and down in glee. It's absolutely gorgeous – Maddy has amazing taste. It's an emerald green floor length gown, with a full tulle skirt and a velvet bodice in a sweetheart cut.

It's going to look stunning with my new hair and eyes.

Briefly, I wonder if Marcus will be there to see me. I shove the thought away – I can't think of romance now. Besides, I don't want Marcus to fall in love with Evelyn. I want him to fall in love with Nicole.

But since I can't be Nicole, we can't fall in love. I have a job to do, anyway. I can't get distracted. I need to focus, and right now, I need to get myself put together and go to this party.

Dinner went off without a hitch. I felt a bit conspicuous, watching the Alpha's plate and cup like a hawk, but I don't think anyone noticed. I was placed at the head table, in a position where I could see the Alpha clearly at all times.

Our excuse for this was that the Alpha prefers to have his doctor nearby, in case of an emergency, and no one seemed to think it strange. Jenson delivered the Alpha's food as per our new plan, and the Alpha's water was delivered in a sealed glass bottle and poured by himself at the table.

As far as I can tell, there was no way anyone could have tampered with the tray, and I'm not the only one on the lookout. Mrs. Potts and Jenson are also in the know about this scheme to keep the Alpha safe.

We can trust them to keep quiet about it for now, Emmett assured me. It was necessary to inform them, so they know how high the stakes are for the Alpha's health and what we're potentially up against.

Mrs. Potts was vocally outraged; it's lucky the Alpha's office is soundproofed. Jenson was silent when he heard the news, but he went white with anger and tightly informed us that he considered it his highest priority and privilege to protect the Alpha.

Now, dinner is over, and people are circulating throughout the ballroom with drinks in hand, laughing and chatting and networking. I'm standing at the edge of the dance floor, close enough to keep watch over the Alpha's seat but far enough without looking like I'm hovering.

"Good evening," a quiet voice says next to my elbow. I jump slightly, looking up into Marcus's handsome and serious face.

"Good evening," I say.

"So, you're the famous doctor," Marcus says. The barest ghost of a smile hovers around the edges of his lips.

"I wouldn't say that I'm famous," I laugh. I'd forgotten how easy it feels to be with Marcus – he makes me feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed just by standing next to me.

"Oh, I would," he chuckles. "My father raves about you. I must admit, I was skeptical and, frankly, worried when I heard he'd hired a witch doctor. I thought most of you were just charlatans looking for easy prey and a quick buck.

"But from what I've seen, you've done no witch doctoring at all. You seem to be a very competent and caring physician. I've never known a personal doctor to be so attentive to my father before. From what he says, it sounds like you've become real friends."

Marcus is staring at my face searchingly, like he's trying to look beneath the surface and answer a question on his mind. I grow uneasy – I can feel that tug toward him, and Marcus himself is leaning in close to me. I can't risk this.

"Your father is a delightful man," I say sincerely but with professional distance. "I've grown very fond of him, and I'm committed to giving him the best care possible. I believe in science first, always, and right now, science is the best path to explore for your father's options. If we're lucky, we won't need to rely on magic at all."

Marcus nods slowly, still scanning my face. I need to get out of this conversation before I let something slip.

Luckily, I spot Roger in the corner, standing next to a red-headed man with an explosion of freckles across his nose. Colin. There's my out.

"If you'll excuse me, sir," I say to Marcus with a little bow of my head. I sweep away to join Roger and Colin, relieved to have found a graceful exit before I gave too much of myself away.