The guards outside the door stopped me from going inside. I smiled, satisfied that they were doing their jobs well.

"Let me pa.s.s," I ordered as I pulled the mask up, momentarily. They moved away from the entrance, holding it open for me.

"-hear that you have a partner, now." Anthony hummed in reply. "I also hear that she is beautiful." I saw him stiffen at the comment. He had yet to look up. I moved forward going around the room, serving everyone. Anthony seemed fixated on the man who had made the particular remark.

His suit was pressed and new. He was a tall man, judging from how he bent his legs in front of the couch. His hair was a dead giveaway. Blond, cropped hair with slivers of white in it.

Luke Darcy.

I stopped in front of him, stooping low to place his flute on the gla.s.s table.

"Ah, a new server!" Darcy muttered overjoyed. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Anthony's eyes fall on me. His eyes widened just a fraction and he clenched his fist.

"And you're a beautiful lady..." someone else muttered. I mumbled a thank you, plastered a smile on my lips and served the drinks.

"What are you doing?" I heard him hiss. I gave him a scathing look before handing him the drink and walking away without answering.

About ten minutes after I had left the room, I heard Anthony enter the kitchen area. His eyes were hard and his hands were fisted at his side.

"I told you not to come up, didn't I?" he hissed. I saw the other servers glance our way.

"Get back to work!" I ordered. He took a moment to glance around and then led me away from the staff.

"No one can handle them better than you. I need you to oversee everything. Why did you go up despite of my orders?"

"I was given the responsibility that this party should run smoothly and that is exactly what I am doing right now."

"You are disobeying the orders of the Boss by entering the room; do you realize that, Mia?" I nod.

"I had no other option. None of the staff is ready to take that sort of responsibility. They were scared out of their wits when I proposed someone to volunteer."

"You let them have a choice. That is the problem. You are here to work, Mia. Be a professional. You should not be concerned about their feelings."