We walked into the open entrance of a large dining hall. She led me down a few steps onto the floor, heading straight for the bar in the very center of the whole thing. A pianist played a soft melody on the piano nearby. Yes, I know, pianist. All the while, Cassandra remained courteous and polite to those 'uptight stiffs' that greeted her as she walked by. She certainly seemed to know a lot of them. I felt really out of place escorting someone who was rubbing elbows with millionaires.

She took a seat at the nearest bar stool and sighed quietly. She placed her purse on the counter while...