The afterparty was in full hedonistic swing by the time Evelina slipped away from the main event space. Glasses clinked and raucous laughter echoed through the dimly-lit lounge area where Haute Elegance's inner circle mingled and gossiped. Pulsing music blended with the languid smoke of expensive cigar blends, creating an atmosphere of debauched indulgence.

Skirting past a cluster of lingerie-clad waitresses proffering flutes of crisp champagne, Evelina waved off the latest imploring offer. She'd imbibed enough of the liquid courage already, having needed the subtle buzz to bolster herself against Morgana's unrelenting needling all evening. Every time she turned around, there had been the sinuous vixen draped across a sofa...