Perhaps this dinner was a stroke of luck. Aakifahlynn's primary goal was to avoid Demarion and direct all her focus toward the families present.

This annual ball and fundraiser can be the start of her getting close to the Emperor. 

And if she was being honest, Demarion did mention this to her weeks ago, but it may have gone in one ear and come out the other. She was too busy with her 'kill list,' the people she sought revenge on for past wrongs.

Since then, she'd already decided she would not attend, and she knew him getting her parents involved would be a way to get her there. 

So...