The cream envelope looked almost ordinary from across the ballroom.
Almost.
But I knew the embossed crest pressed into its flap: the silver lyre of the Royal Meridian Opera.
The man holding it was Adrian Mercer, the company’s artistic director.
He had been seated three tables from the stage all evening.
Mara had no idea who he was.
I did.
So did the pianist.
That explained why the pianist had gone pale.
Adrian was not supposed to be part of my secret.
At least, not here.
He had been invited through Daniel’s father, who had worked with one of the opera’s board members years ago.
I had noticed Adrian when I entered the ballroom, but he had simply nodded once, understanding immediately that I was attending as family, not as Elena Maris.
The Royal Meridian had not yet publicly announced its new season.
My contract was signed.
My rehearsals had begun.
But the press release naming Elena Maris as the company’s new lead soprano was still days away.
Until then, I was simply Lena to everyone in this room.
The quiet cousin.
The woman Mara thought belonged backstage.
Adrian remained standing.
Mara glanced at him impatiently.
“Can we help you?” she asked.
Daniel closed his eyes for half a second.
Even without knowing Adrian’s identity, he recognized the tone.
Mara used it whenever she believed someone had interrupted her performance.
Adrian did not appear offended.
He looked at me.
“Ms.
Maris,” he said.
The room changed.
Not loudly.
No one gasped in perfect unison.
No glass shattered.
No dramatic chord rang out.
It was smaller and more believable than that.
People simply began looking at one another.
Maris?
Mara’s forehead tightened.
“My cousin is Lena,” Daniel said automatically.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Yes.
I’m aware.”
Then he looked at the pianist.
“Would you mind accompanying her?”
The pianist straightened.
“It would be an honor.”
That was the first moment Mara understood that something had gone wrong.
She stared at him.
An honor.
Not a favor.
Not a joke.
An honor.
“What exactly is happening?” she asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
I could have.
