Talk Of The Town ✔️

29

Eyes on the prize

For some reason, Love Venom knows the entire outlet of Avington Park. From the twenty-five bedrooms of different designs, three living rooms, kitchens, a parlour, conservatory, attic, music room, home gym, indoor pool and the library.

Put the pen drive in the Chinese porcelain vase on top of the mantel of the exquisite home library - her precise order to Taylor.

Taking a deep breath, Anya wore the black disposable face mask. It turned out her parents won't attend the party after all. They left the responsibility to Taylor and Soha, a middle-aged woman with a high post at Mosaic Events.

"I'll take care of Soha and keep her away. You try your best to stay out of her sight. She is not your biggest fan."

"Of course," Anya stated.

"There are about a hundred people from Mosaic Events here. It will be a busy night. Kiara and you should blend in."

Wearing the employee badge over her three-piece black suit, Anya walked straight toward the library. Her goal is to hide and seek tonight.

Statement chandeliers and ornate nooks were the highlight of Avington Park. The guests bejewelled in diamonds and ruby necklaces contributed to its grandeur. Thank goodness, the face mask concealed her true identity. She has already crossed paths with the owners of Bella Strides, Sarah's two younger sisters and several attendants.

Nobody has recognized her yet.

Noah, however, is another story.

By chance, she locked her gaze on him while looking around. He gawked as she climbed the red carpet-clad bifurcated staircase despite the ongoing conversation with the two middle-aged men standing near him.

Guests, holding flute glasses, scattered on the first floor too. Some doors were wide open, including the library. Taylor had already placed the brand-new pen drive in the vase.

Love Venom will be disappointed if she gets her hand on it.

Kiara patrolled near the staircase, observing everyone climbing up and down. Anya entered the library despite a few guests roaming in the room. If a curious person approaches her, she'll claim she is a supervisor for the first floor.

One hand in her pocket, she walked past the mantel. Festive instrumental music began downstairs. Youngsters walked in and out. Some kept their options open for hooking up in a hidden corner, while others recorded the beauty of Avington Park for their Instagram stories.

However, each time someone raised a camera, Anya would look away. She pounded her teeth in worry. What if this person is Love Venom?

She didn't even dare to look into the vase – at least not when people were around. Anya wandered restlessly in the library, skimming the brown and maroon hardcovers title. Most of them were first edition.

A few seconds later, Kiara stopped at the threshold. She shook her head from left to right once. Anya sighed, impatient to remove the mask. She pointed to the other end of the hallway, indicating a little round.

Anya nodded once and turned around at the sight of Jill and a foreign girl. Anxiety stabbed her guts despite wearing the face mask. They walked past the mantel and stopped in a corner. Jill grabbed a book, opened it and pretended to read.

"Who could Love Venom be?" The other girl asked. "There are way too many people at this party."

"I can't tell, but maybe we've met before."