Girl in Gold

Chapter 21 ~ Amber Marigold

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CHAPTER 21

Amber Marigold

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The unknown number was someone in this room, and Amber had no reason to waste her time talking with Owen. There were only two people at the ball who could give her the answers she needed.

Taking deep breaths to clear the heat from her cheeks, her stomach led her through the crowd. The orchestra were atop the steps on the other side of the ballroom, and just below those steps were a row of buffet tables. Red roses bloomed in between all sorts of decorated delicacies. Crowning the centre table was a pyramid of champagne with sparkling bubbles fizzing in golden drinks.

Amber stuffed her face with the first thing she saw, chocolate eclairs. This bet was messing with her head. She had to focus.

After managing three eclairs in her mouth, she looked up, locking eyes with the person across from her.

Though she did not know the name of the tall boy, he was one of Blake's kin. With at least four eclairs in his mouth, he stared at her wide-eyed. Amber instinctively laughed, and the boy joined in. One of his eclairs fell out, bringing on another fit of laughter.

"I swear I'm not usually like this," the tall boy explained, swallowing the remainder of his food and wiping his mouth.

"Uh-huh, yeah, and what are you usually like?" she asked.

"For one, I'm intimidating."

"Strawberry blonds aren't intimidating."

Tears pooled in the boy's eyes. "You," he sniffed, resting his hand over his heart, "have no idea how much that means..."

What the hell?

Amber chuckled it off. "I don't think we've officially met," she said, offering a warm smile. "I'm Amber Marigold."

The boy rounded the table. Walking up to her, he took both her hands like she was a saint. "I'm first kin of the West, Calvin Castell," he introduced. "But please, call me Cal. It's a pleasure."

First kin's an important position, she noted. He was next in line to the bloodline and could easily come by any of the information Mr President had. Amber pulled her hands back.

"Do you want to dance?" she asked.

"I'd rather stay here and, uh, guard the food..."

"Mmm-hm."

He picked a strawberry from the table, popping it into his mouth.

"The West is dull company. Let us dance instead," another said.

Amber turned to the flirty blond of the East. Matt. He wore a grey suit with a salmon shirt beneath, only half buttoned up. The girl could imagine him as nothing but a butterfly.

"Why?" she asked. "You got something to say to me?"

Perhaps that you're the unknown number, she added in her head.

"I just felt like dancing, and my lovely date left me for another dessert. If you don't want to, I suppose that's fine too," he sulked.

Amber looked to Cal, but the boy already turned to the buffet table. Shrugging, she took Matt's hand, and he led her to the dance floor. Either boy could be the unknown number.