Chapter Nine: Cagna

"Olivia Lawson...Olivia Bethany Lawson."

Vincent repeats as if he is trying to familiarise himself with my name.

“The Olivia Bethany Lawson.”

He finishes with a cold laugh as I close the doors to the private balcony right next to the main hall.

I agreed to give him the five minutes he demanded, with Hugo standing outside, keeping watch to avoid eavesdroppers from paparazzi posing as guests.

Vincent reaches for a flask inside his jacket and takes a swig.

He likes rum, but since the liquid in that flask smells like nail polish remover, it must be cheap vodka.

"They say three years is enough to know a person, but boy, did you elude me. Was it funny? Were you laughing when you were trying to find out how commoners live? How they struggle? Was it easy playing pretend?"

He asks as bright pink patches paint his cheeks.

I don’t remember the last time I saw Vincent tipsy from one shot; whatever is in that flask must be strong; it's best we finish this quickly.

"Pretend?"

I repeat wit