Jasper half closed his eyes, the always refined brow tinged now with drunkenness. "Serena, give me a hand."
Serena Stanton stepped forward and supported his arm.
With her help, Jasper got to his feet and stood steady.
Serena nodded briefly to Julian Yates, then led Jasper out of the private room.
The corridor stretched long and dim; the wall lamps cast warm yellow halos over the dark red carpet.
Serena asked, "Why did you drink so much tonight?"
"Finally managed to get rid of the leeches in the group—it's something worth celebrating." Jasper, when drunk, could be surprisingly pure, just like he was years ago, free from the shackles of power and gain, smiling with a gentle elegance.
Serena smiled as well. "Congratulations."
They walked side by side down the corridor toward the elevator.
She didn't notice that, not far away, behind the carved railing, Adrian Shaw saw it all.
