“Come here.”
Monica obeyed.
“Yes, ma’am?”
Katherine looked at her friends rather than at Monica.
“This is the girl I told you about.”
One woman covered her smile with her glass.
“The one who went into your office?”
“The very one.”
Katherine turned toward Monica.
“You’ll attend Saturday.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I expect you to dress appropriately.”
The women exchanged amused looks.
Katherine waited exactly long enough.
Then added:
“Of course, people like you don’t own anything appropriate.”
Laughter.
Monica did not react.
Katherine picked up a dirty kitchen rag from a nearby tray.
She tossed it toward Monica’s chest.
Monica caught it before it fell.
“Wear this.”
Someone nearly choked on champagne.
Katherine smiled.
“Let my guests see what real charity looks like.”
Monica folded the rag carefully.
Placed it over her forearm.
Then looked directly at Katherine.
Only for half a second.
“I’ll be there, ma’am.”
