The first time she walked into that exclusive club in the New York suburbs, her palms were damp with nerves.

She held on to my arm and whispered, "Tammy, everyone here looks so important."

"What if I embarrass you?"

I smiled and smoothed down her gown for her.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

"You're my friend."

"With me here, no one would dare treat you badly."

That gown was one I'd lent her.

That auction was one I'd brought her to.

Every connection I had, I introduced to her, one by one.

Back then, Clifford even warned me.

"Tamara, people in this circle are ruthless."

"Don't just bring anyone in."

I actually thought he was worried about me.

So I laughed, still holding his arm.

"Peggy isn't just anyone."

"She's my best friend."

He didn't say anything more.

But somewhere along the way, without my noticing,

his attitude toward Peggy changed.

The first time was at the auction.

Peggy didn't know the rules and raised her paddle by mistake.

A diamond necklace. Three point eight million.

She went white with fright, and the tears spilled over at once.

I was just about to go and sort it out with the organizers.

Clifford had already spoken first.

"Put it on my account."

Peggy stared at him, dazed.

He handed the paddle back to the attendant, his tone offhand.

"It's only a few million."

"What are you crying for?"

That night, there was an emerald brooch I'd had my eye on too.

Not expensive, but lovely.

Clifford glanced at it and said flatly,

"The Winfields are under a lot of scrutiny right now."

"It's not a good time for you to draw attention."

So I didn't bid.

Later that diamond necklace ended up around Peggy's neck.

She posted about it: "Made a fool of myself at my first auction, but luckily someone covered for me."

In the photo, you could see Clifford's watch.

I stared at that picture for a long time.

And still I told myself.

Clifford was only helping her for my sake.

The second time was at the racing meet.

Clifford loved racing.

Once, the only person who'd ever ridden in his passenger seat was me.

Then one time Peggy stood beside the car, eyes bright, and said,

"I've never ridden shotgun in a supercar before."

Clifford looked at her, then tossed the keys to me.

"You take the car behind."

"I'll run a lap with her."

I stood there, stunned.

He'd already pulled the door open for Peggy.

Over the roar of the engine, Peggy was laughing, so happy.

That same night, she posted online.

"First time riding shotgun, so scared my hands were shaking."

"Someone told me, don't be afraid."

Don't be afraid.

Those words had once belonged only to me.

The third time was before the engagement dinner.

I picked out a red dress.

But Clifford only gave it one glance.

"Too flashy. It doesn't suit you."

I looked down at the hem and, in the end, changed into the white he liked.

Yet half a month later, I saw that red dress on Peggy.

She spun around with a smile and asked Clifford, "Does it look good?"

Clifford looked at her, and for a moment something dazzled in his eyes.

"It suits you."

Later Peggy took my arm and said, as if in passing,

"Tammy, Clifford says I look more alive in red."

"You don't mind, do you?"

I smiled and said I didn't.

But the ache in my chest lingered for a long time.

Thinking about it now.

So this was how a person's place gets given away, little by little.

First a necklace.

Then the passenger seat.

Then a red dress.

And finally, tonight, this key card.

I was standing in front of the elevator when the door to the private room behind me eased open a crack.

Peggy's crying drifted out.

"Clifford, does Tammy hate me now?"

"I really only wanted to help her keep an eye on you."

Clifford's voice dropped lower.

"Don't cry."

"I've just spoiled her too much."

I let out a small laugh.

He used to say no one would ever dare look down on me.

But now.

The first person to look down on me was him.

The elevator opened, and I reached the top-floor suite. Inside there was none of the extravagance I'd imagined.

Just a single floor lamp burning.

Rick James sat in a black shirt by the floor-to-ceiling window, half a cigarette between his fingers.

At the sound of me, he lifted his eyes lazily.

His gaze fell on the key card in my hand.

Then on the redness at the corners of my eyes.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Since it's a marriage of convenience with whoever it is."

"Tamara, why not try the James family?"

Unhurried, he stubbed out the cigarette and raised his eyes to me.

"Whatever the Delgados can give you, I'll give you double."

"Whatever Clifford won't give you, I'll give that too."

Before I could answer, my phone rang.

It was Clifford.

On the other end there was the sound of running water, and Peggy's soft laugh.

"Come down here."

His tone said it was a given.

"Peggy's stomach is bothering her. Her medicine's in your bag."

I froze.

Before we went out this afternoon, Peggy had wheedled that her little bag was too small and asked me to hold her medicine for her.

I'd even teased her about being scatterbrained.

Only now did I understand—she could turn even feeling unwell into another excuse to run me around.

I said quietly, "Have a server bring it."

Clifford's voice went cold.

"She can't stomach the pharmacy stuff out there."

"Tamara, don't be so heartless."

On the other end, Peggy said in a small voice,

"Clifford, forget it."

"Tammy probably doesn't want to see me right now. I'll just tough it out."

Clifford instantly softened.

"Don't tough it out."

Then he said coldly to me,

"Five minutes. Bring it to my room."

When I got to their suite door with the medicine, the door wasn't shut all the way.

Peggy sat on the edge of the bed in a bathrobe, her hair dripping wet, her face still flushed with the color of someone who'd just pulled back from something intimate.

I handed over the medicine and turned to go.

Clifford walked to Peggy's side and passed her a glass of water.

"Take your medicine first."

The motion was so practiced they looked like the couple who'd been together for years.

I stood in the doorway like a spare part, an outsider.

The next second, Clifford called me back.

"Wait."

He picked an empty box up off the nightstand, his tone even.

"Go down to the convenience machine and grab me a box of these."

At first it didn't register.

Then I read the words on the box.

Condoms.

My whole body went rigid.

Peggy's face flushed crimson in an instant, and she ducked her head and murmured,

"Clifford, how can you send Tammy to buy that…"

But Clifford saw nothing wrong with it.

"She's my fiancée."

"She knows my habits better than anyone."

When he'd said that, he looked over at me.

"Same brand as before. Don't get it wrong."

In that instant, I felt so sick I nearly threw up.

"Clifford, do you hear yourself?"

He frowned.

"Tamara, don't twist things again."

"They're just backup."

"Peggy and I are completely innocent. If there were actually anything going on, I wouldn't be sending you to buy them, would I."

Peggy nodded quickly too.

"Tammy, don't get the wrong idea."

"Clifford just doesn't want everyone joking about this empty box tomorrow."

“A fresh box sitting right here actually proves nothing happened between us.”

Proving our innocence again.

They shared one room to prove their innocence.

And now I was supposed to buy this to prove their innocence too.

When I didn't move, Clifford's face went cold.

“Tamara, don't make a scene here.”

“Peggy's embarrassed enough already.”

Peggy's tears spilled over at once.

“Forget it, Clifford.”

“Tamara must think I'm shameless.”

Clifford's eyes snapped to me.

“Apologize.”

My fingertips tightened, bit by bit.

“You want me to apologize to her?”

“Yes.”

There wasn't a trace of warmth in his voice.

“She's your friend, and she only agreed to play this game for your sake.”

“Now you've humiliated her like this. Shouldn't you apologize?”

I looked at Peggy.

Her head was bowed, tears dropping one by one onto her bathrobe.

But for a single instant, the corner of her mouth curved, ever so faintly.

Almost like a smile.

Suddenly I had no strength left.

“Fine.”

Clifford's expression eased a little.

He thought I'd finally backed down.

Instead I turned and walked toward the door.

“I'll go buy it.”

I stepped into the elevator.

My face stared back from the mirrored wall. Pale. Wretched. Numb.

I didn't go to the vending machine.

I went back up to the top floor.

Rick was still sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window.

When he saw me come back empty-handed, he raised an eyebrow.

I sat down on the sofa, and all at once the exhaustion hit me everywhere.

“Rick.”

“You said earlier that the James family would put up more than the Delgados. Does that still stand?”

He looked at me.

“It stands.”

I lifted my head, my voice soft.

“Good. Then when do we register the marriage?”

Ten the next morning, outside the county clerk's office.

Clifford and Peggy got out of the car one after the other.

A few of the friends from last night had come along too.

The moment they saw me standing at the door, they broke into grins.

“Here so early, are you?”

“Talked so tough last night about not wanting to register, and here she is showing up like a good girl.”

Peggy gave them a gentle tug.

“Don't talk about Tamara that way.”

“It's perfectly normal for a girl to look forward to getting the license.”

She turned to me, her smile tender.

“Tamara, let's just put last night behind us.”

“You and Clifford should build a good life from here on.”

“I'll keep my distance from you two, so there won't be any misunderstandings.”

Such pretty words.

If her arm hadn't still been looped through Clifford's,

I might almost have believed her.

Clifford held out his hand to me.

“Tamara, come on. I told you I'd marry you.”

I glanced down at the red booklet in my hand.

“Who said I came here to register with you?”

Clifford's face changed.

“What are you talking about?”

The next second, a black Cullinan pulled up at the curb.

The door opened.

Rick stepped out and slid his arm easily around my shoulders.

Then he raised his hand and held up two marriage certificates in front of Clifford.

A red that stung the eyes.

The corner of Rick's mouth curved.

“Mr. Delgado.”

“You're too late.”

“Tamara is my wife now.”