Lola's heart pounded as her eyes fluttered, almost blinded by the lights cast down on her. Even with the brightness obstructing her view of the rest of the people in the area, she could see glints of teeth—smiles—shining back at her.
"Miss Lola."
She snapped her gaze forward, meeting the eyes of the maid approaching her with a flower. Standing beside her was a butler, also holding a single stem. Lola gulped, taking the flowers with trembling hands.
The first pair lowered their heads before stepping aside, replaced by another pair who approached her the same way. They offered flowers, congratulations… and once she accepted them, another older pair replaced them.
By the time her hands were full of flowers, her lips quivered, and the person standing before her now was Slater.
Slater, charming like an angel as ever, flashed her a smile. But unlike the earlier ones, he handed her a white flower.
