Page 20 of Eat Slay Love

"Ms. Harris?"

I turned to the right and spotted a tall, slim man in a perfectly tailored velvet tuxedo. He was Asian, with delicate features that sharpened at the edges. His jet-black hair was slicked back.

On each of his fingers sat a gleaming red diamond ring.

I gathered myself. "Yes. I’m Ms. Harris."

He smiled. "Ahh. You have arrived. Excellent. My name is Cosmo. And yes"—he chuckled—"my parents actually named me that."

I smirked. "I like the name."

"My grandparents didn’t." He gave an exaggerated shrug. "But what can you do? Anyway, we will begin in a few minutes."

"Awesome."

"Can I take your coat?"

"Oh, yes." I slowly slid it off.

The luxurious fur slipped away, and soon I was handing it to him.

Cosmo widened his eyes. "This is a lovely fur. Russian sable?"

"Yes."

"Breathtaking.” He sighed like he was looking at a lover. “I’ll do my best not to drool over it."

I laughed softly. "A little drool won’t hurt it."

Grinning, he headed away, pressed at the bud in his ear, and murmured something into it.

I scanned the space again, noting how most of the couples were lost in quiet, intimate conversations.

Only a few people had noticed me.

But one pair of eyes hadn’t left me.

I turned again.

Hewas still watching me like a man who had no plans to eat anything at Alchemy but me.

Alright. I am not imagining anything.

A breath lodged in my throat.

Then, a soft, melodic chime rang through the room.

I put my view in that direction.

Cosmo stood at the front with a crystal bell in his hand. He lifted it in the air and rang it again.

The soft, melodic chime sounded.

Cosmo took us all in. "Good evening, Alchemists."

Excitement flared in my chest.

"We will now begin our experience where magic meets food in the most alluring ways." Cosmo lowered the bell to his side. "There will be some small travel and moments before you are actually seated."

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