第24部分(第5/7 頁)

erful　to　finally　meet　you；”　the　woman　said　as　they

clasped　hands。　“I　can’t　thank　you　enough　for　all　you’ve　done。”

Blair　nodded　and　pulled　her　hand　away。　Enough　was　enough。　She

couldn’t　hold　on　any　longer。　Her　eyes　darted　around　the　crowded

room；　desperately　seeking　help。

There　were　Kati　and　Isabel；　dancing　with　each　other。　There　was

Anthony　Avuldsen；　handing　out　tabs　of　E。　There　was　Jeremy　Scott

Tompkinson；　trying　to　teach　Laura　Salmon　and　Rain　Hoffstetter　how

to　blow　smoke　rings　by　the　bar。　There　was　Chuck；　holding　that　little

Ginny　girl　so　tight　it　looked　like　her　boobs　might　explode。

All　the　extras　were　there；　but　where　was　her　leading　man；　her

savior？

“Blair？”

She　turned　around　and　saw　Nate　pushing　his　way　through　the　crowd

toward　her。　Nate’s　eyes　were　bloodshot；　his　face　slack；　his　hair

unbed。　He　looked　more　like　a　forgettable　supporting　actor　than

a　leading　man。

Was　this　all　there　was？　Was　Nate　it？

Blair　didn’t　have　much　choice。　She　opened　her　eyes　wide；　silently

asking　Nate　for　help　and　praying　he’d　be　up　to　the　job。

Ms。　Agnelli　frowned　and　turned　around　to　see　what　Blair　was　staring

at。　Blair　made　a　run　for　it；　and　Nate　stepped　in　just　in　time。

Thank　God　he　was　so　stoned。

“Nate　Archibald；”　Nate　said；　shaking　hands　with　the　woman。　“My

mother　is　a　big　fan　of　those　falcons。”

Ms。　Agnelli　laughed　and　blushed　a　little。　What　a　charming　young

man。　“Well；　of　course　she　is；”　she　said。　“Your　family　has　been　very

generous　with　our　foundation。”

Nate　plucked　two　flutes　of　champagne　off　a　passing　tray　and

handed　one　to　her。　He　raised　his　glass。　“To　the　birds；”　he　said；

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