A VISIT FROM A FRIEND
Two legs strode through the opulent halls of a luxurious hotel, purposeful and steady, until they halted before an elevator. In one hand, he held a card, and in the other, a discreet leather bag.
With two clicks, the elevator began its ascent to the topmost floor. Gus adjusted the collar of his meticulously ironed suit, the fabric fitting perfectly over the artificial bulk of his disguise. Underneath the façade of an old, overweight old man was a sharp assistant, now heading toward his master's bedroom.
Alanis had insisted on the old man's disguise to hide away from his family, especially his overbearing stepmother and sister. They are both furious about him ruining his marriage with Claudia. He couldn't understand his mother's obsession with the Blackwoods. He needed time to deal with the mess he had created.