CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR – THE SLIMY BILLIONAIRE

Karina felt her heart leap into her throat as she finally spotted Lexi through a gap in the crowd. The supermodel was engaged in a hushed, intense conversation with none other than Elliott Roth himself. The billionaire industrialist cut an imposing figure even in his extravagant masque costume. Seizing her chance, Karina began winding discreetly through the tightly-packed throngs, keeping the conspiratorial pair in her sights. She strained her ears, desperate to catch even a snippet of their dialogue over the swell of music and chatter. As she drew closer, Karina noted how Lexi seemed ill-at-ease, her body language uncharacteristically reserved and almost...nervous? Clearly the high-stakes gambit she and Roth had going was weighing on the usually unflappable supermodel. Roth, on the other hand, appeared the picture of entitled confidence. At one point, he took Lexi's arm and gestured expansively toward the dance floor in a silent invitation. But Lexi shook her head adamantly, shooti