CHAPTER SIXTY THREE – THE MASKED BALL

The following morning, Karina arrived bleary-eyed but determined at the Hardy Enterprises building. She had tossed and turned most of the night, replaying the shocking revelation of Lexi's secret alliance with Elliott Roth over and over. She needed to stay focused and vigilant today. There was no telling what underhanded moves Lexi might make next in her and Roth's plot against John Hardy. Karina would have to be her constant shadow, watching and documenting her every suspicious move. Lexi was her usual imperious self, barking orders and demeaning demands at Karina from the moment she stepped into the office. The assistant gritted her teeth and bore it stoically, knowing she couldn't risk inflaming the situation until she had irrefutable proof to back up her claims about Lexi's betrayal. As the day wore on, Karina's attention was diverted by the buzz around the office about an exclusive gala that evening - a lavish masquerade ball thrown by one of Hardy Enterprises' most important c