At the dinner table, they talked about school and the future.

Tacitly, no one said a word about Emmett or Carlos so that the atmosphere of the dinner wouldn't be so heavy. They were touchy subjects for all involved.

Debbie stayed in a hotel. When they said their goodbyes to Emmett's parents, it was quite late. Kasie insisted that Debbie crash at her place.

Failing to turn her down, Debbie asked Jared to drive them to Kasie's place.

She went back to the hotel to pack her things. When she got out of the hotel with her luggage, Jared lugged her suitcase out to the car and into the trunk. Then the office called him, saying he needed to be there.

Seeing that Jared was busy, Debbie hefted her suitcase out of the trunk of his car and said to him, "You should go. It's cool. Kasie and I will take a cab." She and Kasie had drunk a Little wine with Marc, so they couldn't drive. Taking a cab was the only option left.

“Okay, I'll hail a taxi for you."

“No, thanks. We'll get a cab ourselves. Go," Debbie urged, pushing

Jared towards his car.

"Tell me when Sasha gets back."

“Okay. Bye then."

After Jared drove off, Debbie and Kasie stood by the side of the road waiting for a taxi. Debbie's phone rang before they could get one.

“Hi,

Ivan."

"Debbie... if you're not busy, could you attend a dinner at Glory

Hotel?"

“A dinner? Now?" Debbie checked the time. It was already 9:20 p.m.

“Yes. Many advertising agencies are unhappy about you leaving Zugrurg all of a sudden. Milo will be there too. You can apologize to him so we won't lose his business."

“ALL right then," Debbie said.

She gave her suitcase to Kasie. Kasie already knew where she was going, thanks to what she overheard of the phone conversation.

"Want me to go with you?" she asked Debbie.

"No, just wait for me at home."

“Okay. Call me when it's all over. I'll ask the driver to pick you up.”

"Okay."

It was nearly ten p.m. when she arrived at Glory Hotel. In the sumptuous hotel, she followed a waiter. They turned one corner after another and finally were at the booth Ivan had reserved.