2 –

Nearly a week later, the Veritas team is preparing for the ball in their suite of rooms at the Paris Ritz Hotel. The men are the only ones in the main salon, since the women are still getting dressed in one of the bedrooms.

"How long do you think they're gonna be?" Nikko was letting his father adjust the white tie that was choking him.

"They should be ready soon. I can't see your aunt wanting to miss this party." Solomon's eyes shot over to Vincent.

"I know she is nervous about what could happen tonight." Vincent's concern for his wife was written all over his face.

"Well, she's staying pretty cool for a nervous lady." Maggie made her entrance in a red, off the shoulder dress that perfectly fit her figure and her personality.

"Wow." Nikko was stunned.

"Just the reaction we were hoping for."

Solomon came over to Maggie, took her hand, and after bowing over it, kissed it. "And you two were right. The bracelet looks good on you."

Maggie laughed. "And Kate promised not to tell me how much it's worth."

Nikko didn't hear the conversation that was taking place between his Dad and Maggie because Juliet came out of the bedroom at that moment. She looked so beautiful he couldn't breathe.

Vincent heard Nikko's gasp and chuckled. "She won't bite."

Nikko looked at Vincent with eyes that didn't see. "But she's so…."

"Beautiful? You better go and claim her." Vincent nodded Juliet's way.

Nikko practically stumbled over to Juliet, stopping just short of colliding with her. "Hi."

Juliet was as impressed with Nikko in his penguin suit as he was with her dress. "Hi yourself."

"He's kind of tongue-tied since he saw you come out." Vincent told Juliet from across the room.

Juliet smiled as she looked Nikko in the eye. "Really? How do you think I look?" She slowly twirled around, her deep blue dress billowing slightly.

"I think you're killing him Juliet." Calvin joked from the chair he was sitting in, reading some last minute intelligence on the mission.

No one noticed Kate entering the room except for her husband. Vincent thought he was falling in love all over again, seeing her there in the violet dress that was slightly darker than the amethysts at her throat, ears and wrist.

Kate turned around because she felt Vincent looking at her. When she saw the look in his eyes, she smiled.

Vincent walked across the room, unaware that everyone else had stopped talking and was watching him and Kate. When he reached her, he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I think you look more beautiful now than when we first met," he whispered in her ear.

"I can't wait until this is over and we can come back to our room," Kate smiled up at him.

Everyone jumped slightly as the telephone rang loudly. Maggie, who was the closest, picked it up and thanked whoever was calling. "Our cars are ready to take us to the ball."

Solomon and Kate looked at each other. "Are we ready?" Solomon asked.

"As ready as we'll ever be," Kate demurred.