“Um … Miguel, of course I’ll join you,” I tried again. “But …”

“And I promise to donate that hundred thousand, like I just said, in your name …” Miguel continued. He glanced again at one of the men, who looked like he was on the phone.

He must think I’m hedging because I don’t believe he’s actually going to donate to that charity.

Miguel took the phone that was handed to him, and in front of me confirmed to whoever he was talking to that he was donating “a hundred thousand on behalf of Ms. Aerin Palmer. Please give my assistant the bank details of the charity so that I can send the money over.”

With a quick smile at me, he handed the phone to the man who’d called the 800 number flashing on the giant screen, apparently. “Send it,” he told the man.

As the man turned away to complete the transaction over the phone, Samuel guffawed and clapped Miguel hard on his shoulder again.

“That was generous, thank you,” I said, momentarily confused by the back-and-forth between SSA Black and Jack still going on in my ear piece. I was out of excuses.

“Um … my friends and I just need to drop by the ladies room first before we join you, alright?” I asked, scrambling for time.

“Of course! Of course, Aerin,” Miguel answered as he and Samuel stood up when Bai, Olivia, and I stood. I gave the men a quick smile and led the way up the aisle. Jack picked up the rear of our little convoy as we pushed past the curtain and headed out the door.

Miguel’s men were watching us closely, and Jack whispered that a couple of them had trailed us when we all made our way to the ladies’ room. Jack stopped at the door to wait for us.

There was a dedicated ladies room for the VIP boxes in our section, so it wasn’t crowded, as I’d hoped. There were a few women in line to use the toilets, and a couple more standing in front of the mirrors, freshening their hair and make-up.

“Ok, what’s the plan?” I whispered into Bai’s ear as we stood in line. Olivia went to one corner and started to talk to SSA Black, apparently, but on the phone.