Emcee regards Jared with an amused but sympathetic smile. "Well, if it's any consolation, I think everybody in the room won because of your so-called loss," he says. "You sounded quite lovely."

He sips his drink with relish as he watches Jay and Miss Kitty, entranced and impressed by the way they move together. Both are captivating to watch, and Emcee finds himself biting his lower lip in a leer.