After our late-night conversation abruptly ended, I walked back to my room at the resort, trying to push the unease out of my mind. There was a tension in Alexander that I couldn't quite grasp, and I felt as though I had overstepped. But I wasn't about to dwell on it now. I changed into my pajamas, slid into bed, and forced myself to think about anything but the strange tension between us.
The next morning, I made my way downstairs for breakfast, the sound of waves in the distance offering a brief moment of calm. Alexander was already seated at the table, his attention focused on his phone. I took a seat across from him, trying not to think too much about the awkwardness of last night. It was so uncomfortable.
He looked up, his expression unreadable as always. "We're attending a charity event tonight," he said, his voice cool and collected. "It's important for our public image. Be ready by five."
I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee. "Alright," I replied, not sure what else to say.
Breakfast passed in silence. Alexander seemed to be lost in his work again, and I let my mind wander to the day ahead. I had nothing planned, so I spent most of the morning and early afternoon reading a novel by the window, letting the warm sun and sound of the ocean distract me from everything else.
Around 4 p.m., Arabella and her team of stylists arrived. Arabella had become somewhat of a friend during this trip—her bubbly energy was infectious and often a nice break from the seriousness surrounding Alexander.
Arabella grinned as she walked in, holding a curling iron. "Ready for the big night, Ivy?" she teased, setting down her tools.
I smiled, setting my book aside. "As ready as I'll ever be."
As she started working on my hair, she chattered away about the upcoming event. "I heard it's going to be a pretty formal affair. Lots of aristocrats, old money types. The kind that always stare just a little too long."
"I'll have to get used to that, I suppose," I said, trying to keep my tone light.
Arabella grinned, carefully curling my hair. "Don't worry. You'll outshine them all tonight."
I chuckled softly, appreciating her easygoing attitude. "Thanks. I'm not exactly used to all this attention."
Arabella paused for a moment, her expression softening. "You're doing better than you think. Besides, with Alexander by your side, you'll be the most talked-about pair of the evening."
I looked at her through the mirror, noting the way her words lingered. "Alexander... He always seems so... distant," I mused.
"Maybe," Arabella replied thoughtfully, "but there's something in the way he looks at you. Trust me, I've seen these things. He's just... guarded."
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I stayed quiet, letting her finish my hair.
Once my hair was done, she stepped back to admire her work. "There," she said, clearly pleased. "Now for the dress."
The dress was a cream-colored gown with gold detailing that hugged my figure in all the right places, flowing elegantly at the bottom. The sleeves were long, reaching my wrists, and the back of the dress dipped into a V-shape, revealing the delicate curve of my back. Arabella added a few pearly accessories to my hair, and with a final touch of makeup, I was ready.
I stared at my reflection, barely recognizing the person staring back at me. I felt... different.
"You look stunning," Arabella said, her voice filled with admiration. "Alexander won't know what hit him."
I smiled, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks, Arabella. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She winked. "Just doing my job."
As I made my way downstairs, my heart began to race slightly. I wasn't sure why I felt so nervous, but when I saw Alexander waiting in the sitting area, it only intensified. He looked up as I approached, his eyes scanning me slowly, lingering just a little too long.
For a moment, I saw something flicker in his gaze—something I couldn't quite place. But just as quickly, it was gone, and his usual composed expression returned.
"You're ready," he said simply, standing and offering me his arm.
I nodded, taking his arm as we made our way to the car. The ride to the event was quiet, the tension from last night still hovering between us. I glanced at him once, but he seemed lost in his thoughts, so I didn't press him. There was something weighing on him, but I knew better than to pry.
When we arrived at the venue, Alexander placed his hand on the small of my back as we entered, guiding me through the crowd. His touch was light but firm, and I couldn't help but feel a little more at ease with him beside me.
An hour into the party, I noticed Brielle Colton enter the room. She was striking—blonde, poised, and radiating confidence. I had heard her name before during the briefings. She was Andrew Colton's daughter, the man Alexander and I needed to gather information on.
Brielle approached us, her eyes fixated on Alexander, as if I didn't exist. She started a conversation with him, blatantly ignoring me. I tried not to let it get to me, but her dismissal stung more than I wanted to admit.
When Alexander excused himself to attend to something, Brielle turned to me, a thin smile on her lips. "So, you're Ivy," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "Alexander and I... we go way back. Childhood sweethearts, actually."
What? Why wasn't I informed about this? Her words hit harder than I expected, and for a moment, I wasn't sure what to say. There was a pang of something—jealousy? Maybe. But I couldn't quite place it.