The ballroom was filled with the soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses, but I barely registered any of it. I stood near the edge of the room, doing my best to keep up the appearance of calm.
The midnight blue gown had felt like a second skin, elegant and commanding. It had been carefully chosen, and I could feel the eyes of many in the room trailing me as I moved. The dress shimmered subtly with the silver embroidery, and the low-cut back felt daring in a way I hadn't expected. I'd caught glimpses of Alexander's hand resting on my exposed skin throughout the night, and every time, it sent a shiver up my spine.
But that wasn't what had been plaguing my thoughts.
Brielle. The venom in her words had been clear as day, even though they were wrapped in a veneer of politeness. The implication that I didn't belong, that my presence was nothing but a disruption, and worse still—the reference to Alexander's past. It had shaken me more than I wanted to admit.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest. Brielle's intention had been to rattle me, and I hated to admit that it had worked. I wasn't naïve—I knew there were things about Alexander I didn't know, and Brielle had made sure I felt the weight of that ignorance.
When I opened my eyes again, my gaze instinctively searched for him. Alexander was across the room, standing with Levi and another man I didn't recognize. Levi's laughter echoed through the ballroom, drawing the attention of several guests, but it was Alexander who held my focus.
He looked as composed as ever, the cool, detached exterior he was known for firmly in place. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. There was a tension in his posture, a subtle stiffness to the way he stood that hadn't been there earlier in the evening. He was listening to Levi's playful teasing, but I could tell his mind was elsewhere.
And then his eyes met mine, just for a moment, before he quickly looked away.
My breath caught in my throat. It had been happening all night—these fleeting glances, these moments of unspoken connection that left me feeling exposed and unsettled. I wasn't sure what to make of it, or if I was imagining it altogether. But one thing was certain: every time he looked at me, it felt like the world around us blurred, leaving only the two of us in focus.
I shifted on my feet, suddenly aware of the low-cut back of my dress and the way his hand had rested on my bare skin earlier in the night. Each time he had touched me, it had sent an electric current through my body, one I tried desperately to ignore. I had to. But now, standing here alone, with his eyes lingering on me in ways I couldn't quite explain, it was impossible to push those feelings away.
My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced down at the floor, trying to pull myself back together. I couldn't let myself get distracted by him, not now. Brielle's words had already left me feeling vulnerable, and the last thing I needed was to lose focus in front of people who were watching, waiting for me to stumble.
But as hard as I tried to push Alexander from my thoughts, my eyes drifted back to him. Levi was still talking, his expression animated as he teased Alexander, but I couldn't hear the words. I could only see the way Alexander's jaw clenched, the subtle flicker of frustration in his eyes as he shot Levi a warning look. It wasn't hard to guess what they were talking about—or rather, who. I guess I'd left an impression.
I stiffened. Levi had been teasing Alexander about me for days now, ever since we had started working together. It was all in good fun, but tonight… tonight, it felt different. More pointed. More personal. And judging by the tension in Alexander's frame, it was getting under his skin.
Levi's gaze suddenly shifted in my direction, his playful grin widening as he spotted me. My stomach twisted, knowing full well that whatever came next would only add to the confusion swirling in my mind.
But instead of approaching, Levi just smirked and leaned in closer to Alexander, saying something that made him glance over at me again—this time, longer than before. His eyes lingered, traveling the length of my gown, and for a brief second, I saw something flicker in his expression. Something I couldn't quite place, but it made my pulse quicken.
He looked away, but the tension between us hung in the air, thick and undeniable.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was ridiculous. I had no reason to be so affected by him—by any of this. Yet, here I was, standing in the corner of a crowded ballroom, my heart racing because of a man who barely showed emotion and a woman who had tried to cut me down with carefully chosen words. I was insane.
I needed to get a grip.
The night wasn't over, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not now. Brielle might have rattled me, but she wouldn't win. I'd come too far to let a few veiled threats and a man's lingering gaze throw me off course.
But as my eyes once again found Alexander, I couldn't help but wonder—had Brielle been right? Was there more to his past than I knew? And more importantly, was there more between us than I was willing to admit?
The thought sent a chill through me, but I quickly pushed it aside. Tonight wasn't the time for answers, and there were too many eyes watching to show any signs of doubt. I straightened my posture, smoothing out the fabric of my gown, and forced myself to smile.
Whatever was happening between us, it would have to wait. For now, I needed to focus on surviving this night with my dignity intact.