Chris leaned against the balcony railing, his fingers lightly tapping against the glass of champagne he hadn't touched in a while. The night breeze was cool against his skin, carrying the distant murmur of laughter and music from the ballroom.
He had known coming here was a risk. Not because he couldn't handle himself, but because Skylar was sharp—too sharp. Her curiosity was a dangerous thing.
"You were careless," a deep voice murmured behind him.
Chris didn't flinch. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Ethan stepped forward, his presence commanding yet composed. Dressed in a sleek black suit, he looked like every other high-profile guest in the room. But unlike them, Ethan wasn't here to mingle. He was here for one reason only—to ensure that Chris's carefully built facade remained intact.
Chris exhaled slowly. "I don't recall asking for a babysitter."
Ethan's lips twitched in amusement. "And yet, here I am, cleaning up after you." He glanced toward the ballroom, where Skylar was still dancing with Damian Kingsley. "She's starting to suspect."
Chris remained silent.
"You handled it well," Ethan admitted. "But the more she digs, the harder it will be to keep the truth buried."
Chris finally turned to him, his expression unreadable. "Let her dig. She won't find anything."
Ethan studied him for a moment before smirking. "You sound confident."
Chris took a slow sip of his drink. "That's because I am."
Ethan folded his arms. "Even if she starts asking about me?"
Chris chuckled. "You? You're just another man working for the elite. Nothing more, nothing less."
Ethan nodded approvingly. "Good answer. Let's keep it that way." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "But if she gets too close—"
"I'll handle it," Chris cut in smoothly.
Their gazes locked for a moment, unspoken understanding passing between them. Ethan had been by Chris's side long enough to know when to push and when to back off. This was one of those moments where he chose the latter.
"Very well," Ethan said. "But remember, you're walking a thin line. One wrong step, and everything you've built comes crashing down."
Chris smirked, setting his glass down on the railing. "Then I just have to make sure I don't slip."
Ethan let out a quiet chuckle before turning to leave. But before he disappeared into the crowd, he spoke one last time.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening, Mr. Worker."
Chris shook his head, amused. As Ethan vanished into the sea of elites, Chris turned his attention back to the ballroom.
Skylar was still watching him.
And the game had only just begun.