ara

re the floor-to-ceiling window of my apartment, looking down at the street

ing window, watching the guests arriv

throwing it back in a thousand tiny reflections. My hair was tied up in an elegant bun, and my makeup cleverly concealed the bandage on my fo

buzzed.

Are you ready?" His voic

, my tone fla

last look at my reflection,

For a moment, he was speechless. Then

he gown Seraphina gave

king past him toward

ut... why? She went to so much tro

looked at him with a cold, fl

to me complying. He assumed I had simply changed my mind at the last

He tried to break it. "My father was saying we should disc

s. "Really? I would have thought you'd be more

le in his cheek jumped. The sil

The screen lit up wi

of hesitation, before answe

na? What

ufactured panic. "Julian... oh, it's a disaster! The zipper on my gown broke, an

transparent excuse as last time. M

ned instantly. "Shh, don't wor

tion, he spoke to the driver. "Turn the car a

early elsewhere. He used a tone that brooked no argument. "Seraphina has

was going to abandon me at the gates of the party, leaving me t

een humiliated, my eyes b

nd smiled. A calm, serene sm

ht," I

ment would have. A flicker of doubt crossed his face, but S

lit entrance of the Croft family's sprawl

fterthought as he was already urging the driver to hurry. Th

lders. I was a solitary figure in a gown that the world had ne

he looks they gave me. The quick, curious glances. The whispers behind cup

red th

rs were steady as I scrolled through my contacts and press

an Th

fore the first

a stark contrast to Julian's impatient tones. It wa

the thrill of impending vict

uation. My date has run off, and I find myself in desperate need of a new partner. One who c

ng him. I knew, with a certainty that set

of warmth through me. "It would be my honor. And for the record, the 'expe

gave a li

commanded, yet it was laced with a protectiv

ne wen

phone, my sm