i

elcome. I stood at the bus stop with my hands shoved deep in my coat po

a metaphor

r was a tangled cloud of half-frozen cur

sted by Crescent Hill-which meant two things: every elite family from nea

"invited" in

enjoyed the sound, "We need help with staffing the event. You've alway

you'll be inv

I never did. Wha

ad been transform

ool owned hung like captured stars. The floor gleamed under the lights, polis

ce cut through the bustle like

"Table six needs to be shifted two inches left. That runner

nodded, adjusting the runner

ck, the main h

s began t

d moonstones. Men with chiselle

n floated around me like per

ttered. "He hates lateness. He hates clutter

k how she k

scent had heard

pack in the eastern provinces. R

apped in money an

allowed to

llowed to

g placements, when a cold voice b

urn

ph

fake concern on her face. "Not that any

htly without looking at h

little, little orphan girl can measure. Anyway,

, expression tight, "Mira. VIPs just p

get out

without

ld panelling. I leaned against

ow, exactly. Ju

walls stood straighter. Like every

ent

d shifted to make way for him. Like a ripple moving

tepped into my

together. A jawline sharp enough to slice through silence. He wore

esence. The we

blade. And for a terrifying secon

s stopp

No

h

it happened. I stood slowly, and I could feel it - his gaze,

ook. Don't draw attenti

was t

ng had

ything inside

he marble rail. My head was already tender f

then

oked

snapped. "What

ned,

. "You're not cleared for the mezzanine. G

bly and slip

reath came too fast, heart racing. The migraine flared so hard

Someone

st and nearly d

ale. Go stand outside for five minu

through the side doo

t my face l

th

smi

ine. Smo

toward

he far end of

on

pocket. Eyes

at me, but my l

eps fo

stone under my heels

him notice me- the way h

he scent of him

id, voice low, without l

... maybe,"

rned, his gaz

t here." He said, hi

ot?" I

se I'm

s that have t

to me "You might not go back inside the

ly?"

angerous curve of his mouth.

rave, I sa

gets you in

u're tr

olut

hand rose to brush a hair from my cheek. His knuckles li

for the wind and the soft c

r resting lightly at

and the other came to my hip, fingers curling into

est tightened and Instead of stepping away, I j

brushing my cheek before his

hing like

My mind flickered- uninvited to the moments Sia's voice carried through my wall. The gaspes the broke

t would be like t

saying no?

n't a

from my waist to the curve of my h

His thumb brushed slow deliberate circles over

could step outside. But I didn't, all I cared about was that each moment of his hand

s hand, his knuckles brushing my tig

fixed on mine, as his fingers found the clasp at my shou

away like water

line and curve as if memorizing me. He stepped close, one hand rising

round,"

ip. His palm skimmed down my back, lingeri

at first bold touch that would shatter the the tens

d, he

ed to see him al

h

d turne

bli

at he walked away, leaving me

into the hall