Karen stood in front of her full-length mirror, fingers trembling slightly as she zipped up the dress. The deep red satin clung to her waist, flowed at her hips, and exposed just enough of her collarbone to make her blush.
She looked...expensive.
She didn't feel like herself.
"This is too much," she muttered, smoothing a hand over the fabric.
But Dami had practically begged her to go all out. And Luca had insisted she'd regret not dressing up.
Still, it wasn't Luca she was thinking about as she slipped into her heels.
It was Alex.
She didn't know what she expected, but the tension between them had only grown tighter since that strange moment on the terrace. And now, the idea of seeing him tonight in a tux standing under golden lights in a room full of people made her heartbeat unsteady.
Downstairs, a sleek black car waited. Karen took a breath and climbed in, clutching her small clutch like it was armor.
The Grand Lux Hotel was bathed in gold and crystal.
From the valet to the marble steps to the champagne being poured by white-gloved servers, everything screamed elite.
Karen had never seen so many people from work out of their usual element laughing, drinking, dancing.
"Karen!"
She turned to see Luca waving her over from the entrance. He looked incredibly handsome in a tailored navy tux, and when his eyes landed on her, he froze slightly.
"Wow," he said, stepping closer. "You look..unbelievable."
She smiled, suddenly feeling a little more at ease. "You look so charming too".
"I told you to stay close to me, remember?" he grinned, offering his arm. "Let's go in before your boss catches you standing alone."
The moment they entered the ballroom, Karen felt it..a shift in the air. It was like walking into another world.
Glittering chandeliers reflected off polished floors. Live music played in the background, soft and seductive.
And across the room, Alex stood beneath one of the chandeliers, speaking to someone she didn't recognize.
He was in black, of course. Always black. The suit hugged his frame like it was stitched from shadows, and his hair, slightly tousled, gave him an edge of danger.
He looked deadly.
And he saw her.
The moment their eyes met, everything else in the room faded. His stare dragged over her slowly from her neck, shoulders, waist, legs then snapped back to her face with a flicker of heat.
Karen's breath caught.
But just like that, he turned back to his conversation, as if she didn't exist.
She blinked, stunned.
"You okay?" Luca leaned in, concern in his voice.
Karen swallowed. "Yeah, just a little overwhelmed."
They moved toward the refreshment tables. Luca kept close, introducing her to people, cracking jokes, distracting her from the slow burn she felt under her skin.
She was laughing at something he said when she felt it..that pull. The sense of being watched.
She turned.
Alex stood only a few feet away now, drink in hand, his gaze locked on her and Luca.
"I thought this was a company event, not a date," he said, voice like velvet, eyes unreadable.
Karen straightened. "It's not a date."
"Could've fooled me."
Luca stepped in. "Relax, Alex. We're just having fun."
Alex smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "That's the thing with fun. It doesn't always stay harmless."
He turned and walked away, leaving silence behind.
Karen exhaled, shaken. Her heart thudded against her ribs, and for a brief moment, she wondered if tonight had been a mistake.
But she didn't have time to dwell. Luca took her hand and pulled her toward the dance floor.
"If he wants to glare from a distance, let him," he said. "You deserve to enjoy tonight."
As the music swelled, Karen let him guide her into the rhythm but Alex's words lingered, dark and heavy in her mind.
And from across the room, Alex's eyes never left her.