The day had barely started, and Lily was already spiraling.
She sat at her desk, staring at the email invitation like it was a death sentence.
INVESTOR DINNER — 8:00 P.M. — BELLA ROSA HOTEL
Dress Code: Formal.
Formal.
That one word sent her brain into full meltdown.
She leaned toward Melissa, whispering urgently. "Melissa. Hypothetical question. If you were about to attend a dinner with the richest, scariest people in L.A., and your boss was Satan in Armani, and you had a 98% chance of humiliating yourself—what would you wear?"
Melissa didn't even look up from her manicure. "Black. Always black. It hides wine stains, fear sweat, and the shame of existence."
"Fear sweat?!" Lily squeaked.
Melissa finally glanced up, amused. "Relax, rookie. You'll be fine. Worst-case scenario, you trip and faceplant into a $500 steak."
Lily buried her face in her hands. "That's not funny."
"It's hilarious," Melissa said cheerfully.
-------------------------------
By evening, Lily stood in front of her tiny apartment mirror, wobbling on borrowed heels and pulling at the neckline of a sleek black dress she'd panic-ordered online.
"Okay," she told her reflection. "You're not a disaster. You're… mysterious. Sophisticated. Like one of those spy girls in movies. Except less spy, more—trip hazard."
Her phone buzzed.
A text from Melissa: Good luck. Don't die.
Lily groaned.
-------------------------------
The Bella Rosa Hotel glittered like something out of a fairytale. Crystal chandeliers lit the grand hall, velvet drapes cascaded from the ceiling, and waiters glided across the floor carrying trays of champagne flutes.
Lily's jaw dropped as she followed Alex inside. She felt like a lost child wandering into a world she didn't belong to.
Everyone was dressed to kill—sleek gowns, designer suits, jewelry that probably cost more than her college tuition.
And then there was her.
Teetering on too-tall heels, clutching a tiny purse like it was a flotation device, trying very hard not to gape at the décor.
"Close your mouth, Miss Carter," Alex murmured beside her, his tone cool as ever. "You'll catch flies."
She snapped her jaw shut. "Sorry. I just—this place is… wow."
He didn't reply, already scanning the room like a general entering enemy territory. His presence commanded attention—tall, perfectly tailored suit, cold expression that made people step aside instinctively.
Meanwhile, Lily was doing her best impression of a penguin learning to walk.
------------------------------- Embarrassing Moment #1: The Champagne Catastrophe
A waiter stopped in front of them with a tray of champagne glasses.
Alex took one effortlessly, like he'd been born with it in his hand.
Lily reached for hers. Easy. Simple. She could do this.
Except her heel wobbled.
The glass tipped.
And suddenly, golden champagne splashed across Alex's sleeve.
Lily froze, horror flooding her veins. "Oh my God. Oh my God, I'm so sorry—"
Alex's jaw clenched. His eyes closed briefly, as if he were counting to ten.
"It's fine," he said tightly, dabbing at the stain with a napkin.
"It's not fine!" Lily grabbed more napkins and began blotting frantically, practically smacking his arm in the process. "I've ruined your thousand-dollar suit!"
"Miss Carter." His voice was low, deadly calm. "Stop touching me."
She dropped the napkins immediately.
Across the room, Sebastian Brooks was watching. Smiling.
------------------------------- Embarrassing Moment #2: The Menu Confusion
When they finally sat at the long, gleaming dinner table, Lily felt like she was trapped in a minefield of forks, knives, and spoons.
So many spoons. Why were there so many spoons?
She glanced at Alex. He unfolded his napkin with perfect grace.
Okay. Easy enough. She copied him.
Then came the appetizer. Some tiny, unidentifiable seafood thing with a name she couldn't pronounce.
She stabbed it with the wrong fork. The sound of metal scraping echoed like a gunshot.
Several investors glanced her way.
Her cheeks burned.
Alex's hand paused mid-cut, and his icy gaze slid to hers.
She gave him a sheepish smile. "What? I'm… innovating."
One investor chuckled.
Lily blinked. Wait. Did she just—accidentally make someone laugh?
-------------------------------
As the courses went on, Lily's clumsy honesty somehow worked in her favor.
When served a dish that looked like abstract art on a plate, she whispered too loudly, "This looks like a crime scene."
Investors laughed.
When a waiter poured wine, she sniffed it, made a face, and said, "Smells like cough syrup."
Investors laughed harder.
By dessert, she had half the table grinning, telling her she was a "breath of fresh air" compared to the stiff, rehearsed conversations they usually endured.
Alex said nothing. His face was unreadable. But his hand was tight around his glass, knuckles white.
-------------------------------
Sebastian made his move halfway through the meal.
He leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine lazily, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"So, Knight," he drawled. "Brilliant pitch this afternoon. Though I must admit, I was… surprised by your assistant."
Lily stiffened.
Alex's gaze was ice. "Surprised?"
Sebastian smirked. "Yes. She seems… unorthodox. Charming, in her own clumsy way. Not exactly what I'd expect from you."
The investors chuckled softly.
Lily wanted to sink under the table.
But Alex leaned forward, his voice sharp as glass. "Unorthodox doesn't mean ineffective. She gets results."
Sebastian's smile didn't falter, but there was something darker in his eyes now. "We'll see how long that lasts."
Lily shifted uncomfortably, realizing this wasn't just rivalry. It was war.
-------------------------------
As Sebastian spoke, Alex's mind flickered back to university.
A crowded lecture hall. A heated debate competition.
Elijah Williams stood at the podium, voice strong, passionately defending his stance. Katherine sat in the front row, her eyes shining with admiration.
Alex had been next in line to speak, notes perfectly organized, arguments airtight. But as he watched Elijah defend Katherine's point, the way she looked at him—it had unsettled something deep inside.
Jealousy.
He'd buried it then. But the memory still stung.
-------------------------------
The evening wound down, investors shaking hands, complimenting Alex on his strategy—and Lily on her humor.
"Refreshing," one of them told her warmly. "You should bring her to more dinners, Knight."
Lily nearly fainted.
Alex gave a curt nod, but his eyes were stormy.
Sebastian approached as the crowd thinned. He leaned close, his voice smooth but edged.
"Careful, Knight. A single weak link can bring down an empire."
His gaze flicked to Lily before he walked away.
Lily's stomach dropped.
Alex's jaw was steel.
And though he didn't say a word, the message was clear.
The Devil's dinner had only just begun.