The car came to a gentle stop in front of a grand marble-tiled entrance, where golden light spilled out like liquid from tall glass doors. Doormen in sharp tuxedos waited near velvet ropes. Beyond them, laughter and soft jazz carried out from inside. Before Sara could fully take it all in, Elijah stepped around to her side, opened the door, and offered his hand.
As she stood, smoothing her dress instinctively, Elijah leaned in slightly, his voice quiet near her ear."Do you mind if I…?" he asked, motioning toward her waist.Sara blinked up at him—her cheeks already warming from the way his eyes rested on her—and nodded with a smile. "No, go ahead."
His hand came to rest lightly around her waist, and they stepped forward together.
The moment they crossed the threshold of the roped-off entry, a series of flashing lights burst into view. Cameras snapped like rapid-fire lightning, illuminating their faces in strobing gold and white. The low hum of murmurs turned to whispers as reporters angled forward, their voices overlapping.
"Elijah!""Elijah sir, can we get a word?""Is that your date for the evening?"
Sara faltered, caught off guard by the sudden press of attention. She instinctively turned toward Elijah, only to find he was already looking at her. His gaze was steady, calm… and far too handsome when lit by the cameras.
"Why are they taking pictures of us?" she asked under her breath, confused, her lips barely moving.
His mouth curved into a teasing smile. "Probably because you look absolutely breathtaking tonight."
She gave him a look—half amused, half skeptical—but he was already guiding her past the photographers, ignoring the cluster of microphones being thrust in his direction. His presence was unwavering. Sara leaned in slightly, lowering her voice again."Are you going to tell me why they really wanted to talk to you?"He gave a small laugh, eyes ahead. "Let's just say… I'm a bit of a known name around here."
That didn't exactly clear things up, but before she could press further, they stepped through the grand double doors.
The party inside was like walking into a dream.
The room was vast and gleaming, with crystal chandeliers overhead, velvet curtains in rich jewel tones, and guests adorned in flowing gowns and sleek suits that shimmered beneath the chandeliers. The scent of expensive perfume and fresh roses hung in the air. A live string quartet played near the open bar, their sound as elegant as the setting.
Sara's nerves melted into awe. For a second, she had worried she might be underdressed or awkward—but as she looked around, she realized the dress Ashley chose had hit the perfect note. She belonged here more than she had expected.
Heads turned the moment they entered. And not just in curiosity—people recognized Elijah instantly. A few faces lit up with familiarity; others narrowed their eyes curiously, likely wondering who Sara was.
A well-dressed man with silver cufflinks approached, flanked by two women in glittering gowns."Elijah! Congratulations, man," he said, pulling him into a quick one-armed hug. "SD Construction deal? That's a massive win."
"Thanks," Elijah said with a charming nod, keeping Sara close beside him. "Still a lot of work ahead, but it's official."
The man then turned toward Sara, eyes narrowing playfully. "And this must be the new girlfriend we've been hearing nothing about?"
Elijah laughed, glancing sideways at Sara, then back at the man. "I wish," he said, then added more clearly, "She's a friend. Doing me a favor tonight."
The man raised his eyebrows, intrigued, but didn't press.
Sara gave a polite smile, her thoughts swirling. SD Construction deal? Reporters? Cameras? Who even is this man I agreed to help out tonight?
Was he really some big shot?The thought gnawed at Sara as she walked beside Elijah, her lips curled into a polite smile she kept tossing at guests who waved at him, not her. The crowd seemed to glow brighter the closer they got to him.Somebody's important, clearly. She mentally noted to Google him the moment she got home.
She looked around, eyes soaking in the elegant splendor of the hall—crystal chandeliers above, champagne glasses clinking, the perfume of expensive flowers in the air. It smelled like generational wealth and subtle rivalries.
A woman approached—gorgeous, radiant, confident—and stopped right in front of them.
"And who is this?" the woman asked sweetly, eyes flickering over to Sara with interest.
Elijah's hand instinctively tightened around Sara's waist. Just slightly, but enough to make her glance sideways. His smile didn't falter, but she could feel a strange tension under his calm façade.
"Yeah, this is my partner for the night," he said lightly, and the woman tilted her head.
"No first dance with me then?" she asked, lips pouting playfully.
"Of course not, I can't just leave my partner alone, can I?" he said with a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Right, Sara?"
Sara blinked, catching the cue a second late."Right," she nodded, offering a slow smile.
He leaned closer to the woman. "But the next one? That's all yours."
The woman smiled, lips sparkling with charm. "Hmm. I'm disappointed—but I'll survive."
Her eyes shifted back to Sara. This time, the curiosity in her gaze was obvious, but not malicious. She smiled again, gently.
Sara returned the expression with equal softness, even though her brain had started to calculate whether this whole evening was turning into a very public complication.
Elijah suddenly spoke again. "Oh—I forgot. You asked me for a drink, didn't you, Sara?"
Sara's brow twitched. Did I? Her gaze flicked to him in confusion—until she saw it. The subtle hint in his eyes. The almost imperceptible plea to bail him out.
So she played along.
"Oh yeah," she said, laughing lightly, "I did."
"Stay right here. I'll be back in a minute," Elijah smiled at both women and slipped away before either could stop him.
He was gone in seconds.
The woman turned toward her, eyes still shining with curiosity.
"I'm Savana," she said, offering her hand with a warm but calculating grace. "And you are...?"
Sara reached out and shook it firmly. "Sara. Nice to meet you."
"You must be new here," Savana said, scanning her face. "That's why you don't recognize me."
"Sort of," Sara said, nodding.
"No wonder. I never forget a face. And yours—I'd have remembered." Her compliment was sincere, but Sara detected a quiet sizing-up happening beneath it.
"Oh," Sara said, brows rising as realization struck. "This is your party?"
Savana smiled, amused. "Guilty."
"Well then, thank you for the compliment—and for the party," Sara said, flipping her hair back with subtle confidence.
Savana's expression didn't change, but her next words came with a kind of polite bombshell."I'm Elijah's fiancée-to-be, by the way."
Sara's jaw dropped. "Oh—!"
Her brain spiraled. Wait, what? Is she telling me this because she thinks Elijah and I are a thing? Do I need to clarify? Should I?
Clearing her throat, she spoke quickly, "Actually, I'm just helping him out tonight. We're not that close. It's… nothing."
Savana chuckled, patting the back of Sara's hand with a strange sisterly grace."Of course I know. If you were a real thing, you'd already be trending all over social media. You don't seem to know Elijah all that well."
Sara gave a tight smile but said nothing.
"Come on," Savana said, slipping her arm through Sara's. "Let me introduce you to a few people. Elijah won't be back for a while. He's not very interested in sticking close when I'm around."
Sara blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Are you not mad that he's avoiding you?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Savana didn't miss a beat. "It's a setup," she said breezily. "Everyone knows it. It's a business alliance more than anything else. In our world, marriages rarely mean the same thing they do to normal people. It's more… strategy."
Her voice was casual, but there was steel beneath it.
Sara's steps slowed a little. "Oh," she breathed, disappointed without knowing exactly why.
Savana looked ethereal under the chandelier's light—high cheekbones, almond eyes, impossibly long lashes. A model without even trying. Grace in motion.
Sara swallowed her questions. She had so many.