The city hummed around me as I stepped out of the car, the sharp scent of rain lingering in the air. The Grand Pavilion loomed ahead, its towering glass panels reflecting the night sky. The invitation had been vague—just an address, a time, and a suggestion to stand out.
Inside, the atmosphere was electric, charged with whispered conversations and glances that carried hidden meanings. Chandeliers dripped with crystals, casting fractured light over the room, while a string quartet played something hauntingly beautiful in the background.
It wasn’t an auction tonight. It was a private art exhibition, an unveiling of a renowned sculptor’s latest collection. The kind of event that attracted the rich, the powerful, and those looking to be both.
I moved through the crowd with purpose, my emerald dress clinging to my curves just enough to draw attention without giving too much away. I wasn’t here to blend in—I was here to be noticed. And judging by the heat prickling along the back of my neck
