Lucian

I adjusted my cufflinks for the third time, staring at my reflection in the elevator's polished mirror. The Governor's gala was always a strategic necessity, but tonight felt different. Tonight, I had Lexi to worry about.

The elevator dinged as it reached the hotel's grand ballroom level. I stepped out, scanning the crowd until I spotted her near the entrance. My breath caught in my throat.

She looked stunning in a midnight blue gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, revealing the graceful line of her neck. For a moment, I forgot why I was angry with her.

Then I remembered the recording. The blackmail. The smug look on her face when she'd cornered me.

“Lucian!” A melodic voice called out before I could reach Lexi.

I turned to see Victoria Ashworth gliding towards me, her champagne-colored dress trailing behind her like liquid gold. The daughter of Senator Ashworth, Victoria had been trying to catch my attention for months.

“Victoria,” I said, forcing a smile. “You look lovely tonight.”

She beamed, placing a perfectly manicured hand on my arm. “Why thank you. I was hoping we could chat about Daddy's infrastructure bill. He mentioned you might be interested in investing.”

Before I could respond, another voice joined us.

“Lucian Cross! There you are!”

Isabella Romano appeared at my other side, her red dress a bold statement against her dark hair. The Romano family controlled half the shipping contracts on the East Coast.

“Isabella,” I nodded, glancing over their heads toward where Lexi had been standing. She was gone.

“We simply must discuss the charity auction next month,” Isabella gushed, pressing closer. “The Romano Foundation would love your support.”

“Of course,” I said absently, still searching for Lexi in the crowd. Before I could free myself, another voice chimed in.

“Lucian, darling!” Sophia Blackwell joined our growing circle, her emerald gown shimmering under the chandeliers. Old money, old connections, old expectations.

“You haven't been replying to my messages, love. I told my father we dated back at college.” She winked at me, eyeing the other ladies.

Dated?!

“Ladies,” I said, feeling increasingly trapped as they formed a tight circle around me.

“We were just discussing the summer house party in the Hamptons,” Victoria said, her hand still possessively gripping my arm. “You simply must come.”

“The whole family will be there,” Isabella added, batting her eyelashes.

I spotted Lexi across the room, standing alone by the champagne fountain. Even from this distance, I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she held herself apart from the other guests.

"Lucian?" Sophia's voice pulled my attention back. "You seem distracted."

"Not at all," I lied smoothly. "Please, continue."

But my eyes kept drifting back to Lexi. She looked out of place among the socialites and politicians, like a wildflower in a garden of perfectly manicured roses. There was something authentic about her that this crowd lacked.

"Oh, look," Victoria said, following my gaze with sharp eyes. "Who's that girl? She looks terribly lonely."

"Perhaps we should invite her over," Isabella suggested with false sweetness.

“No need,” I said quickly. "She's my guest."

All three women's expressions shifted subtly, their smiles becoming more predatory.

"Your guest?" Sophia asked, her voice carefully neutral.

"A business associate," I clarified, though I wasn't sure why I felt the need to explain.

"How... interesting," Victoria murmured, her grip on my arm tightening.

I watched as Lexi picked up a champagne flute, her movements graceful despite her obvious discomfort. She was trying to blend in, but everything about her screamed that she didn't belong here.

"Daddy mentioned you might need a new PR consultant," Victoria continued, demanding my attention. "I have my master's in communications from Harvard."

"And I've been managing the Romano Foundation's image for three years," Isabella added competitively.

They were circling like sharks, each trying to establish their value, their worth. It was a familiar dance, one I'd grown tired of years ago.

"Ladies, if you'll excuse me," I started to say, but Victoria's hand on my arm became a grip.

"Oh, but we haven't finished discussing the charity auction," she protested.

Across the room, Lexi had been approached by Governor Harrison himself. She was smiling, laughing at something he said, looking completely at ease. For some reason, that irritated me more than it should have.

That girl always attracts the big fish.

“The Harrison family has such influence in Washington,” Sophia observed, following my gaze again. Her face bore contempt. “Smart of your little assistant to make connections.”

“She's not my assistant," I said curtly.

"Then what is she?" Isabella asked with saccharine curiosity.

I didn't answer. I couldn't, because I wasn't sure myself what Lexi was to me anymore. Business partner? Blackmailer? The woman who was slowly driving me insane?

“Lucian, you really must focus,” Victoria chided, her fingers trailing down my arm. “We're trying to have a conversation.”

"Of course," I said, forcing myself to look at her instead of Lexi. "What were you saying about the infrastructure bill?"

For the next hour, I was trapped in a web of political small talk and strategic positioning. The three women took turns monopolizing my attention, each trying to outdo the others with their connections, their accomplishments, their obvious availability.

All the while, I watched Lexi work the room with surprising skill. She spoke with senators and CEOs, charmed diplomats and judges. She was a natural, and she was doing it all without my help.

"She's quite the little social climber, isn't she?" Victoria commented during a lull in conversation.

I followed her pointed gaze to where Lexi was now speaking with the French ambassador, both of them laughing warmly.

"Excuse me?" I said, my voice dropping dangerously low.

"Your guest," Isabella clarified with a sweet smile. "She certainly knows how to work a room."

"Perhaps she's not as innocent as she appears," Sophia added with a knowing look.

Something cold and protective flared in my chest. "I'd be careful about making assumptions."

The three women exchanged glances, clearly sensing they'd struck a nerve.

"Of course, darling," Victoria purred. "We didn't mean anything by it."

But the damage was done. I could see the calculation in their eyes, the way they were already planning to use this information against Lexi somehow.

I excused myself and made my way towards the bar, needing a moment to think. The bartender handed me a whiskey, and I took a long sip, letting the burn ground me.

"Enjoying your fan club?"

I turned to find Lexi beside me, her eyes bright with anger and something else I couldn't identify.

"They're business connections," I said simply.

"Right," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Business. That's why they were practically crawling all over you."

"Jealous?" I asked, unable to resist the taunt.

Her cheeks flushed. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Then why do you care?"

She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, clearly struggling with the answer. Before she could speak, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and felt my blood run cold.

"What is it?" Lexi asked, noticing my expression.

I looked up from the phone, my eyes meeting hers. "We need to leave. Now."

"Why? What's wrong?"

I grabbed her hand, already moving toward the exit. "Victor Kane is dead."

The words hung between us as we reached the elevator. As the doors closed, I saw Lexi's face pale in the reflection.

"Dead how?" She whispered, eyeing me suspiciously.

“You think I killed him?” I snapped.

She didn't say anything, she just took a step away from me.

“Oh really, Lexi?” My brows furrowed in anger. “You’ve added killer to my list?”

She shook her head, stepping further away. “Of course…not.” She stammered.

I closed her in, her back hitting the wall of the elevator. Our faces were inches apart and I could perceive the cheap perfume on her.

My gaze bore into hers and I saw her eyes flutter.

“You're too close,” her voice was barely audible.

“You think I killed him?” I whispered.

Before she could respond, the elevator doors opened to reveal Marcus.

“Boss,” he called, his voice laced with disgust. “Get a room.”

“What?!” Lexi and I snapped.