6

AVA

The Christmas gala was finally here.

I stood in front of the mirror, holding my breath as I stared at the dress Ryan had gotten for me. The dress fit so perfectly. It was smooth and soft and hugged my body like it was made just for me. Ryan had chosen a dark green colour, and truly, he made the right choice. The colour made my skin glow, and the way it flowed around my legs made me feel different. Like someone elegant. Like royalty.

But I was nervous. Very nervous.

I had never been to any fancy events like this before. I didn’t even mingle with the kind of people that could be found in a place like that. I was just a regular girl with a regular life who worked extra hard to get by every day. Now, I wasn't just standing in a luxury yacht, I was getting ready for an event filled with people of influence and riches with a man I barely knew.

Who was he anyway? He had claimed to be a mere team leader, and now he was taking me to an event as glamorous as this.

Ryan had stepped out earlier to handle something with his client while I used the time to get myself ready. My hair was brushed back into soft curls, I had my makeup fixed, and I finally slipped into the dresses. I was struggling with the zipper when I heard the door open slowly.

Ryan walked in. He froze, eyes fixed on me. For a moment, he didn’t say anything. He just stared.

“Let me help you with that,” he finally said, his voice unusually low.

He stepped behind me and zipped up the dress gently. My skin tingled as I felt his fingers brush against my back. I held my breath.

I gave a soft sigh when he was done. He stood there looking at me in the mirror. Then, he whispered in my ear, “You look stunning. Truly.”

My mouth opened to respond, but nothing came out. I didn’t know what to say. I watched him from the corner of the room as he changed into a smart-looking black tuxedo. The way the suit hugged his body made my heart skip a beat.

He was gorgeous. He was perfect.

He was nothing like Ethan. Ethan never truly cared about me, despite the fact that we’d dated for two years. He never looked at me like Ryan did. He was never there when I needed him.

Coming on this cruise had always been my wish. He had gotten the tickets not because of me, as he claimed, but it was all for his gain. He knew our relationship was gradually sinking, so he thought it best to grant one of my wishes just to be on my good side, only to ruin it in the end.

I stared at Ryan as he got dressed. He was handsome without a doubt, too perfect to be playing this crazy game with me. A man like him shouldn’t be single. He had all it took to capture the attention of every woman in the room.

He caught me staring and smirked. “I look handsome, right?”

I rolled my eyes and turned away, grabbing my purse. “We’ll be late.”

He laughed and walked toward me, offering his arm. I hesitated for a second before taking it.

“Shall we?” he whispered.

I nodded.

As we walked out of his cabin, I felt butterflies dance in my stomach.

The gala was nothing like I imagined it. It was even more beautiful.

As we got to the main hall, my mouth fell in awe. The golden lights hung from the ceiling like stars. Everything was perfect. Everywhere sparkled, from the floor to the glasses in people’s hands. The sound of soft music echoed in the background.

I suddenly felt like I didn't belong here. I never knew that there were so many important people on this yacht. I recognised a few celebrities and important faces I had seen on the news or the front page of magazines. Influential business owners, fashion designers, and photographers I had always admired and other people I never thought I would meet in real life.

Everyone looked elegant. Long gowns, shiny jewellery, polished shoes, and well-fitted suits. I felt small and was nervous. But Ryna placed a hand on my lower back.

“Relax,” he whispered in my ear. “You fit just right in. I want you to raise your shoulders high like you own the room.”

He handed me a glass of champagne. I held it tightly, hoping to calm my nerves with it.

I began to question who Ryan truly was when we began to walk across the room. Almost everyone knew who he was, and some even smiled at him. He was so damn popular for a mere team leader of a company. There was more to his identity than he was letting on. He was hiding something from me, something I couldn't quite explain.

We stopped in front of his client, Mr Langston, with his beautiful wife, Chloe, who looked elegant in that red dress.

“Mr Langston,” Ryan said calmly. “Good to see you.”

“My man, Ryan,” Langston said, shaking his hand. Then his eyes landed on me. “And there’s my beautiful Ava. You look wonderful.”

“Thanks, Langston,” I murmured.

“You look stunning, my dear Ava,” his wife said with a soft smile. “Both of you are such a perfect pair.”

I blushed and glanced at Ryan. he smiled back and gave my hand a little squeeze.

We talked with them for a while. Most of the conversations were about business, and a few were about the cruise and the magical experience the cruise had provided. I felt out of place at the beginning, but with time, I began to do just fine. I wasn't nervous anymore. I laughed a few times, I even shared a story about my childhood, and we all laughed about it.

It all went well until a noise started outside the hall.

At first, it was just shouting. Faint but sharp, but then the noise grew louder.

Heads began to turn towards the direction of the sound at the entrance. Something was happening outside the hall.

“What's happening out there?” someone whispered.

Ryan became tense beside me. He placed his glass down and took mine as well, setting it on a nearby table.

“Stay here,” he said gently.

I had a strange feeling. I knew who the intruder was even before I saw him.

Ethan.