Chapter 1

Elara’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She grabbed it, hoping it was finally him. It was their three-year anniversary, and she hadn't heard a word from Alexander all day.

The message was from an unknown number. It was just an address: [The Grand Vanguard Hotel. Ball room]

"A surprise," Elara whispered. Her heart was thumping. "He didn't forget."

Without a second thought, she rushed to the shower. Alexander was the perfect boyfriend. He had been her senior in college, and even though they lost touch, he had searched for her years later just to ask her out.

Since then, he had been the most romantic man she’d ever known. He always remembered the little things and showered her with gifts.

As she washed her hair, a huge thought hit her: 'Is he going to propose?'

She jumped out and put on a white dress she had been hiding in the back of her closet. She had bought it specifically for this moment. It was the dress she wanted to be wearing when he asked her to be his wife.

When she arrived at the hotel, her jaw dropped. The entrance was packed. There were luxury cars, red carpets, and photographers everywhere.

'Is this all for us?'she wondered. 'Did he throw a massive party to tell the world he’s marrying me?'

She walked up to the heavy glass doors. A large security guard stood there with a guest list.

"Name?" he asked.

"Elara Smith," she said, her voice shaking with excitement.

The guard looked at his list. He looked again. He frowned and shook his head. "You’re not on here."

Elara’s smile fell. "There’s a mistake. I’m with Alexander Sterling. He’s the one hosting this, right?"

"Mr. Sterling is inside," the guard said coldly. "But your name isn't on the list."

"Can you just call him?" Elara begged. "Tell him Elara is here. He probably just forgot to add my name."

"I can’t call him, and I won't," the guard snapped, stepping in her way. "If you don't have an invite, you need to leave. You're blocking the real guests."

Through the glass doors, a tall figure moved past the lobby. Elara froze. It was him. Even from a distance, she knew the sharp line of his jaw and the way he carried himself.

"Alexander!" she screamed.

The security guard grabbed her arm. "Ma’am, keep it down or I’ll have to remove you."

"Alexander! Alex!" she yelled again, louder this time, her voice echoing off the marble walls.

The man inside stopped. He turned, his eyes searching the crowd until they landed on her. For a split second, a flash of fear crossed his face. He held a glass of dark wine in one hand, looking every bit like the powerful CEO he had become.

He was strikingly handsome, with dark, neatly styled hair and deep eyes that usually warmed when they saw her. He was tall, filling out his expensive black suit perfectly, looking like he belonged in a magazine.

"Elara?" he called out, his voice low.

The guard immediately let go of her arm. Elara didn't wait. She burst through the doors and ran toward him, her white dress fluttering. She reached him and threw her arms around his neck, her face glowing.

"I thought I had the wrong place for a second!" she laughed, squeezing him tight.

Alexander didn't hug her back. Instead, he pushed her off and stepped back, creating a gap between them.

"What are you doing here, Elara?" he asked. His voice wasn't the usually honey velvet she knew, it was hoarse and harsh.

Elara’s smile faltered. "What do you mean? You sent me the address. I thought... I thought this was for our anniversary."

She started to reach for him again, but her head whipped around when a shrill, familiar voice pierced the air.

"Baby! There you are!"

Elara froze. She knew that voice. It belonged to Vivienne, her best friend since college. Vivienne was walking toward them, dressed in full designer.

"Baby?" Elara spat the word like it was poison. She looked at Alexander. Her heart was hammering against her ribs. "What is going on, Alex?"

Alexander didn't look her in the eye. He stared at his drink. "I think you should go," he said quietly.

Vivienne stepped up beside him. She looked at Elara with a fake, pitying smile. "Didn't you hear him, Elara? You should leave."

The room went quiet. The wealthy guests paused their conversations.

There were whispers all over the room as people turned to stare. Elara felt the heat of a hundred eyes on her. She ignored them and stepped closer to Vivienne, her voice trembling with rage. "Vivi, what the fuck is happening here?"

Vivienne didn't flinch. She took a slow sip of her champagne and looked Elara up and down. "What’s happening is that you showed up to my birthday party wearing white. Why do you always have to be the center of attention, Elara? Is being a 'friend' not enough for you? You have to try and outshine the birthday girl, too?"

Elara gasped, her head spinning. "Your birthday? Alexander, tell her. Tell her we’ve been together for three years! Tell her why I'm really here!"

Alexander finally looked up, but there was no love in his eyes. Only a cold, distant stranger. "Go home, Elara," he repeated. "You’re making a scene."