Chapter 7 The Electric Secret

The clink of champagne glasses and the hum of string music filled the air, but all I could hear was the echo of his words from the balcony.

“This isn’t over.”

Those words haunted me as I moved through the sparkling crowd, Charles’ hand holding mine too tightly, his smile plastered on for the world. I pushed my lips to curve, my laugh to ring out, but inside, my chest was caving in.

And then there he was again. Nathaniel.

Standing across the room, a storm hiding beneath his polished appearance. His eyes found me instantly, sharp and electric.

Charles leaned close, whispered in my ear. “Smile, Ava. Everyone’s watching.”

I obeyed, my lips twitching into something fragile. But when Nathaniel stepped forward, joining the group of people around us, the room shrank.

“Mr. Donovan,” he greeted smoothly, extending his hand. “Always a pleasure to see you.”

Charles smirked. “Cross. I’d say the same, though I’m not fond of men who poach my contracts.”

The nearby guys laughed, oblivious to the venom behind the words.

Nathaniel’s gaze flicked to me briefly, staying a second too long. “Perhaps I only win because I play fair.”

Charles’ eyes narrowed, his grip on my waist tightening. “Fair doesn’t win empires.”

I lowered my glass before it spilled from my shaking hand. My voice was faint, polite. “Shall I fetch more drinks?”

Charles waved dismissively. “Yes, darling. Be useful.”

The group laughed again, and I slipped away, my heels clicking on the marble. My chest burned with shame, but before I could flee, a familiar voice brushed against my ear.

“Does it hurt, wearing his leash?”

I stopped cold, the tray of glasses wobbling in my hand. “Don’t,” I whispered. “Not here.”

Nathaniel was beside me, close enough that only I could hear. “Then when? When will you stop pretending?”

“I can’t,” I hissed, my throat thick. “You don’t understand.”

“I understand perfectly,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re terrified. But you’re not dead inside anymore, are you?”

His words cut straight through me. I stumbled back, connecting with a waiter. Crystal shattered, and every head turned.

Charles was there in an instant, his face stormy. “Ava! What is wrong with you?”

Heat crawled up my neck. “II tripped”

“Pathetic,” he mumbled, grabbing my arm. His smile returned for the crowd. “Forgive my wife. She’s not used to these shoes.”

Humiliation scorched my skin, but what burned hotter was Nathaniel’s look fixed on Charles, cold and deadly.

Later, forced back into the throng of guests, I felt Nathaniel’s presence near again. His words slid through the air like a blade.

“Every cage has a key, Ava. Even yours.”

“Stop,” I begged, my eyes locked on him. “You’ll ruin everything.”

“Maybe it needs to be ruined.” His tone was a quiet dare. “Maybe you need someone to burn it all down.”

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure the whole room heard it. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

He leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “I know exactly what I’m saying. And so do you.”

The music grew, couples beginning to dance. Charles tugged me into his arms, his grip uncomfortably tight. I moved stiffly, every step mechanical. My eyes wanderedsearching, deceiving meuntil they found Nathaniel standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching me with a hunger that stripped me bare.

Charles spun me, saying, “Keep looking at him like that and I’ll remind you who you belong to.”

Fear cooled my blood. I forced my gaze to the floor, blinking back tears. But even as I did, Nathaniel began moving through the crowd, weaving closer with each turn of the dance.

The song ended. Applause exploded. Charles released me only long enough to shake another guest’s hand. That was when it happenedNathaniel brushed past, his hand brushing mine.

A slip of paper pressed into my hand.

I nearly dropped it from the shock, but closed my hand, hiding it in the folds of my gown. My heart thundered, my breath shallow.

Charles turned back to me. “Smile, Ava.”

I did. But inside, fire and fear roared as one.

Hours later, in the safety of my changing room, I opened the note with trembling fingers. Four words, written in bold ink: This isn’t over.

I stared at the words until they blurred, my pulse racing with fear and a desire I couldn’t kill. Nathaniel Cross had thrown down his dare. And I knew, with frightening confidence, that nothing in my life would ever be the same again.