The Arrival

The black sports car screeched to a sudden halt right at the hotel entrance. Valets in matching gold-trimmed vests rushed forward, pulling the door open for me. I stepped out onto the concrete, pausing just long enough to adjust my cuffs. The smooth fabric of my black silk shirt strained against my shoulders as I moved.

Instantly, flashbulbs blinded me. Photographers lined up behind the velvet ropes, tracking my every movement as I walked up the wide marble steps. I didn't glance at them. I kept my chin high, soaking in the attention.

I handed my silver invitation to the doorman. The man glanced down at the name, blinked in sudden recognition, and quickly bowed his head to usher me inside.

The ballroom was a suffocating sea of crystal chandeliers, clinking champagne glasses, and expensive designer dresses. At the far end of the room, standing beneath a massive floral arch, was Adrian Hayes. He wore a pristine white tuxedo, his arm wrapped tightly around his fiancée, Chloe.

I walked straight into the thick of the crowd.

"Who is that?" a woman whispered to her partner, turning her head so fast her diamond necklace caught the light as I brushed past her. "Is he an actor?"

Adrian was laughing at a guest's joke when his eyes swept across the room. He stopped mid-laugh. His entire body went completely rigid as his gaze locked onto me.

The champagne glass in Adrian’s hand tilted dangerously. The pale liquid poured right over his knuckles, dripping down to stain his white sleeve, but he didn't even blink. His mouth hung open. His eyes traced the sharp line of my jaw, the breadth of my chest beneath the silk, and the confident smirk playing on my lips.

"Noah...?" Adrian whispered.

The word was barely a breath, but I saw it shape on his lips. He took a sharp step forward, his boot clicking loudly against the marble floor. He completely let go of Chloe’s arm, leaving her standing there in shock. His face went entirely pale, his chest heaving as he stared at the ghost from his past.

I didn't slow down. I walked right past him, intentionally letting my shoulder brush against his white tuxedo. I didn't look back.

Adrian spun around instantly to follow me, his hand reaching out blindly to grab my arm. "Noah, wait—"

"There you are."

A deep, commanding voice cut through the chatter of the ballroom. Julian Vance stepped out from the private VIP lounge, his security guards trailing behind him. The billionaire ignored every wealthy investor trying to catch his eye and stopped directly in front of me with a sharp, possessive smile.

Julian stepped deep into my personal space, his dark eyes locked onto mine. He didn't even glance at the crowd whispering around us. He reached out, his large, calloused hand wrapping firmly around my waist, pulling my hips flush against his.

"You kept me waiting," Julian murmured, his voice low, smooth, and completely dominant.

Right behind us, Adrian froze. His hand was still raised in the air, inches away from where my arm had just been. He stared at Julian’s hand wrapped tightly around my waist. Adrian’s knuckles turned entirely white as his hands balled into tight, trembling fists.

"Julian," Adrian said, his voice straining to sound polite, though it cracked under the pressure. "I didn't know you knew... Noah."

Julian finally turned his head, looking down at Adrian with pure, cold indifference. "Noah is my personal guest tonight, Hayes. Is there a problem?"

Adrian looked between Julian's bruising grip on my hip and my calm, unbothered expression. The golden boy’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek.

"No," Adrian choked out, his eyes burning as they fixed onto mine. "No problem. I just... we used to go to school together. Noah, we need to talk."

Adrian took another step forward, completely ignoring the fact that his own fiancée was now watching us from a few feet away with a deeply confused, frowning expression.

I finally looked at Adrian. I didn't smile. I didn't look angry. I just let him see how amused I was by his desperation.

Before I could say a word, a sudden commotion exploded near the main entrance of the ballroom. Flashes from dozens of media cameras lit up the hallway as security guards struggled to keep the press back.

Leo Sterling, the nation's biggest actor, walked into the room. He ignored the managers and wealthy guests trying to greet him, his sharp blue eyes scanning the crowd wildly until they landed directly on me.

A bright, playful smirk spread across Leo's face. He walked straight toward the three of us, completely ignoring the billionaire's dark glare and Adrian's furious expression.

"Found you," Leo called out loudly, making half the ballroom turn to look at what he was tracking.