THE CHARITY BANQUET

“Vanessa, I swear, if you look like that all night, people will start whispering,” Damien said adjusting her dress with a teasing grin.

“I look good,” Vanessa said stepping back to regain her personal space. “And I don’t need you fussing over me.”

“Fussing?” Damien raised a brow, his smile widening “Vanessa, am not fussing. I’m just making sure the world doesn’t mistake you for some shy little lady who just crawled out of the prison.”

“shy?” she repeated with her voice sharp. “Do I look shy to you?”

“hmm maybe a little underneath all this perfection.” He tilted his head studying her “You know i expected you to glare at me the entire way here.”

“I’m not here for your entertainment Damien,” she said calmly and stepped forward to glance at the grand entrance of the banquet hall. “I’m here because this banquet is part of my mission ok.”

Damien groaned brushing a hand through his dark hair. “Mission, mission, mission when will I get to be part of this your mission?”

“You’re not part of this” Vanessa said purposely avoiding his stares as she readjusted the clutch in her hand.

“Ohh- see how it is,” Damien said leaning closer, “you think I won't be able to handle danger? You think I’m just here to look pretty in your shadow?”

“You’re not,” Vanessa said, voice sharp. “Stay in the background and do not interfere unless I ask you to.”

Damien chuckled “or what?”

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed “or you’ll regret it.”

“Good,” he said, hands raised innocently. “I love a woman with fire and i promise you’ll enjoy this party; I’ll make sure of it. But…” His voice dropped, intimate and teasing “don’t think i won’t keep an eye on you cause I always do.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes but did not argue any further because she knew arguing with Damien was like would be something else.

As they stepped inside, the guests’ chat reduced for a moment with all eyes on the striking duo entering the hall. Vanessa felt their stares with a mix of curiosity, admiration and barely concealed judgment.

“Don’t… stare,” Vanessa hissed under her breath. Damien chuckled softly “Relax and let them stare. It’s amusing.”

A tall man in a sharp tuxedo walked towards them bowing slightly “Mr. Xander, General Lucas, welcome. We we never expected we would see you tonight.”

“Expectations are overrated,” Damien replied calmly offering his arm to Vanessa “and she is with me.” Vanessa stiffened slightly but accepted the gesture. “I never needed your arm,” she mumbled.

“You like it,” he whispered just loud enough for the both of them to hear.

She ignored him scanning the room because her mission was clearly to locate the key political figures tied to the conspiracy and gather information, for every interaction mattered.

“Look who it is!” A voice cut through the hall. Vanessa froze as Jacob appeared across the room talking to some group of businessmen. He has not seen her yet but the tension between them was palpable.

Damien followed her gaze his jaw tightening “Shall I go deal with him?”

“No,” Vanessa said quickly adjusting her tone “I want to see his reaction myself.”

Jacob’s eyes suddenly locked on hers and for a moment the room seems not to exist around them. He took a small step forward, with his face full of surprise, guilt and something deeper she could not read.

“Interesting evening isn’t it?” Damien muttered leaning close.

“You know am not here for a social evening,” Vanessa whispered back.

Damien’s lips quivered “you always make things very complicated.”

Jacob approached them cautiously while keeping his distance “Vanessa…” his voice was low, almost hesitant. “I didn’t expect… you here.”

“You didn’t expect me anywhere,” Vanessa replied with a icy and cold voice “that has never changed has it?” Jacob swallowed. “No… I suppose it hasn’t.”

Damien stepped in slightly with a protective edge in his stance. “Don’t you have something to say Wilson? Or are you just admiring the view?”

Jacob’s eyes blinked briefly to Damien before returning to Vanessa. “I… I wanted to understand why it all happened.”

Vanessa’s gaze compacted. “now that you understand do you still need someone to spell it out for you?”

Jacob hesitated. “I… I thought I knew, but…” His eyes softened, filled with regret “i was wrong and i see that now.”

“Very good,” Vanessa said with her tone sharp and controlled. “I hope you saw it clearly enough for you to learn from it.”

“You don't want revenge?” he asked warily.

“Revenge is not my priority,” she replied “Justice is.”

Damien leaned in and whispered just for her “Be careful he is testing you.”

Vanessa’s lips curved slightly “i’m always aware.”

Across the room Lily James noticed Vanessa’s presence. Her smile was polite, but her eyes were calculating. She walked towards Jacob, her hand lightly on his arm “ is everything alright?” she asked so sweetly.

“Everything is fine,” Jacob said but his gaze kept moving back to Vanessa.

Lily’s smile tightened subtly “good I’d hate for anything awkward to ruin tonight’s event.”

Vanessa caught the exchange and felt a flicker of satisfaction. Lily’s attempt to assert control was evident and she would not succeed tonight.

Damien murmured in her ear, “Want me to introduce a little… chaos?”

Vanessa smirked faintly “not yet let’s wait and see how the evening goes.”

As they moved through the crowd Vanessa greeted key figures, keeping her composure while Damien stayed close like a shadow guardian.

A man approached, bowing slightly. “General Lucas, Mr. Xander, may I present you to Senator Albright?”

“Lead the way,” Vanessa said calmly ignoring Damien’s teasing glance.

The Senator extended his hand. “General Lucas, I’ve heard remarkable things about your truly extraordinary service.”

“Thank you Senator,” Vanessa replied, her voice polite but detached. “I’m here tonight for another purpose, though and there are matters I must attend to.

”The Senator’s brow lifted slightly. “I hope we can discuss them soon.”

Vanessa nodded. “Perhaps later.”

Behind her Damien’s hand brushed against hers “see? No one dares underestimate you.”

“I did not come here to impress anybody,” Vanessa said.

“No you are trying to survive,” Damien murmured with a hint of a smile at his lips.

A waiter approached with champagne. Damien grabbed a flute handing one to Vanessa. “to surviving, then,” he said softly.

Vanessa took it, her eyes scanning the room. “To surviving,” she echoed, with a faint smirk finally appearing.

Jacob observed them from across the room, his jaw tight. He had expected a defeated Vanessa. What he saw now was far more dangerous: composed, alluring, and untouchable.

“You’re scanning the room too much,” Damien whispered. “Relax and enjoy the moment a little.”

“I don’t have the luxury,” Vanessa replied.

“Luxury?” he asked amused. “Sweetheart being this dangerous is a luxury and am sure no one else has it, so use it.”

Vanessa allowed herself a small private smile “one step at a time,” she said.

And with that the night began, a battlefield of glances with whispered words and silent calculations.

Every interactions and glances mattered because it could tip the balance. Vanessa moved like a shadow, with storm hidden behind her amber eyes. While Damien followed like a shadowy anchor.