chapter 4. the event

Bianca

The fundraiser was nothing short of extravagant. The venue, a sprawling glass tower overlooking the city, was filled with the most influential people in the tech world. The soft hum of polite conversations mingled with the clink of champagne glasses and the occasional laughter, and I couldn’t help but feel out of place.

I’d never been to an event like this, and the sleek, perfectly-dressed guests made me feel like I was wearing a neon sign that read newbie.

As I stood next to Dean, I tried my best to blend in, but my nerves were starting to show. I could feel the eyes of several people flicking toward me, whispering behind their hands.

Dean, however, was unfazed. He looked every bit the part—tall, impeccably dressed in a sharp tuxedo, his posture straight, exuding an effortless aura of authority. He’d been introduced to several donors, most of them nodding in acknowledgment of his presence, but he didn’t seem to care much about any of them. His focus remained on me.

“You look good tonight,” he said casually, his voice low as he offered me a glass of champagne.

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, trying to mask my nervousness. “Thanks. You clean up well, too.”

His lips twitched into something almost resembling a smile.

“Let’s mingle. I need you to meet a few people.”

I followed him through the crowd, trying to ignore the feeling of all those eyes on me. He led me to a small group near the back of the room, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a familiar face—a strikingly beautiful woman with dark hair that cascaded in waves down her back. She was effortlessly stunning, exuding an air of grace and confidence that I could barely comprehend.

This was Evelyn.

Dean’s ex-wife.

“Bianca, Evelyn,” Dean said smoothly, his voice low and controlled.

Evelyn’s gaze flicked over to me, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. There was a polite smile on her face, but the air between us was thick with an unspoken tension. She extended her hand toward me, and I took it, trying to steady my shaking nerves.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Bianca,” Evelyn said with a sweet smile, though there was a hint of something sharper lurking behind her words.

“You too,” I replied, my voice much smaller than I wanted it to be.

She studied me for a moment, her gaze lingering just a little too long. “I’ve heard so much about you.” The way she said it, I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or laced with something else.

Dean glanced between us, the slight flicker of tension in his eyes barely noticeable.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Evelyn,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I didn’t realize Dean’s personal life was such a hot topic around here.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, and I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Her gaze was sharp, piercing, and I could tell she was sizing me up.

Dean seemed to sense the slight shift in the air and stepped in. “Ladies, no need for any tension. Let’s enjoy the night.” He motioned to the rest of the group, attempting to steer the conversation into safer waters.

But the damage had already been done. I could feel the unease spreading through me, a cold chill creeping down my spine.

Evelyn, despite her friendly exterior, didn’t seem all that thrilled to meet me. And that made me nervous—more than I cared to admit.

After a few more forced pleasantries, I could feel the weight of the situation crushing me. The tension between Evelyn and me was palpable, and I wasn’t sure how much more of it I could handle.

“I’m going to step outside for a minute,” I said, excusing myself from the conversation.

Dean looked over at me, brow furrowing slightly, but he didn’t question me. He nodded, and I walked away, trying to put some space between myself and the uncomfortable atmosphere.

As I stepped outside onto the balcony, the cool night air hit me like a splash of cold water, and I sucked in a breath, letting the crisp air clear the fog in my head.It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I shouldn’t have felt like I was on display, but meeting Evelyn—the woman Dean had been married to—had thrown me off balance. She was everything I wasn’t. Graceful. Elegant. Beautiful in a way that made me feel small in comparison.

I leaned against the railing, watching the city lights twinkle below me.

“Bianca.”

I turned at the sound of Dean’s voice. He was standing in the doorway, his eyes scanning me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“Dean,” I said quietly, trying to act casual, even though my heart was pounding. “Just needed a break from all the… tension.”

He stepped closer, his gaze softening just a little. “You okay?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure I was. “I’m fine. Just needed some air.”

Dean leaned against the railing beside me, his presence oddly comforting. For a moment, there was a strange quiet between us. I could feel the tension easing, the chaos of the event fading into the background as we stood there together, surrounded by the cool night air.

“I didn’t expect Evelyn to be like that,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. “She’s… intimidating.”

Dean let out a low laugh, the sound deep and genuine. “She’s got that effect on people. Don’t let it bother you.”

“I don’t know how you did it.”

He raised an eyebrow, glancing over at me. “What do you mean?”

“Stay married to someone like that. She’s perfect.”

Dean looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before he gave a slight shrug. “We weren’t perfect. But we made it work for a long time.”

“I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like,” I muttered.

“Don’t think about it,” he said quietly. “You don’t need to. She’s not a part of your life.”

It was comforting, hearing him say that. For a brief moment, I felt a little bit of the weight lift off my shoulders.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

Dean gave me a small smile, a genuine one this time, before stepping closer and turning to face me fully. “Let’s go back inside, yeah? I don’t want you to get stuck out here alone.”

I nodded, pushing away the last remnants of my nerves. I wasn’t going to let Evelyn or anything else ruin my night.

Dean’s presence was oddly reassuring, and as we walked back into the event, I couldn’t help but feel the heat between us simmer just beneath the surface.

This was just the beginning, and I had no idea where I was heading