Nick Carter stood near the heart of the grand event hall, surrounded by whispers wrapped in luxury suits and glowing crystal. The Elevate Expansion Gala pulsed with quiet tension — every handshake a contract, every glance a negotiation waiting to happen.
He tilted his glass, scanning the room casually — until he saw her.
Samantha.
She stood at the edge of the space, near the cascading glass sculpture that framed the hall's eastern wall. Her white silk dress clung to her like a signature. Sleek. Silent. Impossible to ignore.
Nick blinked, surprised to see her here of all places. The woman from the mall. Calm as snow but unreadable.
"Give me a minute, babe," he said softly to Kate, placing a light kiss on her cheek. He set his glass aside and walked over. She was deep in conversation with an investor from Dubai, but her eyes flicked to him as he stepped away.
Nick made his way through the crowd. Intentional. Measured.
