Navarro Corporation did not do simple.
Especially not for Christmas.
The grand ballroom of the Navarro-owned hotel shimmered like a winter dream brought to life. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, their lights refracting into a thousand tiny stars. Evergreen garlands wrapped around marble pillars, adorned with gold ribbons and silver ornaments. A towering Christmas tree stood at the centre of the hall, dressed in red, white, and gold, its lights blinking softly like a heartbeat.
Soft instrumental carols floated through the air, blending with laughter, clinking glasses, and the low hum of conversation.
It was a night meant to celebrate success, unity, and the closing of another year.
And almost everyone from Navarro Corporation was there.
Including the people whose lives had quietly tangled into something far more complicated than business.
Kael arrived first.
Or rather—Kael arrived with Clariss.
They entered the ballroom together, arms linked, perfectly composed. Kael wore a tailored black suit, his posture straight, and his expression calm and unreadable. Clariss, on the other hand, was dressed to conquer.
Her gown was silver, hugging her figure flawlessly, shimmering under the lights like liquid moonlight. Her hair was styled elegantly, every strand in place. She looked every bit the goddess people always described her as.
The murmurs began instantly.
"Is that… Clariss?"
"They came together."
"Are they finally official?"
"She's stunning."
"Perfect couple."
Clariss heard every word.
And she drank it in.
Her chin lifted slightly, her smile gentle but confident. This—this was her world. Admiration. Envy. Whispers of awe following her every step.
She leaned closer to Kael, her fingers tightening around his arm, satisfied.
But Kael wasn't listening to the crowd.
His eyes scanned the room instinctively.
Searching.
Waiting.
And then—
The doors opened again.
The room shifted.
It wasn't loud. There was no announcement.
Yet somehow, attention snapped toward the entrance like iron to a magnet.
Damian stepped inside.
He wasn't wearing a suit.
Instead, he wore a dark coat over a simple black shirt, sleeves rolled casually at his wrists. No tie. No stiffness. Just effortless confidence. The kind that didn't need polish to shine.
The cold, distant beauty people associated with him was still there—but softened. Warmer. Alive.
And beside him—
A woman in red.
The murmurs changed.
"Who is that?"
"She's beautiful…"
"Is she a model?"
Her dress was elegant yet understated, the deep red fabric flowing around her like a quiet flame. Her black curly hair framed her face softly, cascading down her shoulders. Her makeup was light, her smile gentle—but radiant.
She didn't look like she was trying.
She didn't need to.
Clariss' smile froze.
Her satisfaction shattered in an instant.
Because suddenly—no one was looking at her anymore.
Eyes turned. Heads tilted. Conversations paused.
And Kael—
Kael knew.
The moment he saw her.
His jaw tightened.
His hand clenched into a fist at his side, knuckles whitening as his teeth ground together.
Amara.
She looked… breathtakingly.
Not the shy woman in office attire.
Not the quiet girl who once followed his shadow.
But someone radiant.
Someone chosen.
Clariss felt it immediately.
The shift.
Kael's attention—no longer on her.
She followed his gaze, her breath hitching when she realized who the woman was.
"…So that's her," Clariss murmured.
People whispered openly now.
"Who is she?"
"She's with Damian?"
"They look good together."
A few tried to approach, curiosity burning bright—but Damian subtly stepped closer to Amara, his hand resting lightly at her back, shielding her without making it obvious.
Amara felt it.
The warmth.
The protection.
Her heart fluttered, and she glanced up at him instinctively.
"You okay?" Damian asked softly.
She nodded, smiling. "Just… overwhelmed."
"Stick with me," he said lightly. "I'll handle the crowd."
Before more speculation could erupt, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
"AMARA!"
AJ waved enthusiastically from across the room, practically bouncing as she rushed over.
The realization hit like lightning.
"That's Amara?!"
"No way."
"She looks so different!"
"Wow…"
Amara laughed softly, hugging AJ back.
And just like that—
The mystery ended.
The commotion settled when the host took the stage, microphone tapping lightly.
"Good evening, everyone! Welcome to Navarro Corporation's Christmas Party!"
Applause filled the room.
The night officially began.
The party unfolded with laughter, music, and games.
Teams were formed.
Cheers erupted.
And somehow—inevitably—Damian and Amara ended up as partners.
The first game was a holiday trivia challenge.
Damian leaned closer, murmuring, "You good with Christmas facts?"
Amara grinned. "Only if it involves food."
He chuckled. "Then we're doomed."
They lost by one point.
The second game involved passing ornaments using only elbows.
It was chaos.
At one point, Amara burst into laughter when Damian fumbled, the ornament dropping and rolling away.
"I'm sorry!" he laughed. "I'm terrible at this."
"You're trying too hard," she teased. "Relax!"
Her laughter rang clear, bright.
Kael watched.
Every laugh felt like a cut.
Clariss noticed too.
Her nails dug into her palm as someone whispered nearby—
"She's more beautiful than Clariss tonight."
Clariss' smile trembled.
Kael barely noticed her anymore.
His gaze kept drifting.
To Amara.
To the way Damian looked at her—like she was something precious.
The final game required pairs to decorate a mini Christmas tree blindfolded.
Damian tied the cloth over his eyes.
"You're guiding me," he said.
"Okay," Amara replied, suddenly nervous.
"Left."
"Left?"
"No—your other left!"
Laughter exploded around them.
Damian laughed too, reaching out instinctively—and his hand brushed hers.
They froze.
Just for a second.
Then Amara guided his hand gently.
"That's it," she whispered.
His chest tightened.
They won.
Applause erupted.
Damian leaned down slightly. "Guess we make a good team."
Amara smiled, cheeks warming. "I guess we do."
Across the room—
Kael couldn't look away.
Clariss followed his gaze, jealousy burning like acid.
Not just toward Amara.
But toward the ease between them.
The joy.
The way Damian never let Amara feel alone.
Later that night, the music softened.
Snow began to fall outside the tall glass windows, the city glowing beneath Christmas lights.
Damian stood beside Amara near the balcony, handing her a warm drink.
"Merry Christmas," he said softly.
She looked up at him.
"Merry Christmas."
Her eyes sparkled—not with confusion, not with pain—but with something new. Something hopeful.
For the first time in a long while, she wasn't thinking about the past.
She wasn't looking back.
She was here.
With him.
They stood side by side, watching the snow fall, shoulders brushing lightly.
Inside the ballroom—
Kael stood frozen.
Clariss' arm still looped through his.
But for the first time—
He felt utterly alone.
And under the glow of Christmas lights, surrounded by laughter and warmth—
Amara celebrated the season not with regret…
But with fluttering joy.
And winter, it seemed, finally learned their names.