"Kendella thought she owned the night. She was about to learn otherwise."
My lips parted to reply, but the sharp click of heels on the marble floor froze my blood. Someone was coming.....
Kendella Delacroix stepped in like she owned the air itself—glossy blonde curls falling perfectly over her shoulder, a white coat draped around her as if the world existed just to match her wardrobe.
Her gaze landed on Kieran first. Then me.
"Wait… you?" Her voice dripped venom. "You're the waitress from that gala. The one whose little brat ruined my dress."
She sneered, letting her eyes travel down me. "New clothes. Cute. But… how'd you afford them?"
Then Kendella's gaze slid to Kieran, softening into an innocent, practiced smile as she slipped her hand around his arm.
"You didn't tell me your new assistant was a… familiar face."
Kieran's brows knit. Recognition flashed—he realized we knew each other. But from where? The thought flickered across his sharp mind, and just as quickly, the mask returned. Cold. Controlled. Unreadable.
Kendella smirked, sensing the subtle shift.
"Small world, isn't it?" she purred. "Or maybe… fate likes to recycle the help."
Her fingers tightened on his arm—a silent, possessive claim.
"You'll have to be careful with this one, darling. She has… a way of attracting attention."
I forced my shoulders back, forcing my stomach to stop twisting.
M
Finally, Kieran's low voice cut the air like a knife.
"Enough, Kendella."
He turned toward me, the fire I'd felt earlier replaced by ice.
"Prepare the proposal draft. You'll deliver it personally."
I nodded, gathering my things as fast as my shaking hands would allow, desperate to escape.
The elevator doors closed with a quiet click, and I finally exhaled, letting my trembling body slump against the wall.
Jealousy churned inside me, hot and sour. Kendella's hand on him, her laugh, the ease with which she acted like she belonged beside him—it all hit me like a punch to the chest.
Is that what he wants? A polished woman like her? Why did he pull me close then? Was it pity? Control? Or… something worse?
I caught my reflection in the mirror—cheeks flushed, lips parted, eyes wide. I pressed my hand against my chest, whispering to myself:
"You're just his employee. That's all you'll ever be."
But my heart didn't listen.
...….
I didn't have designer dresses. I didn't have heels. I didn't belong in Kieran's world. But the box on my bed told a different story: red silk, blood-red Louboutin heels, and a matching purse that felt alien in my hands. A note in Kieran's severe, angular handwriting was tucked inside: "Be ready by 8. No excuses."
I wanted to refuse. I wanted to hide in my own small, safe world. But curiosity—and a growing fear of his repercussions—pushed me forward. Slipping into the dress, then the heels, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The reflection shocked me. Not Aurielle the street-smart survivor, not Aurielle the invisible girl. This... this was someone else. Someone powerful. Someone dangerous.
The sleek black SUV arrived in front of my humble neighborhood building like a spaceship landing in a desert. All eyes turned. Neighbors gawked. Adrien's eyes sparkled with pride—"Mama… she's glowing," he'd said. Jason froze mid-step across the street, jaw tight, heart thudding. He'd never seen me like this. Something unfamiliar stirred in him—awe, disbelief… maybe even desire.
Stepping into the isolation of the luxury car, every whisper, every glance, every gaze of judgment and curiosity from the street felt amplified. My pulse raced with a cocktail of fear and excitement.
By the time I reached Kieran's mansion, the sheer scale of the wealth was nauseating. Glittering chandeliers reflected off polished marble floors; champagne flowed in an endless stream; laughter echoed through the vast, impersonal halls.
Kieran found me immediately. He stayed close, his hand brushing the small of my back with a possessive heat. His voice, low and commanding, whispered in my ear: "Stay with me." My heart stuttered, a frantic bird trapped in my chest.
Kendella's smile faltered the instant she saw me in that striking red dress, a splash of vibrant defiance beside the man she clearly believed was hers. How dare she... the thought practically radiated from her. My presence was an insult she wouldn't tolerate.
The moment came when I was momentarily distracted by a cluster of investors discussing the stock market. Kendella made her move. With a sly, practiced glance, she slipped her heavy diamond necklace—the one she had clearly forced Kieran to buy for her—into my small clutch bag. I didn't even notice.
Seconds later, her shrill, engineered cry shattered the party: "Oh my god… my necklace! My necklace is gone! Everyone, close the doors! Search everywhere! This necklace… my fiancé got it for me! Do you know how much this cost?!"
Chaos erupted. Gasps and murmurs filled the room.
Kendella looked directly at me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips as she moved my way.
"Hey… nothing here," I said, holding my small clutch outward, utterly confused and naive.
Kendella's grin sharpened. "If there's nothing here, let's see." She reached a manicured hand into the bag and, with a flourish of malicious theater, triumphantly held the diamond necklace aloft, the gems sparkling under the chandeliers.
Shock ripped through the room. I gasped, frozen, speechless. Paparazzi flashes blinded me. No. I didn't do it. I didn't know how it got there. I would never steal.
"I knew she wasn't a good person. See Kieran." Kendella said.
I looked desperately at Kieran, who stood watching me, his face an unreadable mask. Would he believe me? Then I looked at the green-eyed woman I'd met the other day—Kendella's mother—who wore a look of profound disappointment.
I wanted to scream, to tell everyone I wasn't a thief. But the evidence was damning, and in this world, perception was everything.
"Security, take her away. The police will come pick her up," Kieran's father, Elias, commanded from the center of the room, his voice dripping with finality.
I felt strong hands grasp my arms. I looked to Kieran one last time, a silent plea in my eyes.