REVA
Dinner wound down, and the air in the room shifted... buzzing with excitement as the live band took their place onstage. The lead singer stepped forward, his voice ringing out clear and confident as the band launched into an upbeat Christmas pop song.
The crowd clapped along, some even singing, their voices rising in joyful, slightly off-key unison, and I found myself smiling as I clapped with them, letting the infectious holiday energy finally seep into my bones.
Throughout dinner, I noticed Nikolai watching me, his stare heavy and persistent. Hours ago, his scrutiny might have unraveled me, but tonight it only strengthened me because I held the upper hand of knowing exactly where his man was and what he was doing, while Nikolai scanned the door, waiting.
He had gone out about
