The dance ended, but the tension in the room remained thick enough to cut with a diamond-encrusted knife. Alexander was immediately pulled into a conversation with a group of nervous-looking investors, though his hand lingered on my waist a second too long before he stepped away.
"Don't go far," he had murmured, his thumb brushing my spine. "I'll be right back."
I needed air. The combination of Alexander's overwhelming proximity, the judging stares of the elite crowd, and the furious glare Julian kept shooting my way was giving me a massive headache.
I slipped away from the main ballroom, seeking refuge in the dimly lit, opulent hallway leading to the restrooms. The quiet was a sudden, blessed relief. I leaned against the cool marble wall, taking a deep, shuddering breath, trying to ste
