Seducing the enemy

Old flames and new faces

Chapter 9: Old Flames and New Faces

The office was unusually lively that afternoon. People flitted back and forth, buzzing about the upcoming company charity gala. Apparently, it was one of The Alcaster Corporation’s biggest annual events—an extravagant fundraiser attended by high-profile clients, board members, and just about everyone who wanted to be on the Alcasters’ good side.

“This is the year to make an impression,” one of the junior assistants whispered as she passed by my desk, her heels clicking against the floor.

“Are you going?” another asked, leaning over her cubicle.

“I have to. Ethan said everyone on his team needs to be there.”

The mention of Ethan’s name brought a noticeable shift in the room. I’d started noticing it more lately—the way people perked up when he walked through, the way conversations paused as heads turned to follow his every move. He had that effect on people, whether they liked him or not.

“Miss D’Angelo.”

I looked up to see Ethan standing at the edge of my desk, his expression calm but expectant.

“Sir?” I said, quickly standing.

“You’ll be attending the gala with me tonight,” he said simply.

“Of course,” I said, grabbing my notebook. “Do I need to prepare anything for you beforehand?”

He shook his head. “Just be ready. Seven sharp. Wear something formal.”

And with that, he turned and walked back toward his office, leaving me with a dozen questions swirling in my mind.

That evening, I arrived at the venue—a stunning ballroom that looked like something out of a fairytale. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a golden glow over the sea of perfectly dressed attendees.

I’d opted for a sleek black dress, simple but elegant, paired with heels that I was already regretting. As much as I tried to play it cool, I couldn’t help feeling out of place among the wealth and glamour.

“Relax,” Ethan said as he appeared beside me, his voice low and smooth.

I turned to see him in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, looking so effortlessly polished that I almost hated him for it.

“You’re late,” he added, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Blame the cab driver,” I said, brushing past him.

The room was alive with conversation and laughter as Ethan moved seamlessly through the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. I followed close behind, my role tonight as much about observation as support.

But then, as we moved toward the bar, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Elzeine?”

I turned sharply, my breath catching as I saw him. Jude.

“Jude?” I said, my voice rising in surprise.

In an instant, he was in front of me, pulling me into a tight hug. “It is you!” he said, his laughter warm and familiar. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing!” I said, unable to hide my smile. “How long has it been?”

“Too long,” he said, pulling back to look at me. “You look amazing. What’s going on in your life? What are you doing now?”

Before I could answer, I felt the air shift.

Ethan had stepped up beside me, his presence commanding even without a word. His gaze flicked to Jude, his expression unreadable.

“And who’s this?” Ethan asked, his tone polite but cold.

“Jude Carter,” Jude said, extending a hand. “Elzeine and I go way back.”

Ethan shook his hand, his grip firm. “Ethan Alcaster. Elzeine’s employer.”

Something about the way he said it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Employer, huh?” Jude said, his grin widening. “I hope you’re not working her too hard.”

Ethan’s smile was tight. “She’s been an excellent addition to my team.”

“Good to know,” Jude said, turning back to me. “We need to catch up properly. Dinner soon?”

I hesitated, suddenly feeling both sets of eyes on me. “Sure,” I said finally.

Jude smiled. “I’ll text you. Don’t ghost me this time.”

As he walked away, I turned back to Ethan, whose jaw was noticeably tight.

“Old friend?” he asked, his voice low.

“From college,” I said, keeping my tone casual.

“I see.”

He didn’t say more, but the tension in his posture spoke volumes.

Later in the evening, as the gala wound down, another complication walked into the picture.

“Ethan!”

The voice was feminine, confident, and annoyingly familiar with him. I turned to see a tall blonde woman approaching, her designer dress hugging her figure perfectly.

“Savannah,” Ethan said, his tone softening slightly as she leaned in to kiss his cheek.

I felt an unfamiliar pang in my chest, one I quickly pushed aside.

“You look amazing,” Savannah said, her voice warm but calculated as her gaze flicked briefly to me. “Who’s this?”

“Elzeine D’Angelo,” Ethan said. “My assistant.”

Savannah’s smile widened, and I immediately disliked it. “Ah, the famous assistant. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Good things, I hope,” I said, forcing a polite smile.

“Of course,” she said, her tone sweet but insincere. “Ethan can’t stop singing your praises.”

The rest of the conversation was a blur of polite small talk, but my attention kept shifting to the way Savannah’s hand lingered on Ethan’s arm, the way her laugh was just a little too loud.

By the time she finally left, I was ready to scream.

“She’s… interesting,” I said carefully.

Ethan glanced at me, his lips twitching in what might have been amusement. “She’s an old family friend.”

“Very close, it seems.”

“She’s… complicated,” he said, his tone quiet.

We fell into a tense silence, the air between us charged with everything we weren’t saying.

“I should probably get going,” I said finally, turning to leave.

“Elzeine.”

I stopped, glancing back at him.

“Thanks for tonight,” he said, his voice soft. “You handled yourself well.”

I nodded, my chest tightening as his eyes lingered on mine. “Goodnight, Ethan.”