Starlight and Secrets

Chapter 2

The starlight hotel shone like a glass ornament against the skyline. Limousines purred at the curb with doors opening to let out men and women dressed in silk and tailored tuxedos.

Evie stood for a second or minutes to savor the scene when a security officer with a baton tapped on her shoulder.

“Catering services use the back,” he said. After looking at her a second time, she nodded and proceeded to take the back stairs.

Once inside, the kitchen was busy with the head chef giving orders in a loud voice.

"Evie! You are late," and, before she could offer an explanation, a champagne tray was handed to her with the instruction: “Make sure no one's cup runs out.” Which came as an order, not as a suggestion. She took the trade and walked through the large door into the ballroom.

It was a cathedral of decadence with chandeliers cascading like waterfalls. A grand pianist played the large piano in the corner, adding sweet music to the background.

Everywhere she turned, she saw sparkling jewels, people talking in hushed tones and people standing in groups that appeared as if they were conspiring to start a financial nuclear war.

And there he was in the corner at the edge of the crowd, Cassian Warren, her crush, the man she could only admire from a distance. He just stood there smiling with a glass of scotch in hand as the cameras flashed. The exclusive photographers were just doing their job, which was to take the photos of important dignitaries.

Evie drew a long steady breath and stepped into the ballroom of wealth. She moved like a wraith from those standing to those sitting. There were those dancing on the dance floor, but they didn't need drinks, did they? She went on and on, taking countless trips to the kitchen and back.

Richard Warren was across the room shaking hands with investors and senators, his laughter filling the air Evie wondered what types of jokes wealthy people make, probably some expensive jokes? She smiled. Nadia Patel and her parents stood close; she was draped in a red gown and nodding in unison.

Cassian Warren felt her eyes lingering on him once. Expectant and calculating, he looked at her but instead of a smile he was indifferent. He had learned for a while now that the only safe mask in a room like this was indifference.

Just then, a movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention, a waiter with a tray glittering with flutes of champagne and guests plucking glasses without meeting her eyes. She weaved through the crowd with eyes too alive for a place like this. He tried to frown and look away but his mind and eyes lingered for a while. Her uniform did little to cover her curves, and he took some time to notice every detail until she passed a cluster of women who appeared to be looking in his direction.

He took a sip from the glass and looked away, but in his mind the thoughts of having her lingered on his mind and, for some reason, he wanted her.

Evie too had noticed him staring at her. This made her wonder why. And the thought of it made her clumsy, her heart beat fast, she could not think straight, questions like ‘why was he staring at me’, ‘did I do something?’ flooded her mind. She hurried to a secluded corner in the kitchen to catch her breath.

Her heart racing, she swallowed hard.

“Evie!” came the head chef's voice.

“What do you think you're doing?” She continued." I told you to keep the champagne flowing. What are you doing here?

“Um, I am sorry,”….. She tried to apologize

“Why are there guests with empty flutes? Out of all the waiters here, you have the easiest job. I don't want to catch you slacking again, or you are out.”

“I'm sorry” she mumbled again.

This little pep talk didn't ease the tension she already felt. She took a deep breath, picked up another tray and headed out. Passing a few guests chatting indistinctly, she made her way through to the middle of the ballroom, trying hard not to be clumsy but the more she tried the more she was.

A figure she recognized stood directly in front of her. She could swear that he had appeared from nowhere. Her heart skipped a beat. It was Cassian directly in front of her. Her feet went cold, her head spun, but she couldn't just stand there. She made it to walk, but his gaze was on her. She tried moving past, but her step faltered. A glass toppled over, then a splash, then the shattering of the glass as it hit the floor.

The room froze for a moment, everyone wondering what would happen next. Evie was red with shame, “I’m…. I’m sorry,” she stuttered, trying not to look at him directly in the eyes. She tried to grab a napkin to clean up the damage.

But Cassian held her wrist not rough but firm. Evie forgot how to breathe. Her throat tightened. She swallowed hard, her face was hot with horror. I'm sorry she tried to speak again and, for one important possible moment, their eyes locked.

The silence in the room was deafening, her breathing became rapid.

"Let me," Cassian held her by the waist, leading her to the middle of the room.

“What are you doing”? Evie asked as she walked clumsily along.

“Saving you,” he replied simply.

A soft melody began playing in the background, Cassian held her close and for a moment everything seemed to come to a standstill.

She buried her head in shame and could smell his perfume. Cassian danced on swinging from right to left in calculated steps, camera lights kept flashing and the guests continued to wonder who this waitress was and why she was dancing with Cassian.

Jealousy filled the air, but to Richard, it was anger. He was infuriated but could not speak. He was drowning in disgust and in a second the music changed, and some guest performers joined the flooded dance floor, giving the audience an unforgettable performance with Cassian and the waitress in their midst.

The people cheered on. Nadia's parents were infuriated, but not at Cassian, but Nadia, that could have been her moment, at least for the camera. The dance went on for 5 minutes and, as far as Evie was concerned, this was the worst day of our life.

The music stopped and Evie tried to slip away with the dancers. Cassian's arms held on to her wrist as she tried to walk away. He held her by the waist and led her away from sharp eyes and whispering mouths to a corridor branched off from the ballroom dim and hushed.

“Sir, I should get back,” Evie said, sounding shaky.

“Don't,” his voice stopped her.

She swallowed hard. “Why?”

He looked at her, a kind of look that held a promise.

“I don't know,” he said admittedly.

Her chest rose sharply; she wanted to step back, reminding herself of who he was, but she couldn't move. The air thickened. Cassian's head bent over just enough, so his warm breath was felt over her cheek.

And for a split second she couldn't think. In fact, she didn't need to. She closed her eyes and closed the distance between them. at the moment, it felt heavenly she had kissed him, not just anyone but Cassian, a billionaire.

She should have resisted, but when his tongue brushed hers, when his hand slid from her back to the back of her cheek, she melted into him. They broke apart, both gasping, his forehead resting against hers.

“I shouldn't, God I shouldn't”

“Then, don't,” she whispered, her voice trembling with want.

And for the first time, his mask slipped completely, no billionaire, no heir, just a man whose hunger mirrored hers. Minutes later, they were in the elevator, then a door, then a room. Everything seemed to happen fast.

The suite's door clicked shut behind them. The world outside ceased to exist. He shrugged off his soaked jacket, put it aside and advanced slowly. She didn't move.

His hands copped her cheeks.

“You don't belong in my world, but right now I can't stop."

“Then don't,” breathed Evie.

And that was all it took. His mouth crashed into hers. This time, with no restraint, they stumbled backwards towards the bed, clothes slipping. The night became heat and Shadow whispered names and unguarded hunger. She lost herself in him as the space between them disappeared. That night at the starlight gala, Evie Marlowe surrendered to the man she should have feared the most. And from that point forward, everything changed.