The city glittered beneath them as Simon’s car slid through the Makati traffic, its windows tinted enough to turn the outside world into a faint blur of lights. Olivia sat quietly beside him, her hands resting softly on the Yves Saint Laurent clutch Beatriz had chosen. The black gown she wore felt impossibly smooth against her skin, the silk whispering every time she shifted. Simon had yet to say anything about her appearance. He simply looked at her once before they left the penthouse, gaze unreadable, then offered his arm for her to take.
The gala was held at the Solaya Grand Pavilion. The entrance glowed like a jewel, chandeliers spilling gold across the marble steps. Black cars lined the drop-off area, each one delivering a name that could tilt markets, influence votes, or shape empir
