The party
1121 Words
The ballroom sparkle beneath crystal chandeliers, every corner dripping with wealth. Jane had only seen it in movies.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen stars, casting golden light over the hundreds of guests gathered inside. Men in expensive suits exchanged handshakes worth millions, while women draped in designer gowns moved gracefully across the polished marble floor.
Jane fought the urge to stare. Everything around her felt overwhelming. The most expensive gowns, the laughter of powerful people and the feeling that she did not belong to them.
She stood beside Richard, trying not to look as nervous as she felt.
“Stop staring,” Richard said quietly without looking at her.
Jane immediately looked away from the chandelier she had been admiring.
“I’m not staring.”
“You are.”
His deep voice carried a hint of amusement.
Jane rolled her eyes. “Sorry. Not everyone spends their weekends attending parties with billionaires.”
Richard adjusted the cuff of his black suit.
“Tonight, you’re my girlfriend. Act like it.”
Her heart skipped.
The words shouldn’t have affected her.
This was just part of his plan.
After witnessing the secret meeting weeks ago, Jane had become a target. Richard’s enemies were searching for any weakness they could exploit. Bringing her here as his girlfriend would make everyone believe she was under his protection and discourage questions about why she was always around him.
At least, that was the explanation he had given.
Jane forced herself to smile.
“Fine. I’ll play the role.”
Richard’s eyes moved over her.
For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered across Richard face. His gaze lingered a second too long before he looked away, as though he ‘d caught himself thinking something he shouldn’t.
The dark blue gown she wore hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair fell over her shoulders in loose waves, and for the first time in years, she actually felt beautiful.
Dangerously beautiful.
Especially when Richard kept looking at her like that.
His gaze hardened again.
“Stay close to me.”
“Yes, boss.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Before she could say anything else, Richard slipped an arm around her waist.
Jane froze.
The moment his hand settled on her waist, Jane entire body stiffened. She hated how aware she had suddenly become of him – his warmth, scent , and the steady strength in his touch.
Richard leaned closer.
She forced one a smile.
“Not like you’re attending a funeral.”
“Then stop touching me.”
A corner of his mouth lifted.
The sight shocked her.
Richard rarely smiled.
And somehow, seeing it made her stomach flutter.
The music changed as guests began drifting toward the dance floor.
Jane noticed people staring.
Not at Richard.
At her.
Whispers spread through the room.
Who is she?
Is that Richard Ashford’s girlfriend?
Since when does Richard date?
The attention made her uncomfortable.
Richard seemed completely unaffected.
He guided her through the crowd as if he owned the entire building.
Maybe he did.
A woman wearing a red dress suddenly stepped in front of them.
She was stunning.
Tall, elegant, and clearly familiar with Richard.
“Richard.”
Her smile was beautiful.
The look in her eyes wasn’t.
Jane immediately sensed the hostility.
The woman turned toward her.
“And who is this?”
“My girlfriend,” Richard answered before Jane could speak.
The woman’s smile faltered.
Only for a second.
But Jane noticed.
“So that’s the famous girlfriend everyone is talking about.”
Jane offered a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you.”
The woman’s eye swept over her Jane from head to toe before returning to Richard. The silent judgement in her gaze was impossible to miss.
Her attention remained fixed on Richard.
“Can we talk privately?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
The woman looked embarrassed.
Then angry.
She finally walked away.
Jane released a breath.
“Ex-girlfriend?”
Richard glanced at her.
“No.”
“She looked like she wanted to kill me.”
“She probably does.”
Jane frowned.
“That’s comforting.”
His hand tightened slightly around her waist.
“Get used to it.”
The warning sounded serious.
Jane followed his gaze across the ballroom.
Several men were watching them.
Not casually.
Carefully.
Their attention made her skin crawl. They weren’t simply curious, they where assessing and measuring her importance, and also searching for a weakness they could use.
A chill ran down her spine.
“Richard.”
“I know.”
The playful mood vanished immediately.
His entire posture changed.
Jane had seen it before.
The dangerous version of Richard.
The one everyone feared.
“Who are they?” she whispered.
“People who ask too many questions.”
Jane swallowed.
One of the men raised a glass toward Richard.
The gesture looked friendly.
The smile didn’t.
Richard’s expression remained unreadable.
“Stay beside me.”
Fear crept into her chest.
“Are we in danger?”
“Possibly.”
The honesty surprised her.
Richard never admitted weakness.
The man across the room continued watching her.
Not Richard.
Her.
As if trying to figure out why she mattered.
As if deciding whether she was worth targeting.
Jane’s pulse quickened.
Without thinking, she moved closer to Richard.
His eyes dropped briefly to her face.
Then, to the hand clutching his arm.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The noise of the ballroom seemed to fade away.
There was only the space between them.
Only the heat she felt whenever he looked at her.
Only the strange tension that had been growing for weeks.
Something dangerous.
Something neither of them wanted to name.
Richard reached up without warning and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed her skin, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. For a second, neither of them moved, and Jane hated how much the touch affected her.
The gesture was gentle.
Unexpectedly gentle.
Jane’s breath caught.
His gaze darkened.
For a second, it felt like the entire world had disappeared.
Then, a voice interrupted.
“Mr. Bright.”
The spell shattered.
Richard turned immediately.
A security guard stood nearby, his face tense.
“There’s a problem.”
Jane saw Richard’s expression harden.
The warmth vanished.
The guard leaned closer and whispered something into his ear.
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“What happened?” Jane asked.
His eyes met hers.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerous.
“Someone knows who you are.”
The blood drained from her face.
Across the ball room, a stranger stood near the bar, a glass in his hand. His eyes locked into hers, slowly, deliberately, and he smiled.
- Writer
