THE BILLIONAIRE’S BET

Chapter Two

Elena’s pov

The lights of the grand ballroom still glimmered behind me like an endless dream, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I leaned against the side corridor, the cool marble wall pressing into my back, and tried to even my breathing. My chest felt too tight, as if the bodice of my dress was strangling me, though I knew it wasn’t the dress, it was him.

Daniel.

I hadn’t said his name in months, maybe even a year, but the sight of him strolling through the gala with his hand wrapped around another woman’s waist had been enough to throw me into a spiral. It wasn’t just the fact that he was here. It was the smug smile he wore, the way his eyes had swept past me, like I was nothing more than a forgettable guest at a stranger’s event.

I pressed my hands against my face and whispered, “Get it together, Elena. Just a few more hours and you’re done.”

As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my clutch. I fumbled it out, grateful for the distraction, and saw Sophia flashing across the screen.

I answered quickly. “Sophie?” My voice cracked.

“Elena! Hey, how’s it going over there? Everything is still in one piece?” Her voice was bright, casual, like she was sprawled on our couch with a glass of juice, not realizing her younger sister was currently in the middle of a meltdown.

I let out a laugh that sounded more like a choke. “In one piece? Barely. Sophie, what kind of gala did you send me to supervise? You forgot to mention a very important detail.”

“Detail?” she asked cautiously.

“Yes, detail! My ex is here,” I hissed, pacing the length of the hallway. “With his girlfriend. His perfectly stunning, plastic-doll girlfriend, who looks like she was sculpted just to torment me.”

There was silence, then a low whistle from her. “Oh. That’s… inconvenient.”

“Inconvenient? Sophie, I’m two seconds from throwing this champagne flute at the chandelier and running for the hills. I cannot do this.”

“Listen,” she said firmly, her voice slipping into that calming, big-sister tone she always used whenever I spiraled. “Breathe. You just need to push through this evening. According to the event schedule, the gala will be winding down in about an hour. One . You can survive an hour.”

I stopped pacing, inhaling sharply. “I don’t know if I can. He saw me, Sophie. He looked right through me. Like I was the coat check girl or-”

“Elena,” she interrupted, “you’re not the coat check girl. You’re supervising this gala. You’re the reason those tables are aligned, the music is flowing, and the guests aren’t rioting over cold hors d’oeuvres. Hold your head high. Smile. Pretend he doesn’t exist. You can fall apart later when you get home, okay?”

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting her words wash over me. “Fine. But if I collapse in front of the dessert table, you’re responsible.”

Sophie laughed softly. “Deal. Now, go finish strong. Call me when you’re done.”

We hung up, and I forced myself to step back toward the glittering chaos of the ballroom. I was halfway to the back corner where a servant was waiting for instructions when fate decided to test me again. Come on, not now universe!!

“Elena?”

That voice. Smooth, smug, unforgettable.I froze, my fingers curling into fists before I turned. And there he was Daniel. He looked almost exactly the same: tall, broad-shouldered, hair styled with that infuriating perfection he always prided himself on. But what made my stomach twist was the woman clinging to him. She was breathtaking in a silver dress, her lips painted crimson, her eyes scanning me with polite curiosity.

“Elena, I thought that was you,” Daniel said with a smile that once melted me but now only burned. “It’s been… what? Two years?”

“Something like that,” I said flatly, praying my voice didn’t betray how hard my pulse was pounding.

“This is Clarissa,” he said, gesturing at the woman beside him. “My girlfriend.”

Clarissa extended a delicate hand. “Nice to meet you.”

I shook it quickly, forcing a tight smile. “Likewise.”

“So,” Daniel continued, “what brings you here tonight? Surely not just as a guest?”

My jaw clenched. Of course, he would assume I couldn’t possibly belong here in any real capacity. “I’m working,” I said coolly. “Supervising, actually."" Making sure everything runs smoothly.”

“Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Interesting career choice.”

The implication in his tone made my skin prickle. Before I could respond, he leaned closer, lowering his voice. “You were always good at cleaning up other people’s messes.”

I opened my mouth, fury rising, when suddenly a deep, unfamiliar voice cut in.

“There you are, darling. I’ve been looking all over for you.”

I blinked as a tall man in a tailored black suit appeared at my side. He slipped an arm casually around my waist, his grip firm but not intrusive, and smiled at Daniel with easy confidence.

My mystery man. The same one I had accidentally bumped into earlier in the evening. His dark eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked between Daniel and Clarissa.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he continued smoothly, “but I couldn’t bear to be away from her any longer.”

Heat rushed up my neck. My supposed boyfriend?

Daniel’s smile faltered. “And who are you?”

“Her boyfriend,” the stranger said easily, extending his free hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Daniel shook it reluctantly. “Right. Well… congratulations, I guess.”

Clarissa gave me a sympathetic smile before tugging Daniel’s arm. “We should go find our table, love.”

As they walked away, Daniel cast one last glance at me, his jaw tight. For the first time all night, I felt the upper hand tilt in my direction.

The moment they were out of sight, I pulled away from the stranger’s arm, turning to him with wide eyes. “What was that?”

He grinned. “A rescue mission. It looked like you needed one.”

I exhaled sharply, part of me embarrassed but mostly relieved. “Well, thank you. That was actually what I needed.”

“You’re welcome,” he said lightly. “Though I should probably charge a fee for fake boyfriend services.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t push your luck.” I started to turn, eager to escape before my cheeks gave away how flustered I was, but he caught my wrist gently.

“Wait,” he said. “You never told me your name.”

I hesitated, searching his face. His smile was infuriatingly charming, as if he already knew I wasn’t going to answer. “I didn’t,” I said finally, tugging my wrist free.

He chuckled, unfazed. “Mysterious. I like it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious. “Are you some kind of freak?”

His laugh echoed behind me as I walked away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me smile.

By the time the gala ended and the last of the glittering guests swept out into the night, my nerves had steadied. I wasn’t the trembling wreck who’d hidden in a corridor hours earlier. I’d survived Daniel, endured Clarissa’s perfect lipstick smile, and even managed to laugh under my breath at the memory of my mystery rescuer’s grin.

When I finally stepped through the front door of our apartment, the smell of Sophie’s vanilla candles wrapped around me like home. She was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone, and looked up with a grin.

“Well, well, look who survived the gala from hell.”

I dropped my clutch on the coffee table and collapsed beside her. “Barely survived. Sophie, it was a circus.”

“Tell me everything,” she said eagerly, tucking her legs beneath her.

So I did. I told her about bumping into Daniel, about Clarissa, about how he had the audacity to mock my job. I told her about the stranger swooping in to play my knight in a tailored suit. By the end, Sophie was doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach.

“And you just walked away without giving him your name?” she gasped. “Elena, you’re impossible!”

I couldn’t help laughing either, the tension finally breaking. “What was I supposed to do? He was smiling at me like he already had the upper hand. I wasn’t about to hand him over.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she teased.

We were still laughing when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then sat up straighter. “Oh! It’s from Mr. Blackwood’s secretary, the client who owned the gala.”

She opened the message, her eyes scanning quickly before lighting up. “Elena! He was satisfied with the event. He said everything was flawless. And,” She squealed. “My remaining pay just hit the account!”

I grinned, relief flooding me. “See? At least something good came out of tonight.”

“More than good,” she said, jumping up. “I’m getting you something tomorrow as a reward. You were my lifesaver tonight. Seriously, I owe you.”

I leaned back against the couch, smiling tiredly. “I’ll take chocolate cake. Lots of it.”

She laughed, grabbing a pillow and tossing it at me. For the first time that day, I felt lighter. Maybe tonight hadn’t been the disaster I thought.

Maybe, just maybe, it was the beginning of something else. If only I didn’t check my emails, would it hurt your universe if you granted me a stress-free day??? Ughhh