The Gala Dress
987 Words
Elara regretted agreeing to the gala the moment she walked into her apartment that evening.
“What exactly is wrong with me?” she muttered, dropping her bag onto the couch.
Her phone buzzed almost immediately.
Priya.
Elara answered reluctantly. “What?”
“So,” Priya said dramatically, “I just heard you’re attending the Laurent Foundation Gala with Caleb Morrow.”
Elara froze. “How do you people know everything?”
“Office gossip travels faster than light.”
Elara rubbed her forehead tiredly. “It’s not a date.”
“Mhm.”
“It’s business.”
“Mhm.”
“You’re incredibly annoying.”
Priya laughed loudly. “Okay, serious question. What are you wearing?”
Elara glanced toward her closet.
“…I don’t know.”
“You? Not knowing what to wear? Caleb Morrow is definitely destroying your emotional stability.”
“Goodnight, Priya.”
She ended the call before more teasing could happen.
But unfortunately, Priya wasn’t entirely wrong.
Elara had no idea what this gala was anymore.
Business event?
Public appearance?
Or something far more personal?
That uncertainty followed her into Thursday evening when she finally stood inside one of the most expensive designer boutiques in the city.
“This one would look incredible on you,” the saleswoman said, holding up a silver gown.
Elara stared at herself in the mirror, distracted.
Her thoughts kept returning to Vanessa.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Clearly part of Caleb’s world.
The realization bothered her more than it should have.
“Miss Voss?”
Elara blinked. “Sorry. What?”
The saleswoman smiled politely. “You seem nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
The woman gave her a knowing look but wisely didn’t argue.
After another thirty minutes, Elara finally chose a dark emerald gown that fit perfectly without trying too hard. Sophisticated. Elegant. Dangerous enough to make a statement.
Unfortunately, the moment she stepped outside the boutique, rain began pouring heavily across the city.
“Perfect,” she muttered.
As she reached for her car keys, a black luxury vehicle suddenly stopped in front of her.
The back window lowered slowly.
Caleb.
Elara stared at him in surprise. “Are you following me now?”
“Get in.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s raining.”
She glanced at the storm around them before reluctantly opening the door and sliding inside.
The warmth of the car instantly surrounded her.
Caleb looked her over briefly, his eyes pausing for half a second too long on the dress bag beside her.
“You found something to wear.”
Elara narrowed her eyes. “You sound relieved.”
“I was slightly concerned.”
She laughed softly despite herself. “You’re unbelievable.”
The driver quietly pulled back onto the road while rain tapped against the windows.
For a few minutes, silence filled the car comfortably.
Then Caleb spoke again.
“You’ve been avoiding me since Tuesday.”
Elara looked out the window. “I’ve been busy.”
“That excuse is becoming repetitive.”
She crossed her arms slightly. “Maybe because you keep appearing everywhere.”
A small smile touched his face. “Fair point.”
The city lights reflected softly across the glass between them.
Elara glanced toward him carefully.
“You and Vanessa seem close.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Caleb turned slowly toward her.
Interesting.
That single look made her instantly regret asking.
“She’s an old family friend,” he answered calmly.
“Oh.”
Silence.
Then Caleb added quietly, “You sound disappointed.”
Elara immediately looked away. “I was just asking.”
“You were jealous.”
“I absolutely was not.”
His amusement became visible now.
And annoyingly attractive.
“You still react emotionally before thinking logically,” he said.
“You enjoy this far too much.”
“Probably.”
Elara sighed dramatically and leaned back against the seat.
This man had become impossible.
“What about you?” she asked suddenly. “Did you date anyone serious after university?”
Caleb was quiet for a moment.
Then he answered honestly.
“No.”
Her eyes shifted back toward him. “Seriously?”
“I was busy building a company.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“It probably was.”
Something about the answer felt strangely personal.
More personal than either of them intended.
The car stopped at a red light while rain continued pouring outside.
For a brief moment, the city around them disappeared into silence.
Then Caleb spoke again.
“You know what I realized recently?”
Elara looked at him carefully. “What?”
“You never actually knew me back then.”
The quiet honesty in his voice caught her attention immediately.
“You decided who I was before I ever spoke,” he continued calmly. “Poor. Quiet. Forgettable.”
Guilt pressed softly against her chest again.
She looked down briefly. “Caleb…”
“But the strange part?” he added.
Her eyes lifted slowly back to his.
“I still noticed everything about you.”
The air inside the car suddenly felt too warm.
Elara’s heartbeat quickened painfully.
The way Caleb looked at her now felt nothing like revenge.
It felt worse.
Because it felt real.
The driver finally stopped outside her apartment building.
Neither of them moved immediately.
Then Caleb glanced toward the dress bag beside her.
“Wear the emerald dress Saturday night.”
Elara blinked. “How do you know it’s emerald?”
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
“I saw the color reflected in the mirror before you entered the car.”
She stared at him.
“You notice too much.”
“Yes,” Caleb replied quietly.
“I always did.”
And somehow, those four words followed Elara all the way into her apartment long after the car disappeared into the rain.
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