Chapter Eight
1000 Words
Chapter Eight
The Charity Gala
Aurora spent the entire weekend trying not to think about Lorenzo.
Unfortunately, her brain refused to cooperate.
Every time she opened a book, she remembered his message.
Were you worried about me?
The worst part?
She still hadn't replied.
Not because she didn't know what to say.
Because she knew exactly what she wanted to say.
And that was the problem.
"Aurora."
She looked up.
Lily was staring at her from across the table.
"What?"
"You just smiled at your phone."
Aurora immediately locked the screen.
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I was reading."
"Your textbook isn't on."
Aurora groaned.
Lily grinned.
"I knew it."
"Know what?"
"You're in trouble."
Aurora rolled her eyes.
"I'm not in trouble."
"Oh, you're definitely in trouble."
Monday morning arrived with far too much energy.
Aurora had barely stepped onto campus when she spotted Lorenzo near the business building.
He was talking to a group of students.
The moment he saw her, his attention shifted.
Aurora's stomach did something strange.
She chose to ignore it.
Completely.
Lorenzo excused himself and walked over.
"Good morning."
Aurora nodded.
"Morning."
His gray eyes studied her carefully.
"You're avoiding me."
Her heart skipped.
"I am not."
"You didn't answer my message."
Aurora immediately regretted stopping.
"That's because there was nothing to answer."
A smile tugged at his lips.
"So you were worried."
"No."
"You hesitated."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Aurora narrowed her eyes.
"You enjoy this way too much."
"I really do."
To her annoyance, she started laughing.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The comfortable silence surprised her.
A few weeks ago, she barely knew him.
Now she found herself looking forward to these conversations.
That realization was slightly alarming.
Lorenzo cleared his throat.
"What about the gala?"
Aurora blinked.
"The gala?"
"The invitation."
Right.
That.
She had almost forgotten.
Almost.
Lorenzo folded his arms.
"Well?"
Aurora sighed.
"You don't give up easily, do you?"
"No."
"I noticed."
A smile appeared on his face.
"So you'll come?"
Aurora pretended to think about it.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
The smile that followed caught her completely off guard.
For a second, he looked genuinely happy.
And somehow, that made her smile too.
By Friday evening, Aurora was beginning to regret agreeing.
Not because of Lorenzo.
Because of Lily.
"Stand still."
"I am standing still."
"Not well enough."
Aurora laughed as Lily adjusted a loose strand of hair.
The two of them stood inside Aurora's apartment.
Clothes were scattered everywhere.
Shoes covered half the floor.
The entire place looked like a fashion disaster.
"You realize this is a charity gala, not a royal wedding."
Lily pointed a brush at her.
"Exactly."
Those words made Aurora pause.
Royal.
The secret she had worked so hard to protect.
For a brief moment, unease settled in her chest.
What if someone recognized her?
What if—
"No thinking."
Aurora blinked.
"What?"
Lily smiled.
"Tonight you're going to have fun."
An hour later, Aurora stood outside the grand entrance of the Blackthorn Charity Foundation Hall.
The building sparkled beneath thousands of lights.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Elegant guests filled the steps.
Aurora suddenly felt underdressed.
And very tempted to leave.
Before she could act on the idea, a familiar voice spoke behind her.
"You came."
She turned.
And forgot what she was about to say.
Lorenzo looked annoyingly handsome.
His black suit fit perfectly.
His dark hair was neatly styled.
The confidence he carried made it impossible not to notice him.
Aurora hated that she noticed.
"You seem surprised."
"A little."
She laughed.
"You invited me."
"True."
His eyes lingered on her for a second.
Long enough to make her nervous.
"You look beautiful."
Aurora froze.
The compliment wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't rehearsed.
That somehow made it worse.
"Thank you."
For the first time all evening, Lorenzo looked slightly uncomfortable.
Almost as if he wasn't used to giving compliments.
The realization made her smile.
The gala was larger than Aurora expected.
Music drifted through the ballroom.
People chatted in small groups.
Business leaders, politicians, investors, and influential families filled the room.
Aurora quickly realized she knew more faces than she wanted to.
The downside of growing up royal.
Thankfully, most people didn't recognize her.
At least not immediately.
For a while, things felt normal.
Aurora and Lorenzo talked.
They laughed.
They wandered through the event together.
At one point, Lily texted her:
Still alive?
Aurora smiled.
Unfortunately.
Lily's reply arrived instantly.
Take a picture. I need evidence.
Aurora nearly laughed out loud.
As the evening continued, Lorenzo stepped away to greet a business associate.
Aurora used the opportunity to grab a glass of sparkling water.
She had barely taken two steps when someone spoke behind her.
"Princess Aurora."
The glass nearly slipped from her hand.
Her heart stopped.
Slowly, she turned around.
A man in his sixties stood there.
Elegant suit.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
And a look of recognition she couldn't mistake.
Aurora's stomach dropped.
She knew him.
Lord Whitmore.
An old family acquaintance.
One of the few people capable of recognizing her instantly.
"Lord Whitmore."
His smile was polite.
Too polite.
"Your Highness."
Panic flickered through her chest.
Not here.
Not tonight.
Not when Lorenzo was only a few feet away.
"Please," she said quietly.
"Not here."
The older man's expression changed.
The amusement disappeared.
In its place came concern.
Genuine concern.
"Aurora."
The use of her name immediately caught her attention.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"What happened?"
Lord Whitmore glanced around the crowded ballroom.
Then lowered his voice.
"There are people at this event you should not trust."
Aurora frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before he could answer, Lorenzo started walking back toward them.
Lord Whitmore noticed.
His expression darkened.
"Aurora."
Her pulse quickened.
"What?"
The older man looked directly into her eyes.
And quietly said:
"Your family is in danger."
Aurora felt the blood drain from her face.
Across the room, Lorenzo was getting closer.
Completely unaware that everything was about to change.
- Writer
