Her Blind Billionaire Daddy

Chapter 3: The Gala

[Xander's POV]

I hissed as the emptiness inside me became almost painful, a sensation I hadn’t expected, considering the discomfort that had gripped me throughout. My muscles burned, sore from the intensity of the moment, but that didn't matter. Nothing did. I'd never experienced anything like this before—this deep, primal yearning. It felt like an ache, pulling me toward her, something almost visceral, like it was carved into me. The isolation I’d so carefully built up, the walls I’d fortified around my heart—they crumbled in an instant. And now, it was suffocating. I’d spent years convincing myself I wanted this loneliness, but standing here, I could see how wrong I was.

I could still smell her. And for the first time in forever, I allowed myself to want more.

But the question burned at me, refusing to be ignored: who was she?

My phone buzzed suddenly, breaking my thoughts. I reached for it, dialing into the speaker system.

"Report," I demanded, my voice steady, masking the chaos bubbling just below the surface.

"Sir," came the voice of my assistant. "We’ve received word from the VossPack. They’re planning a move on GrayTech’s newest development. The situation is escalating rapidly."

Sophia Voss. The one woman I had always considered my rival. The alpha of VossPack, a force with enough power to challenge my pack. Our tension had been building for years. And now, it seemed she was making her move.

“Have them stand down,” I ordered coldly, forcing myself to shut out the thoughts of her—the woman who had made me feel something more than I ever allowed myself. I couldn’t afford distractions, especially not from a female alpha with a knack for playing dangerous games. "Tell them I’ll handle it."

"Understood," my assistant replied, before the line went dead.

[Gala at the opulent Grand Millenia Hotel]

The gala at the Grand Millenia Hotel was like a glittering spectacle, the sound of laughter and champagne glasses ringing through the grand ballroom. The chandelier’s soft glow illuminated the space, casting everything in a dreamy haze. Despite the buzz around me, everything felt distant, muffled by the weight of my thoughts. I couldn’t escape the suffocating presence of what had happened earlier. But then, the scent hit me.

'Sophia Voss.'

I could feel my fingers tighten around my champagne flute, the cold glass grounding me. But my senses were alive—sharper, more aware. The scent of pine mixed with something sweet—her. The air seemed to buzz around her, and I didn’t need to see her to feel it: the confidence radiating off her in waves, the sharpness of her mind, the way she owned every room she walked into. I could hear her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, and I knew she was near.

When she stopped before me, the tension between us thickened instantly. It felt like the air itself had become dense, charged with unspoken words. Even without seeing her, I could feel her gaze, the challenge in the arch of her brow. She was sizing me up as always, but this time, so was I.

“Xander Gray,” her voice slid through the space between us, smooth and with a hint of amusement. “I didn’t think I’d see you here tonight. You usually prefer the shadows, don’t you?”

I tilted my head slightly, the smallest of smiles pulling at my lips. I could hear the mockery in her voice, but it didn’t bother me. I was used to worse. “I don’t hide, Ms. Voss,” I replied, my voice low, controlled. “I just prefer to let others underestimate me. Makes victory all the sweeter.”

Her lips quirked, but the smile didn’t quite reach her voice. “Underestimating you? Hardly. You’ve built an impressive empire, despite…” She hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. “…certain limitations.”

I didn’t flinch. My posture remained unshaken, even though I couldn’t see her expression. “The only limitation I have is time. And I plan on making the most of it. GrayTech will win this contract. No matter what you think.”

The words were sharp, an unspoken challenge to everything she had built. I could sense it—the slight shift in her breathing, the tightness in her tone. She didn’t take losing lightly. But what unnerved her more than anything wasn’t my confidence. It was how my presence seemed to unsettle her, the way it threw off her usual control.

“I think you’re mistaken,” she replied, her voice cutting through the air, more confident now. “Voss Industries has the upper hand. We’ve been preparing for this moment long before you even knew about the contract. You might have technology, Xander, but we have something far more valuable—human ingenuity, the kind that machines can’t replicate.”

I smiled, though there was no humor in it. “You’re wrong. Technology is the future, not outdated notions of ‘human ingenuity.’ It’s the way forward. And when the contract’s awarded, GrayTech will be the one leading the charge.”

She was about to retort when something shifted, a change in the air that made both of us pause. The atmosphere suddenly thickened. A presence—dangerous and close—pressed in on us both. Neither of us spoke as the moment hung in the air, charged.

Finally, I broke the silence, my voice dark, low. “You know, Sophia… you’re more than just a rival. I’ve felt it for years. This connection.”

Her heartbeat quickened. I could feel the shift in the air, the slight change in the way she held herself, the tension in her movements. She didn’t respond immediately, caught off guard by my words, but I could feel it—a crack in her perfect facade.

She leaned in, her voice dropping dangerously low. “You’re imagining things, Xander. This is nothing but business.”

I let out a short, humorless laugh. “If only it were that simple. But I know what I feel. And you do too.”

The tension between us was palpable, the unspoken understanding thrumming in the air like an electric charge. Just as the moment seemed to stretch, something broke it—a loud crash echoed through the ballroom, followed by the sharp intake of breath from the guests. The room went still.

Sophia’s posture stiffened. I could feel the sudden change in her energy, a shift as her instincts kicked in, ready for whatever came next. Her wolf was surfacing, the air around her crackling with energy.

“What the hell was that?” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper, but I could sense her unease. She felt it too.

Then, the door slammed open, and a group of men charged in. I didn’t need to see them to know their clothes were torn, their steps heavy with urgency. There was a visceral sense of danger in the air—something personal.

I recognized one of them instantly—a member of her pack. The subtle tremor in his breath, the tension in his movements told me everything I needed to know. But it wasn’t just the sound of his footsteps or the way the others shifted that set my instincts on edge. It was the underlying menace, a palpable threat.

And then, the worst realization hit me like a crashing wave.

They weren’t here for her.

They were after me.

The man at the front stepped forward, his voice low and threatening, sending chills down my spine. “We have a problem, Alpha. It’s time to face the truth.”

Sophia’s breath caught, the silence thickening between us. The room, once full of the promise of power, now felt like a death trap.

I turned toward her, my voice unwavering despite the chaos around us. “You knew, didn’t you?”

She swallowed hard. I could hear the slight hitch in her breath, the way her body tensed. There was no turning back now.

“Get down!” someone shouted from across the room, but it was too late.

Sophia’s wolf surged forward, instinct taking over. But neither of us were prepared for what happened next.

A shot rang out.