Layla's POV
The next morning, going back to work felt like dreaming. The previous night's auction lingered in the mind, flashing images of Ezra's heat, the weight of one's voice while acting in front of Orion and Grace, and the reflection of the necklace that drew everyone's attention. I had worn this piece as a symbol of self-renewal, expecting the world to notice it in a very short time.
The moment I stepped into the office, I was hit by this wave of gossiping. Heads turned and eyes widened, and I could feel how the energy changed as I walked toward my desk. It was like entering an entirely different domain, one in which I was more than a designer in the back, but someone worth recognizing.
"Layla, you're all over the company's social pages!" Mia, one of my colleagues, practic
