Chapter 10: The Golden Armor
576 Words
The heavy silk of the emerald evening gown pooled around my feet, its dark, rich fabric catching the soft glow of the dressing room vanity. I stood staring at my reflection, fixing my posture until my shoulders were perfectly square and my expression was a flawless, unbothered mask.
Tonight was the annual Summer Charity Gala. It was the most exclusive event on the high-society calendar, and it was going to be our official public debut as a couple. Every camera lens in the city would be aimed at us, looking for the slightest hesitation, the tiniest crack in our story.
A quiet knock echoed through the room, and the heavy door opened.
Vance stepped inside, and for a fleeting second, my breath caught in my throat. He wore a custom, midnight-black velvet tuxedo that accentuated his broad shoulders and commanding frame. He looked entirely in his element—ruthless, elegant, and effortlessly powerful.
He stopped a few paces away, his dark eyes sweeping over me with an intense, unyielding focus that made my skin tingle beneath the silk gown. For a long, heavy moment, he didn't say a word. He just stared, his usual calculating expression melting into something deep, dark, and fiercely passionate.
"You look stunning, Ariya," he murmured, his low baritone dropping to a quiet, grounding register.
"It's just the script, remember?" I said, forcing a defensive sharpness into my voice as I turned to pick up my clutch. "We have to look the part."
"The dress is the script," he countered smoothly, stepping closer until the familiar, intoxicating scent of cedar and expensive cologne completely enveloped my space. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a velvet box, opening it to reveal a breathtaking diamond choker that shimmered like ice under the lights. "This is the reality."
He didn't wait for my permission. He stepped behind me, his large, warm hands gently brushing my hair over one shoulder. His fingertips accidentally grazed the sensitive skin of my neck, sending a sudden thrill straight down my spine. I frozen, my heart hammering violently against my ribs as he fastened the heavy diamonds around my throat.
"They are going to throw everything they have at us tonight," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear, his voice a low, commanding rumble. "The reporters will ask about your ex. The rival executives will try to test your resolve. If you look vulnerable for even a second, they will feed on it."
I turned around to face him, lifting my chin to look directly into his piercing eyes, refusing to let his proximity break my focus. "I survived my own wedding being ruined, Marcus. I think I can handle a few nosy reporters."
A slow, enigmatic smirk touched the corner of his lips, a look of genuine pride flashing behind his stoic mask. He extended his arm toward me, his stance solid and protective.
"Then let's go give them a show, wife."
I placed my hand firmly over his forearm, feeling the rigid strength of his muscles beneath the fabric. As we walked out of the suite and toward the waiting limousine, I knew the golden armor of the Vance empire was securely in place. But as his hand covered mine, pressing gently against his side, I wondered how much longer I could protect my heart from the man holding the shield.
- Writer
