Dignity of the Cold CEO’s Wife

Chapter 9

The Ravenson estate gleamed under the evening lights, transformed into a breathtaking scene of gold, crystal, and quiet luxury. Guests in elegant attire difted around the hall, soft music warming the air as servers prepared for the influx of arrivals.

Selene stood just inside the enterance with Mari, her heartbeat quickening. Tonight felt impossible -- too huge, too bright, too real.

Mari nudged her arm. "Don't look like a starled deer. Smile."

Selene tried. As they stepped fully inside, Selene immediately spotted Vivienne and Charles near the grand staircase -- hosting like the practiced social elites they were.

Vivienne was radiant in a deep plum gown, her hair swept into an elegant twist. Charles remained at her side in a formal suit, calm and dignifted, greeting the earliest guests with warm, measured smiles. They weren't overbearing, but their presence anchored the room.

Vivienne's eyes flicked toward the sisters -- and she gave Selene the smallest nod of acknowledgement, polie and approving, before returning to greeting a business partner.

Mari whispered, "God, they look like royalty."

Selene agreed silently.

Ethan approached the sisters with his gentle smile. "You're both early. Good -- that helps keep the flow smooth."

Mari beamed. "You mean I help keep the flow smooth."

Ethan laughed softly. Then Damien stepped through the crowd. His gaze found Selene instantly.

"You're ready," he said, more confirmation than question.

Selene nodded. Mari rolled her eyes behind her.

Damien handed Selene the seating chart.

"Memorize this. You'll be greeting quests with me."

Mari scoffed. "Oh really? Shouldn't that be--" Damien didn't even glance at her. "Mari, you are assigned to Ethan's side.

Ethan gave Mari a small nod. "Come one. We'll handle the east enterance."

Mari forced a bright fake smile and followed him -- clearly hating it.

Damien stood beside Selenenas the firsts guests approached.

"This is Selene," he introduced smoothly. "My fiancee."

Selene bowed her head gracefully. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her voice didn't tremble. Not this time.

Damien's eyes flicked to her with approval he didn't voice.

Mari, in the background, attempted to greet guests on Ethan's side -- loudly, incorrectly, and always with a smugness she hadn't earned.

Ethan corrected her patiently, but with quiet authority.

"Mari, left side."

"That's the wrong family name."

"Not so loud."

"Let me handle this one."

He wasn't pushed around -- he simply refused to let her chaos swalloe the event.

Mari hated that.

The parents drifted through the hall, greeting investors and associates, maintaining elegance and order. Vivienne paused near Selene long enough to offer a gentle, approving smile.

"You're doing beautifully, Selene."

Selene exhaled. "I'm trying."

"And succeding," Vivienne said before moving on.

Selene's chest warmed. Mari's face in the distance -- tight with jealousy.

At every guest exchange, Damien observed Selene with calm presicion:

~noticing her growing confidence

~stepping in only when needed

~offering subtle affirmations

When one guest asked Selene a particularly complicated question, she answered perfectly.

Damien's voice dropped low so only she heard it: "Well done,"

It sent a subtle warmth through her.

Across the hall, Mari kept trying to pull attention toward herself:

Laughing too loudly.

Talking iver Ethan.

Over explaining things she didn't understand.

At one point she even stepped closer to Selene's side as if to seat the spotlight. Damien immediately repositioned Selene in front -- not harshly, just decisively.

"Mari," he said calmly without looking at her, "return to your station."

Mari froze, then forced a laugh and stepped away.

Ethan gave Selene a small, almost amused look from across the room, as if to say, You handled that better than she did.

When Selene's shoulders tightened, Damien noticed. "Sit," he said quietly. "Two minutes."

Selene blinked. "You timed it?"

"I time everything."

A tiny laugh escaped her. "You really do."

Damiens expression softened -- a rare, subtle thing.

"You're perfoming well," he said. "Better than expected."

"That sounds like low expectations."

"Realistic ones," he corrected. "You're exceeding them."

Her breath hitched.

Vivienne approached again. "Five minutes, Damien."

He nodded. "Everything is aligned."

Charles stood near the staircase, preparing to welcome the next wave of influential families. Ethan positioned himself gracefully beside him. Mari tried to slot herself next to Ethan again -- Ethan gently but firmly repositioned her to where she was supposed to stand.

Mari's face burned.

Selene tried not to feel guilty for the smallest flicker of satisfaction.

As the music ended, Damien turned to Selene.

"Don't be nervous," he said.

"I'm trying."

"You are doing fine."

"I'm still nervous."

"It's acceptable."

Theyr eyes held. The hall blurred. Just the two of them for a moment -- connected by something neither could name yet.

Selene breathed out slowly.

She could do this.

Beside him.