“No,” he said firmly, taking a step closer. “You look like a goddess. That red… it suits you. It’s powerful. Like you.”
My cheeks flushed, but before I could respond, Alexandra finally emerged from her stall in a dramatic black and gold gown.
“There you are,” she said. Then her eyes lit up as she saw me. “Oh. My. Goddess.”
“What?”
“You look amazing! Rylan, say something poetic before I start crying.”
“She already heard my thoughts,” he said, smirking.
Alexandra turned to the nearest attendant. “We’re buying that one. Full stop.”
As she flitted away to arrange the purchase, Rylan leaned close to me.
“I’ll check the security footage,” he said quietly. “We’ll find out who that man was.”
I nodded. I felt comforted by his presence.
We were taken to the security room tucked away in th
