Alessia
As we returned to the edge of the room, my father’s gaze caught mine. His expression was unreadable, his attention flicking to Jay for just a second before shifting back to his conversation.
“You think he saw?” I asked quietly.
“Does it matter?” Jay replied, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
“Maybe.”
Jay leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Relax, Alessia. No one’s watching you as closely as you think.”
I wanted to argue, but his calmness was infectious, his presence a strange kind of comfort I wasn’t used to.
And that terrified me more than anything.
The gala was in full swing. Guests floated through the mansion like wraiths draped in designer couture, their laughter and clinking glasses blending with the soft strains of the orchestra. The air was thick
