UNTAMED CONTRACT

CHAPTER NINE: GLASS HOUSES AND DIAMONDS

The morning of the Vance Foundation Gala arrived in a blur of silk, polished diamonds, and high-fashion chaos.

At eight o'clock sharp, the private elevator chimed, unloading a team of four stylists from Atelier Laurent into Julian’s penthouse. Led by a sharp, fast-talking head designer named Antoine, they transformed the living room into an exclusive fitting salon within minutes. Racks of handcrafted evening gowns were wheeled in, alongside velvet trays gleaming with high-end fine jewelry.

"Ah, Ma Chérie," Antoine gushed, taking my hands and turning me toward the full-length mirror as soon as I stepped out in a stunning, custom floor-length emerald green satin dress. "This tone against your skin! Magnificent. Powerful. Exactly what a future Mrs. Vance requires."

The dress hugged every curve with precise tailoring, featuring an elegant off-the-shoulder neckline that exposed my collarbones, before cascading into a dramatic side slit and a subtle train.

"She looks extraordinary," a deep voice purred from the entrance of the living room.

I turned to see Julian standing near the doorway. He was already dressed in a tailored black velvet tuxedo that broadened his shoulders and narrowed at his waist, complete with a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie. He looked like every fantasy of a dangerous, untouchable dark prince come to life. His dark gaze swept down the length of the emerald dress, resting on my face with an intensity that made my pulse spike instantly.

"The dress stays," Julian instructed Antoine, stepping into the room. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek, black velvet box. "However, it needs one final detail."

Antoine gasped softly as Julian opened the box. Inside lay a breathtaking vintage diamond choker—a dazzling row of emerald-cut diamonds mounted in platinum that looked like a priceless museum exhibit.

"The Vance Family Heirloom," Julian murmured, stepping behind me.

My breath hitched as his warm fingers brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck. The cool metal of the collar settled heavily against my collarbone, and Julian reached around to fasten the heavy clasp. His breath was warm against my ear as he leaned down, whispering so only I could hear.

"My grandmother wore this to every board meeting when my grandfather was expanding the empire," Julian whispered, his hands lingering on my shoulders. "It signals one thing to everyone in that ballroom tonight: you are protected, you are untouchable, and you hold my full confidence."

I looked up into the mirror, catching his gaze in the reflection. "It's beautiful, Julian. But... isn't this dangerous? Putting something this valuable on me?"

"You are worth far more than a few cut stones, Maya," Julian said softly, his dark eyes locking onto mine through the glass.

For a second, the room faded away, leaving only the heat of his presence behind me. Antoine cleared his throat with a subtle, amused smirk, snapping us back to reality. Julian smoothly let go of my shoulders, offering me his arm.

"The Maybach is waiting downstairs," Julian said, his cold CEO armor slipping back into place. "It's time to face the wolves."

The Plaza Hotel was surrounded by a sea of flashing cameras and shouting paparazzi as our limousine pulled up to the red carpet entrance.

Step after step, bright strobe lights blinded us as Julian guided me through the grand doors. His hand rested firmly at the small of my back, his touch grounding me amidst the deafening noise of reporters shouting questions about the land deal, our sudden engagement, and the future of Vance Global.

Inside the grand ballroom, crystal chandeliers threw sparkling light across hundreds of New York’s elite. Billionaires, politicians, tech tycoons, and high-society heiresses mingled over champagne flutes, surrounded by lavish floral arrangements.

"Keep your head high, smile, and stay close to me," Julian instructed under his breath as we descended the grand marble staircase into the ballroom. "They will test you."

Almost immediately, a path cleared through the crowd.

Walking toward us was Victoria Vance, wearing a sleek ice-blue gown that matched her cold eyes, flanked by Uncle Richard. Richard held a glass of bourbon, his expression a mixture of tight, contained fury and dark ambition.

"Julian. Maya," Victoria said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness as she stopped in front of us. She looked down at the diamond choker around my neck, her eyes narrowing in a flash of pure envy. "I see you brought out the family jewelry. How ambitious for a girl who was working administrative desks a month ago."

"Victoria," Julian replied, his voice deadpan, his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me firmly against his side. "I see you're still attempting to manage my estate's wardrobe choices. Did you come to congratulate us on closing the Brooklyn land deal, or are you just admiring my fiancée?"

Richard took a slow sip of his bourbon, his eyes locking onto mine with a venomous glare.

"A clever trick in the boardroom yesterday, nephew," Richard said smoothly, stepping closer. "Buying a distribution hub to legitimize a wire transfer. Very smooth. But corporate land deals don't cover up personal flaws for long."

"There are no flaws to cover, Richard," I said, speaking up with a calm, dangerous confidence that surprised even myself. I turned my head to look Richard directly in his eyes. "Julian saw value in my family's logistics firm that you were too blind to notice. Perhaps if you spent less time orchestrating emergency board audits and more time analyzing growth assets, Vance Global wouldn't need Julian to keep saving its bottom line."

A few nearby socialites, listening in on the conversation, gasped softly behind their champagne glasses.

Richard’s jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might shatter. Victoria’s face paled with absolute fury. Beside me, I felt Julian’s muscles tighten—not in anger, but in supreme, dark amusement.

"Be very careful, Ms. Lin," Richard hissed in a low voice, leaning in so the surrounding guests couldn't hear. "New York society is built on fragile glass houses. One wrong step, one little scandal about where that ten million actually went, and you’ll find out how quickly high society turns on a charity case."

"If you ever threaten my fiancée again, Richard," Julian interrupted, his voice dropping into a low, terrifying pitch that sent a chill through the immediate air, "I will not just strip your vice-chairmanship. I will liquidate your entire trust fund and leave you with nothing. Try me."

Richard stared at Julian, reading the absolute, deadly promise in his nephew's eyes. Without another word, Richard turned on his heel and walked away, Victoria trailing behind him in furious silence.

As the night wore on, the tension slowly gave way to the rhythm of the gala.

Julian spent the next two hours navigating through high-stakes conversations with foreign investors and senior partners, keeping me firmly attached to his side the entire time. Every gesture he made—from brushing a stray hair behind my ear to resting his hand possessively at my waist—felt so seamless, so utterly natural, that even I was struggling to remember where the contract ended and reality began.

Around midnight, as the orchestra played a slow, sweeping waltz, Julian led me toward the French doors leading out to the private, moonlit terrace overlooking Central Park.

The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling heat of the ballroom. I leaned against the stone balustrade, looking out over the glowing city lights as the distant sound of the violin music drifted through the open doors.

"You were incredible tonight," Julian said softly, stepping up beside me and resting his arms on the stone railing. "The way you handled Richard in front of the board members... you completely silenced him."

"I just spoke the truth," I said, turning to look at him. "He's trying to bully you out of your own company, Julian. I couldn't just stand there and let him disrespect you."

Julian turned his body toward me, stepping closer until there was no space left between us. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face, softening his usually harsh features into something agonizingly handsome.

"Nobody has ever fought for me like that," Julian murmured, his dark eyes filled with an intensity that made my heart hammer violently against my ribs. "Not my family. Not my board. Only you."

"Julian..." I whispered, my voice trembling as he reached up, his long fingers cupping my jawline. His thumb brushed over my lower lip, sending an electric shock straight through my veins.

"Tell me this is just the contract, Maya," Julian rasped, his head dipping lower until his lips were mere inches from mine. "Tell me you're just acting for the cameras."

"I..." My breath caught in my throat. I looked up into his dark, burning eyes, completely helpless against the gravity pulling us together. "I don't think I'm acting anymore."

Julian’s eyes darkened, and before I could breathe another word, he closed the distance between us, pulling me into a fierce, breathless, possessive kiss.