The limousine rolled to a velvet halt outside the glittering hotel, its arrival cueing a frenzy of camera flashes that burst like fireworks against the night sky. Inside, Sophia took a slow breath, fingers smoothing the silk of her gown over her knee. She caught her reflection in the tinted glass — poised, radiant, ready.
Next to her, Nate watched her, not the cameras. There was a warmth in his gaze that the world would never see. “You look stunning. They won’t be able to look away.”
Sophia allowed herself a small smile. “Good. Let them stare.”
A corner of his mouth curved — approval, maybe admiration too. “Stay close to me. If anyone gets pushy, I’ll handle it.”
She arched a brow, a flash of her playful confidence breaking through. “Handle it? What are you planning, Sterling? Toss a f
