Love Me In 100 Days

Chapter 5: The Masked Ball

By Day Forty, the secluded isolation of Blackwood Manor gave way to the treacherous arena of high society.

​The occasion was the annual Metropolitan Heritage Gala—a grand charity ball held at the Manila Hotel, attended by the country’s most powerful politicians, corporate titans, and media moguls. It was Alexander’s official debut back into the elite circles that had shunned him four years ago.

​Inside the master suite at Blackwood Manor, Sienna stood in front of the full-length mirror.

​She wore a gown chosen personally by Alexander—a backless, midnight-blue silk dress that clung to her curves like liquid night, cascading down into a subtle train. Her dark hair was swept up into an elegant chignon, exposing the delicate line of her neck and shoulders. On her collarbone rested a heavy platinum necklace adorned with a single, flawless sapphire.

​The biometric door beeped open.

​Alexander walked in, wearing a bespoke black tuxedo that fit his broad-shouldered frame impeccably. He stopped dead in his tracks the moment his eyes landed on her. For several long seconds, the commanding, unflappable billionaire simply stood there, staring at her as if she were the only woman in existence.

​"You look..." Alexander started, his deep voice unusually raspy. He swallowed hard, stepping closer. "Exquisite."

​"Is this appropriate for your partner for the night?" Sienna asked softly, adjusting her earring.

​Alexander reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a delicate velvet box. Inside was a matching sapphire ring. Without asking, he took her left hand and slid the ring onto her middle finger. His touch was slow, deliberate, sending ripples of warmth up her arm.

​"Tonight, everyone in that room will be watching us," Alexander warned, his gray eyes locking onto hers with fierce intensity. "Victor Vance will be there. Your father will be there. They will look for any sign of weakness between us."

​Sienna looked up at him, her heart thumping against her ribs. "What do you want me to do?"

​Alexander raised her hand to his lips, pressing a warm, lingering kiss against her knuckles while keeping his eyes fixed on hers.

​"Play your role, Miss Thorne," he murmured against her skin. "Act like you are completely, irrevocably mine."

​"It might not be an act anymore, Alexander," Sienna whispered before she could stop herself.

​Alexander froze, his gray eyes widening slightly. A fierce, possessive flame ignited in his gaze as he pulled her closer by her waist, his hand resting flush against her bare back.

​"Don't play with me, Sienna," he growled playfully near her ear. "Because if you give me your heart, I will never return it."

​An hour later, the grand ballroom of the Manila Hotel was a sea of glittering chandeliers, champagne flutes, and classical violin music.

​When the double doors opened and Alexander Vance entered with Sienna Thorne on his arm, a collective hush fell over the room. Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

​"Is that Vance? He looks richer than before..."

"Who is the woman on his arm? Isn't that Richard Thorne's daughter?"

"My God, she looks like a queen..."

​Alexander walked with absolute confidence, his arm wrapped possessively around Sienna’s waist, steering her through the sea of staring guests. Every time a wealthy investor approached to congratulate or probe him, Alexander handled them with sharp wit and cool dominance, never letting his hand leave the small of Sienna’s back.

​Suddenly, the crowd parted, and an elderly man with silver hair and a sharp, cruel face stepped forward, holding a glass of champagne.

​Victor Vance.

​"Alexander," Victor said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "I heard you were back in town. I didn't believe it until I saw you with my own eyes."

​"Victor," Alexander replied, his tone dropping to liquid ice. "You look remarkably healthy for a man living on borrowed time."

​Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his gaze quickly shifted to Sienna, examining her with sleazy amusement. "And you must be young Sienna. I see my nephew has inherited his father's taste for pretty distractions. Your father, Richard, is hiding in the corner over there, looking like he's about to faint."

​Sienna glanced across the room. Standing near the pillar was her father, Richard Thorne. He looked pale, gaunt, and terrified, his trembling hand holding a glass of water as he stared at his daughter on the arm of the man he had betrayed.

​"My father is fine, Mr. Vance," Sienna said coldly, raising her head with supreme dignity. "And I am no distraction. I am Alexander’s partner."

​Victor chuckled—a raspy, unpleasant sound. "Partner? Or collateral? Be careful, my dear. Alexander has a habit of taking things that don't belong to him."

​"I take what is mine, Victor," Alexander interrupted, stepping half an inch in front of Sienna, completely blocking Victor’s line of sight to her. "And very soon, I will take back everything you stole from me. Enjoy the party."

​Without waiting for a response, Alexander guided Sienna away toward the balcony, leaving Victor standing alone under the bright lights of the ballroom.

​Out on the quiet, breezy balcony overlooking the hotel's private gardens, Sienna let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

​"You did brilliantly," Alexander murmured, stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.

​Sienna leaned back into his solid warmth, resting her head against his shoulder. "He’s terrifying, Alexander. Victor... he has no soul."

​"He won't hurt you," Alexander swore, his lips pressing a soft, fierce kiss into her hair. "I won't let him near you."

​Before Sienna could reply, the heavy glass doors of the balcony clicked shut behind them.

​Standing in the shadows of the balcony archway was her father, Richard Thorne.

​"Sienna!" Richard gasped, his voice shaking with desperation. "Sienna, thank God! Step away from him!"

​Sienna straightened up, stepping out of Alexander’s embrace, though she remained standing firmly at his side. "Father..."

​"What is he doing to you?!" Richard cried out, reaching a hand toward her. "He forced you into this, didn't he? I know about the debt transfer! Vance, you bastard, leave my daughter out of your vendetta against me!"

​Alexander didn't flinch. He placed a protective hand on the small of Sienna’s back, looking down at the older man with utter disdain.

​"I didn't force her, Richard," Alexander said calmly. "She chose to save your pathetic life."

​"Sienna, please," Richard begged, tears welling in his tired eyes. "Come home with me tonight. The police... I can go to the police—"

​"And tell them what, Father?" Sienna interrupted, her voice cracking with emotional pain. "Tell them how you stayed silent four years ago while Alexander went to prison? Tell them how you took Victor’s money to build our company?"

​Richard froze, all the color draining instantly from his face. "You... you know?"

​"I know everything," Sienna said softly, her eyes glistening with tears. "Alexander didn't ruin us, Papa. You did."

​Richard stumbled back as if struck, staring at his daughter in horror and shame.

​Alexander stepped forward, his dark presence towering over the broken man. "Your debt is paid, Richard. Your company is safe. But if you ever try to come between Sienna and me again... I will destroy you myself. Now get out of my sight."

​Richard looked at Sienna one last time, begging with his eyes, but Sienna turned her head away, resting her hand against Alexander’s arm. Broken and defeated, her father retreated into the shadows of the hotel.

​As her father vanished, Sienna felt a tear escape her eye and run down her cheek.

​Alexander immediately turned to her, his large hands cupping her face, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. His gray eyes were no longer cold—they were filled with a profound, tender agony.

​"I'm sorry, Sienna," Alexander whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm so sorry you had to see that."

​Sienna looked up at him, her heart breaking and healing all at once. "Don't apologize," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. "Just hold me."

​Alexander wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her neck, holding her against the cool night air as if she were the only real thing in a world made of shadows.