CHAPTER 9
1290 Words
Chapter 9: “Shadows at the Gala”
By the following week, the air in Blackwell Tower felt charged with anticipation.
The countdown to the International Tech Couture Gala had begun: only ten days until the showcase that could cement Ava’s career — or destroy it.
The morning started like any other, but the buzz in the corridors was sharper, quieter, as if everyone was whispering about something. Ava sensed it the moment she stepped out of the elevator, clutching her sketchbook against her chest.
Liza hurried to her side, her usually bright face clouded with worry.
“Have you checked the fashion blogs?” she whispered urgently.
Ava frowned. “No. Why?”
Instead of answering, Liza shoved her phone into Ava’s hands.
On the screen was a headline that made Ava’s stomach drop:
> ‘Ward Tech’s Secret Weapon Revealed: The Starfire Gown Poised to Dazzle at the Gala’
Beneath the headline was a blurry, zoomed-in image of Ava’s prototype — the constellation-like shimmer unmistakable even in the grainy photo. The article speculated wildly about Ward Tech’s “mysterious muse” and hinted at a collaboration scandal between Ward Tech and Blackwell Couture.
Ava’s chest tightened. She hadn’t even finalized the design; now the internet was dissecting it.
“Who leaked this?” she murmured.
Before Liza could answer, a familiar deep voice came from behind them.
“Cruz. My office. Now.”
Liam stood in the hallway, his expression carved from stone.
Ava followed him into his office, her pulse hammering. The door closed with a soft but decisive click, sealing her inside with the man whose reputation thrived on precision and control — two things currently slipping through her fingers.
“Sit,” Liam ordered, his tone quieter than usual, which somehow made it worse.
She obeyed, folding her hands tightly in her lap.
Liam remained standing, one hand braced on the edge of his desk, eyes fixed on the screen of his tablet. “The image leaked overnight. It’s already being shared by three major fashion channels. Do you know how it got out?”
Ava shook her head quickly. “No. I haven’t posted or sent photos to anyone.”
“I believe you,” he said after a pause, surprising her. “But this means someone on the inside did. Ward Tech swears it wasn’t them.” His jaw tightened. “This kind of exposure before the showcase is reckless — it makes us look unprepared.”
“I’ll make sure the design is ready on time,” she said softly. “No matter what they say.”
His gaze softened by a fraction at her determination. “That’s not the part I’m worried about.”
He set down the tablet and crossed his arms, his voice lowering. “Leaks like this invite speculation. About the design… and about the people behind it. I don’t want you dragged into that kind of attention.”
Ava met his eyes steadily. “I can handle it.”
Liam studied her for a long moment before responding. “Perhaps. But I won’t let you face it alone. We’ll increase security around the prototypes and restrict studio access.”
For a fleeting second, she thought she saw something more than professional concern in his gaze — a flicker of protectiveness that warmed her despite the storm outside.
---
That evening, Ward Tech hosted a private pre-gala dinner for key clients and media representatives at the upscale Lunaire Lounge.
Though she hadn’t planned on attending, Ava received a personal message from Ethan Ward himself:
> “You should be here. The press needs to meet the mind behind the Starfire gown — the real story, not the rumors.”
After some hesitation, she decided to go, hoping to set the narrative straight.
The lounge shimmered with golden light and low jazz music. Crystal chandeliers cast soft halos over polished marble tables where the city’s most influential designers and investors mingled.
Ava entered in a sleek midnight-blue dress, understated yet elegant — a contrast to the glittering crowd. Her presence turned a few heads, especially among those already curious about the leaked gown.
Ethan spotted her almost instantly. He approached with his usual confident smile, offering his hand.
“I was hoping you’d come,” he said warmly. “You deserve to be seen tonight.”
“Thanks,” Ava replied, trying not to be overwhelmed by the stares they were attracting.
Ethan led her to a corner table where a small cluster of reporters lingered. He introduced her as the lead designer of the much-discussed Starfire gown.
Their questions came fast: about her inspiration, about her collaboration with Ward Tech, about the rumored rivalry between Liam Blackwell and Ethan Ward.
Ava answered carefully, keeping her focus on the design and avoiding personal speculation. But she could feel the subtle undercurrent in their questions, the curiosity about her place between the two billionaire figures.
---
Meanwhile, back at Blackwell Tower, Liam stood alone in his office, the city lights spilling like liquid gold across his floor.
He had seen the trending posts about the gala dinner — photos of Ava beside Ethan, her poised smile, the headline: “Ward Tech’s Rising Star Designer Debuts at Lunaire.”
His jaw clenched at the thought. He told himself it was because of the optics — because Ava represented Blackwell Couture, not Ward Tech.
But the tightness in his chest felt strangely personal.
---
At the Lunaire Lounge, the evening took a turn when one of the reporters pressed Ava about the leak.
“Some sources suggest the design was inspired by an undisclosed personal muse. Care to comment?”
Ava froze momentarily, caught off-guard. She forced a polite smile. “The Starfire gown was inspired by the night sky over the city. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Ethan stepped in smoothly, deflecting the question with a joke about meteor showers and fashion, earning a round of polite laughter. But Ava sensed the weight of the question lingered like smoke in the air.
---
When the dinner wound down, Ava stepped out onto the terrace for a breath of cool night air. The skyline stretched endlessly, lit by a thousand points of light.
For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine her gown on the gala runway, dazzling as brilliantly as the stars above.
“Not bad for your first media appearance,” Ethan said as he joined her outside, his tone teasing but kind. “You handled them better than most veterans.”
“Barely,” she admitted with a faint smile. “I’m not used to being the story.”
“You’ll have to get used to it,” he replied. “Talent like yours doesn’t stay in the background for long.”
She looked away, her gaze drawn to the glittering city. “I’d rather the focus stayed on the work.”
Ethan studied her profile, a softer look settling in his eyes. “That’s what makes you different.”
For a fleeting second, the moment felt almost intimate — until Ava’s phone buzzed in her clutch.
It was a message from Liam: “Return to the studio early tomorrow. We need to review security protocols. — LB”
Her pulse quickened. His words were curt, as always, but somehow felt heavier than they read.
---
As Ava left the lounge later that night, her mind was a whirl of questions — about the leak, the reporters’ probing, Ethan’s unexpected kindness, and Liam’s unspoken intensity.
She sensed the coming days would demand more than skill with fabric and lights.
The real challenge would be navigating the storm of rivalries and emotions threatening to unravel everything she had worked for.
- Writer
