Charity Gala
1230 Words
Chapter 16
The gala was only hours away.
And Amelia was already regretting agreeing to attend.
She stood in front of the mirror inside her room, staring at the reflection looking back at her.
The woman in the mirror didn’t feel like Amelia Quinn.
The elegant midnight-blue gown hugged her figure perfectly.
Her hair had been styled into soft waves.
A pair of sapphire earrings sparkled beneath the light.
Everything about her appearance looked sophisticated.
Beautiful even.
Yet Amelia couldn’t shake the feeling that she was pretending to be someone else.
Someone who belonged in Xavier Knight’s world.
Someone she wasn’t.
A knock sounded at the door.
Before Amelia could answer, Sophia entered.
She took one look at Amelia and immediately stopped.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then she smiled.
“Oh.”
Amelia narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
Sophia laughed.
“My brother is finished.”
Amelia nearly choked.
“Sophia!”
“I’m serious.”
The younger woman walked around her dramatically.
“Absolutely finished.”
Amelia covered her face.
“This is why nobody tells you anything.”
Sophia grinned.
“Look at you.”
Her expression softened.
“You look incredible.”
Amelia glanced back at the mirror.
A small smile appeared despite her nerves.
“Thank you.”
Downstairs, guests were already arriving.
Luxury vehicles filled the estate driveway.
Camera flashes illuminated the evening.
The annual Knight Foundation Charity Gala was one of the most prestigious events of the year.
Business leaders.
Celebrities.
Politicians.
Socialites.
Everyone wanted an invitation.
And tonight, they would all be under the same roof.
Meanwhile, Xavier stood in his office trying very hard not to think about Amelia.
It wasn’t working.
Not even slightly.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in.”
Sophia entered.
Smirking.
Immediately suspicious.
Xavier sighed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That smile says otherwise.”
Sophia sat down.
“Amelia is ready.”
Something tightened unexpectedly in Xavier’s chest.
“Good.”
Sophia laughed.
“You’re nervous.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You absolutely are.”
Before Xavier could respond, Sophia stood.
“Good luck.”
Then she left.
Still laughing.
Several minutes later, Xavier walked toward the grand staircase.
The ballroom below buzzed with conversation.
Music drifted through the manor.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the room.
Everything was ready.
Everything was perfect.
Then Amelia appeared.
And for one brief moment, Xavier forgot how to breathe.
She descended the staircase slowly.
Elegant.
Graceful.
Beautiful.
The sight hit him with surprising force.
For months he had grown accustomed to seeing her every day.
Yet somehow this felt entirely different.
Dangerously different.
At the bottom of the stairs, Amelia looked up.
Their eyes met.
And suddenly the entire room seemed to disappear.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
The moment stretched.
Longer than it should have.
Then Sophia appeared from nowhere.
Again.
Naturally.
She looked between them.
Then smiled knowingly.
“Wow.”
Both immediately looked away.
“Let’s go,” Amelia muttered.
Sophia laughed.
The gala officially began shortly afterward.
At first everything went smoothly.
Guests mingled.
Donations were collected.
Champagne flowed.
The atmosphere remained elegant and sophisticated.
Amelia stayed close to Sophia for most of the evening.
The attention made her uncomfortable.
Everywhere she turned, people seemed to be looking at her.
Whispering.
Watching.
Judging.
Part of it was because she was new.
Part of it was because nobody knew who she was.
But another reason quickly became obvious.
People kept noticing Xavier’s attention.
Not because he hovered around her.
He didn’t.
Not openly.
But somehow his gaze always found her.
Across crowded rooms.
Across conversations.
Across impossible distances.
And unfortunately, other people noticed.
Sophia noticed too.
And found it endlessly entertaining.
At one point, Amelia escaped onto one of the manor’s balconies for fresh air.
The night was cool.
Peaceful.
Exactly what she needed.
“You look overwhelmed.”
The familiar voice made her smile before she could stop herself.
Xavier stepped onto the balcony.
Closing the doors behind him.
Suddenly they were alone.
“A little.”
He nodded.
“I expected that.”
Amelia leaned against the railing.
“How do you survive these events?”
A faint smile appeared.
“Practice.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“It is.”
The answer made her laugh.
For several minutes, they stood together beneath the stars.
Away from the noise.
Away from the crowd.
Simply enjoying the quiet.
Then the balcony doors opened again.
Several guests stepped outside.
Their conversation immediately stopped when they noticed Xavier and Amelia together.
Alone.
At night.
On a private balcony.
The silence was brief.
But noticeable.
Very noticeable.
One woman smiled politely.
Far too politely.
“Sorry for interrupting.”
The tone suggested the exact opposite.
The group quickly moved farther down the balcony.
Yet Amelia could still hear whispers.
Soft.
Curious.
Speculative.
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
Xavier heard them too.
His expression darkened slightly.
“Ignore them.”
Amelia sighed.
“Easier said than done.”
His gaze settled on her.
“For what it’s worth, their opinions aren’t important.”
Amelia smiled faintly.
“You say that because people are usually afraid to criticize you.”
To her surprise, Xavier laughed.
“Fair point.”
The moment eased.
But only slightly.
Because now Amelia knew.
People were talking.
And once rumors started, they rarely stopped.
Back inside, things became worse.
Not better.
Everywhere Amelia looked, people seemed to be watching her.
Watching them.
Analyzing every interaction.
Every glance.
Every smile.
At one point she caught two women openly discussing her.
The moment they noticed her attention, they quickly looked away.
Too late.
She had already understood.
Who is she?
Why is Xavier paying attention to her?
What makes her special?
The questions practically hung in the air.
The evening reached its peak when Xavier stepped onto the stage to thank the guests.
The room immediately quieted.
Every eye turned toward him.
As he spoke, Amelia watched from the crowd.
Confident.
Composed.
Powerful.
This was the Xavier everyone else knew.
The billionaire.
The leader.
The man impossible to intimidate.
Then his gaze briefly found hers.
Just for a second.
Nothing more.
Yet her heart reacted anyway.
And unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Several guests exchanged looks.
Knowing looks.
Dangerous looks.
The rumors had officially begun.
By the end of the evening, Amelia was exhausted.
As guests slowly departed, she stood near the entrance watching the last vehicles disappear.
The night air felt cool against her skin.
Refreshing.
“It went well.”
She turned.
Xavier stood beside her.
Closer than necessary.
Not that either mentioned it.
“The charity raised a lot?”
He nodded.
“A record amount.”
Amelia smiled.
“That’s good.”
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Then Xavier spoke.
His voice quieter than usual.
“Thank you for coming tonight.”
Amelia blinked.
The sincerity caught her off guard.
“You make these events easier.”
The confession escaped before he could stop it.
Both froze.
A long silence followed.
Then Xavier cleared his throat.
“Goodnight, Amelia.”
And walked away.
Leaving Amelia standing there.
Heart racing.
Mind spinning.
And one dangerous thought echoing through her head.
Maybe she wasn’t the only one struggling with these feelings anymore.
- Writer
