The Price Of Forever

nue, and laughter spilled from rooftop bars where the city's elite drank away the midnight hour. Somewhere in that restless sprawl

le byetstriking, neckline, while a faint shimmer from the necklace around her collarbone caught the lamplight. For a lo

n't feel like she

the storm of ruthless corporate maneuvers she barely understood back then. Her father had never recovered from the blow, and her mother's quiet despair had etched

" Isabella's voice call

gi murmured, reach

ine will they serve? Or how many hours

like firelight. She had been Gigi's anchor since college, the one who knew every fracture in her mask yet never judged. If Gigi

the whole gallery," Isabella said,

exagg

Isabella winked. "And tonight is

himed. Isabella smirked knowingly. "And h

coiled into a flawless updo, her heels clicking with confidence. She embraced Gigi, her nails p

to admire her. "Finally letting your beauty compete with y

you too," Gig

he wine Isabella poured without offering. She had a knack for

th chatter about who would be there, what to expect, and which men she hoped to catch the eye of. T

ight," Sultana said, her voice la

istracted by the city ligh

Jae. Don't tell me you'

" Gigi admi

lt his empire on ruthless deals. He practically owns half this city. He's-" she leaned closer, her eyes glitteri

brow. "Sound

lf a second. "Exhausting? He's

I've had enough of men who thin

smirked

hing sharp before she laughed it of

moved like shadows, balancing trays of champagne flutes, while strings hummed from the orchestra tucked discreetly to one side. The city's elite

ted the whispers that always seemed to follow her. Once, she would have belonged in this r

they stepped into the crowd. "You

feels like it,

eces. The compliments slid over her like rain on glass. She smiled, answered, and moved on. Sultana, meanwhile,

ntrance. "No sign of him yet," she whispered, as though discussing a secret. "Bu

Gigi said, scanning the pai

urved into a smi

glass reassembled into a mosaic. It reminded her of herself-something

ift of attention toward the grand entrance. But Isabella did. Her

She leaned in close, her

s he

llowed

confidence that seemed to part the sea of bodies around him. Conversation stuttered in

care. All she saw was another billionaire

brought Jason Ja

ould ever be