me before the chauffeur

deep emerald-green satin dress that hugg

of skin I wanted and my matching heels clicked against the

oulders, and my makeup was

rld I wasn't the same g

and faced the lights, the n

supposed to be

t away before it cou

oice came from behind

ice. Reaching back, I laced my fi

ive them

om, the heavy doors swinging open to a sw

ease, and champagne sparkled in tall glasses. But all of it faded whe

a

e

some accessory. Her smile faltered for a moment when s

h my throat tightened, but I

Logan's han

I sm

rupted as

Amelia with

e toget

e upgrad

, lips close to m

I murmured. "We'

his breath. "Now y

excitement. " Ms. Connells, Mr. Wills, we're honore

le near the front, right

cou

asses raised, and laughter

g sure Jake was looking, and leaning in at the right times

d intimacy. It made my sto

ow and then, but there was no trace of regret. No

smirked. It was the kind of l

h a slow song, and coup

reached for my

almost convi

pull me

dance floor, my mind

was worth something. That we were building somethin

t her a

this, are you?" Logan asked

," I whisp

u're doing just

urned to our seats just as

ast to the Connells Foundation and the incredible work bein

room. Jake raised his cha

's eyes shifted towards me. "Ms. Co

m turn to me. I stood. Smoo

voice was calm and collected. "It's

children get access to education has always been something de

Jake's, sharp

really are. Some come into your life pretending to love you, while others

rmurs started, peopl

ltered, and Jak

and unapologetic, "I celebrate honesty,

silent for

me the

click of a lady's heel and a camera fla

lled, pushing through the fron

she continued, "Is this your way of

amera

urned i

as adjusting his cuffs, unbothered like he had

spond, the report

e hand-in-hand with the CEO of Regals Enterprises... This feels like m

smoothly, placing one

hide," he said with a charming sm

ps. "Some things," I said, locking eyes with

whispers. Gasp

e she was choki

isibly

d, only for me to hear: "You're reall

smirk and hand

se, voice low. "Tha

o is," I said,

it for him

urned and walked to

later, Logan

pockets. Ey

ch," he sai

ook at him

ice was softer now

n I wasn't sure