Alex slipped away from the glowing chandeliers and champagne flutes with practiced ease.
No one noticed the bride-to-be disappear. No one ever did, unless she wanted them to. She drifted past waiters and velvet curtains, until she found the quiet corridor near the back of the building, past the guest coatroom and the emergency exit.
The door was already cracked open.
She stepped inside, letting the quiet wrap around her like a second skin—and then closed it with a soft click behind her.
David Brown stood by the bar cart, lazily pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
He didn’t turn around when he spoke. “Enjoying your little royal engagement, kid?”
Alex grinned, the expression almost painful from how wide it stretched. “You're partners with my father?!”
David chuckled and finally turned, lifting his glass in a mock toast. “You really thought I’d show up here with no prep? No connections?”
She crossed her arms. “I didn’t think you’d show up at all.”
“I’ve known Luca for years,” he said casually, like he was discussing weather, not war. “We never had a contract until recently. Timing is everything, Alex.”
He took a sip, then met her gaze.
“In situations like these,” David continued, “you don’t win by being clever. You win by having stronger allies. Right now, I help Steels. Steels help me.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want from us?”
“Nothing you can’t afford.” He smirked. “Luca’s company will give me legitimacy in this city. I’ll give your family enough power to counter the Hales.”
She hesitated.
David Brown was not a good man. He was probably dangerous. But tonight—just for tonight—he felt like hope.
“And Zade?” she asked.
David’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “He has no idea I know you. Let’s keep it that way.”
Alex nodded.
“Don’t let him suspect,” he added. “Lie if you have to. Smile. Be the perfect little doll. It’s too early to tip the game board.”
The weight of it all settled on her chest. Alex inhaled and straightened her spine. “Fine. But if this backfires—”
“It won’t,” David cut in. “You’ve already won. You just don’t know it yet.”
She left the room with fire in her step.
And for the first time in a long time, her smile wasn’t made of glass.
***
Back at the party, the lights seemed brighter. The music, softer. Everything was where it had been—except now, the power in the room felt tilted.
Alex returned to Zade’s side just long enough to be seen.
He stood near the edge of the dance floor, hands in his pockets, jaw tight. His stare found her the moment she stepped in—and it didn’t leave. She could feel it, slicing down her back like a warning.
And still, she smiled.
Her blood thrummed with adrenaline. A kind of high she hadn’t felt in months. Maybe ever.
Zade said nothing. Just kept watching.
She floated between guests, laughing lightly, talking about nothing important. The weather. The designer of her ring. Which island she wanted to visit this summer. Fashion week scandals. All of it shallow, glittering nonsense.
But beneath it, her mind kept circling back to him—to that frown. That crease between his brows that refused to smooth out.
He knew something was off. He just didn’t know what.
And that made everything taste sweeter.
By the time the party started winding down, her feet ached and her cheeks burned from fake grins. Nova sat slumped in her chair, quietly sipping mint tea while Luca rubbed her back. Alex bent down and kissed her mother’s cheek.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” Nova murmured, fingers brushing over Alex’s hand.
Zade was already waiting by the car when Alex joined him. He opened the door without a word, and she climbed in, suddenly exhausted.
The drive was silent.
Outside, the city blurred past like a painting smeared in gold. Inside, the silence pressed in like cotton stuffed down her throat. Zade didn’t speak. Didn’t even glance at her.
She was too aware of everything—her heart still racing from the meeting, her ring too heavy on her finger, her hair too tight around her scalp. Her entire body buzzed.
But the buzz faded fast as the car turned toward the Hales’ estate.
I have to spend the night there. In that mansion. With that family.
Her shoulders tensed.
As the gates opened and the mansion loomed, all glass and teeth and shadows, her earlier high soured into dread.
The car stopped.
Alex reached for the door handle, but Zade got out first, came around, and opened it for her. His hand closed around her wrist, firm.
“Let go,” she muttered.
He didn’t.
He walked ahead, practically dragging her behind him.
She yanked her arm halfway through the hallway, but he didn’t say a word until they were inside his room. The door slammed shut.
Then he turned.
“Do you know him?”
Alex blinked. “What?”
Zade stepped closer, eyes sharp. “David Brown. The man who came to our engagement uninvited.”
Alex kept her expression carefully blank. “I know he’s an old friend of my dad. I saw him a few times when I was younger. That’s it.”
“You’re sure?”
She met his gaze, slow and steady. “Why? Who is he?”
Zade stared at her for a long time, like he was trying to read between her eyelashes.
Then he scoffed and turned on his heel.
He slammed the door as he left.
Only then did Alex let the smirk curl across her lips.
***
She pulled out her phone and dialed.
Arthur picked up after one ring. “Let me guess. You’re calling about David.”
“You know?”
“He contacted me himself,” Arthur said. “We’re meeting tomorrow.”
“I want in.”
“You sure?” he asked, tone sharp.
“Yes. Send me the location. I’m done watching from the corner of the room.”
“Alright. I’ll text you the address.”
When the call ended, Alex tossed her phone on the bed and flopped back beside it, arms spread wide.
The ceiling above her glittered faintly with the reflections of chandeliers below. Somewhere in the distance, someone in that house was probably spying. Or plotting.
She didn’t care.
Not tonight.
Tonight, Alex Steel had done the impossible.
She’d lied straight to Zade Hale’s face and walked away with his confusion.
Her first real win.
And it tasted like revenge.