For better or worse, I wasn’t facing this alone.
23
LUCIA
Tonight was the night of my first red carpet event. As promised, we were in high gear trying to fix my shitty past coming up and messing with Alexander’s entire future. I had been sitting in anxiety all morning. Even a calm day out with Nicola and Gianna exploring the city only distracted me for so long. The dress Anna had sent hung from the door frame like a silent challenge. Sleek, emerald green, with a neckline that plunged just enough to make me blush. The fabric shimmered faintly in the light, clinging to every curve and promising a kind of boldness I wasn’t sure I could pull off.
Nicola sprawled across the armchair in the corner of my room, tossing grapes into the air and catching them with a precision that was both infuriating and impressive. “You, my dear, are looking drop-dead gorgeous,” she declared, barely looking up from her phone.
I huffed, smoothing my hands down the dress again. “I feel like I look silly.”
Nicola rolled her eyes dramatically. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve got the curves, the confidence—you’re gonna knock them dead. Alexander won’t know what hit him.”
I turned to her with a mock glare. “I’m not doing this forAlexander. This is about the PR disaster.”
“Uh-huh. Sure it is.” She waggled her brows, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
I tossed a pillow in her direction, and she dodged it effortlessly, laughing. “I’m serious, Nicola. This is just damage control.”
“And if damage control happens to involve you looking like a goddess and making Alexander Wright drool a little, that’s just a bonus.”
I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips, even as I turned back to the mirror. Nicola had been a godsend over the past few weeks—always ready with a joke, a sassy comeback, or a much-needed reality check. She’d swooped in like a whirlwind of energy, and unsurprisingly my daughter adorned her as much as I did.
“Okay,” Nicola said, standing and dramatically dusting invisible lint from her jeans. “Let’s get you zipped up and looking like a million bucks. Gia and I will be rooting for you from here.”
“You’re not going to make this a bigger deal than it already is, right?” I asked, stepping into the dress carefully.
“Absolutely not,” she said solemnly, then winked. “I mean, I’ll probably teach Gia how to cheer every time your face comes on TV, but that’s it. Totally low-key.”
I rolled my eyes, but a laugh slipped out. “Thanks, Nic. For everything.”
“Always, babe,” she said, giving me a firm pat on the shoulder. “Now get out there! The world isn’t ready for you tonight.”
After one last look in the mirror—where I barely recognized myself—I grabbed my clutch, kissed Gia’s forehead, and headed out. Nicola gave me a loud wolf whistle as I left, and I shook my head, trying not to laugh.
The elevator ride down felt endless, my heart pounding with every floor. By the time I reached the lobby, the nerves had settled into a steady hum. I stepped outside, and there he was.
Alexander leaned casually against the sleek black car, but there was nothing casual about the way his eyes met mine. His suit was tailored to perfection, the black-on-black ensemble making him look impossibly sharp. But it wasn’t his suit that stole my breath. It was the way his expression shifted the moment he saw me.
For a second, I thought he might have forgotten to breathe. His jaw tightened, his lips parting slightly as his gaze swept over me—slowly, deliberately, like he was memorizing every inch.
“You…” he started, then stopped, swallowing hard before trying again. “You look incredible.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I ducked my head, wishing I could play it cool. “Thanks,” I said softly, clutching my bag tighter.
When I looked up again, he was still staring, his eyes dark and filled with something I couldn’t quite name. Admiration? Desire? Whatever it was, it made my pulse quicken.
“You ready for this?” he asked, his voice low, almost reverent.
I nodded, stepping closer. “Are you?”
His lips curved into a small, knowing smile, and he opened the car door for me. “With you? Always.”
The car glided to a stop, and the world outside exploded into a dazzling chaos of lights, cameras, and the buzz of a crowd I wasn’t prepared for. I’d seen red carpet events on TV before, sure. They always seemed so glamorous, so polished. But sitting here now, staring out at the flashing lights and the sea of people shouting names, I felt like an impostor in my borrowed dress and heels that pinched just a little too much.
Alexander leaned over, his hand brushing mine. “Ready?” His voice was low, steady, the kind of voice that made you believe you could walk into a lion’s den unscathed.
I forced a smile, pushing my nerves deep down, and nodded in response. When the door opened, the noise surged. Alexander stepped out first, effortlessly commanding attention like he was born to live in this world of spectacle. Then he turned, his hand extended toward me. For a split second, I hesitated. This wasn’t my world. This wasn’t my life. But the way he looked at me, his eyes warm and unwavering, made me forget all that.
