Chapter 3

An hour had passed. In the cold silence of the marble bathroom, Blair had methodically repaired her composure. The silver gown lay discarded on the floor like a shed skin. She had slipped into a simple black silk dress from her travel wardrobe, reapplied her lipstick with a steady hand, and stared at her reflection until the woman looking back was no one but the unshakable CEO. The diamond necklace Butler had clasped around her neck remained, its cold weight a constant, brutal reminder.

It caught the light with every step she took, drawing the eye, effectively distracting from any marks that might have been left on her skin. She wore her armor well.

Blair stepped back into the bustling ballroom of the Four Seasons. The noise of the Oscar after-party hit her like a physical wave-clinking glasses, booming laughter, the constant flash of paparazzi cameras in the distance.

She plucked a champagne flute from a passing waiter and glided through the crowd. A famous director stopped her, praising her business acenuity. She smiled, a perfect, practiced stretch of her lips, and exchanged pleasantries. She looked like a queen holding court.

"Blair!"

Paige's voice cut through the music. Blair turned to see her assistant pushing through a cluster of agents, her face flushed with panic. Paige grabbed Blair's arm, her grip surprisingly strong, and pulled her toward a quiet service corridor away from the main floor.

"Blair, we have a problem," Paige panted, pulling out her phone. "It happened in the last thirty minutes."

She shoved the screen in Blair's face. It was the TMZ homepage. The headline blared in bold, red letters: Oscar Winner's New Romance? Alexis Ashley & Kiana Glover Caught Kissing Backstage!

Blair took the phone. The photo was crystal clear, clearly taken by a hidden camera. In a dimly lit corner backstage, Alexis had his hands framing Kiana's face. Their lips were locked. Kiana's eyes were closed, a look of pure, theatrical ecstasy on her face.

"It's been five minutes," Paige said, her voice tight. "The servers are crashing. It's everywhere."

Blair used her thumb to zoom in on the image. She didn't look at Alexis. She looked at Kiana. She looked at the curve of her sister's smile, the deliberate tilt of her head toward the camera. The coldness in Blair's eyes deepened.

"The breakup statement from six months ago is trending again," Paige said, her voice trembling. "Everyone is saying Alexis left you for her. You're the punchline of the whole country right now."

Blair felt nothing. No sting of betrayal. No flush of embarrassment. Her focus narrowed on one single point: Kiana Glover.

Kiana Glover. The other daughter of the Glover family. Her sister. Her rival.

This wasn't just an actor acting out. This was a declaration of war from inside her own house. Alexis hadn't just jumped ship; he had swum straight into the enemy's harbor.

"Where is he?" Blair asked, handing the phone back to Paige.

"He's still in the main hall with Kiana," Paige replied, glancing over her shoulder. "They're surrounded by reporters. He's eating it up."

Blair smoothed the fabric of her dress. She didn't scream. She didn't cry. Instead, a slow, chilling smile spread across her face. It was a smile that made Paige take a step back.

"Good," Blair said softly, her voice like velvet wrapped around steel. "I was just looking for an excuse to clean house."

Paige stared at her, stunned. "Clean house? What do you mean?"

"Let him enjoy his last moment in the sun," Blair said, her tone dropping to a freezing pitch. "When the party is over, bring him to me."

She turned on her heel and walked back toward the ballroom. Her posture was immaculate, her stride confident. She looked like a woman who owned the world, not one who had just been publicly humiliated.

A prominent producer intercepted her, raising his glass. "To your success tonight, Blair. You've done it again."

Blair clinked her glass against his, the crystal ringing clear. "Success always comes with a price, doesn't it?"

The producer laughed, missing the dark undertone completely, and moved on.

Blair's eyes scanned the room. Over the sea of heads, she found them. Alexis and Kiana were holding court near the bar, flashes going off in their faces. Kiana was laughing, playing the part of the blushing new muse perfectly.

As if sensing the weight of the stare, Kiana looked up. Her eyes met Blair's across the crowded room. A slow, taunting smile spread across Kiana's face. It was the smile of a victor rubbing salt in the wound.

Blair didn't flinch. She held her sister's gaze, her own expression calm, pitying, and utterly cold.

She pulled her phone from her clutch and typed a quick message to the head of security: Ensure Mr. Ashley is escorted to the private lounge after the event. Make it 'smooth.'

She added quotation marks around the word smooth. She hit send, slipped the phone away, and took a sip of her champagne. She turned and walked toward the opposite end of the ballroom, leaving Kiana's victory to rot in the flash of the cameras.