Chapter 1 The Gala

The ballroom glittered like a scene from a dream, all crystal chandeliers and golden light. Evelyn Carter Evie to her friends stood at the edge of the room, clutching a glass of champagne she couldn't afford and feeling like a fraud in her borrowed dress. The sleek black gown hugged her curves perfectly, looking so dashing, but it wasn't hers. Neither were the diamond studs in her ears or the confidence she was trying so hard to fake.

"You're fine," she muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the stem of the glass. "Just blend in. No one will notice you."

But blending in was easier said than done when the room was filled with New York's elite billionaires, socialites, and CEOs who looked like they'd stepped out of a magazine spread. Evie had never felt more out of place.

She shouldn't even be here. Her best friend, Mia, was supposed to attend the gala as part of her event planning job, but a last-minute stomach flu had left Evie as the stand-in. Mia had begged her, promising it would be fun. "Free food, free drinks, and you might even meet someone interesting," she'd said.

Evie snorted softly. The only thing interesting about tonight was how quickly she could escape without drawing any attention to herself.

Her gaze swept the room, landing on a man standing near the center of the crowd. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a commanding presence that seemed to draw everyone's attention. His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and his sharp jawline was set in a look of mild boredom, as if the entire event was beneath him. "So handsome she said."

Alexander Knight.

Evie recognized him immediately. His face was plastered across business magazines and tabloids alike. The billionaire CEO of Knight Enterprises was known for his amazing business tactics and his equally amazing good looks. He was the kind of man who made women swoon and men seethe with envy.

And he was walking straight toward her.

Evie's heart skipped a beat. She glanced around, hoping he was heading for someone else, but the crowd seemed to part for him like the Red Sea. Before she could think of an escape plan, he was standing in front of her, his piercing gray eyes locking onto hers.

"You're in my way," he said, his voice low and smooth, like velvet over steel.

Evie blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. "Excuse me?"

"You're standing in front of the exit," he clarified, his tone dripping with impatience.

She glanced behind her and realized she was, in fact, blocking a discreet side door. Heat flooded her cheeks as she stepped aside. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."

He didn't respond, just gave her a curt nod and moved past her. But as he did, his arm brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. Evie's breath hitched, and she instinctively stepped back right into a passing waiter.

The tray of champagne glasses wobbled precariously, and for a split second, Evie thought she could save it. But then time seemed to slow as one glass tipped over, spilling its contents in a perfect arc directly onto Alexander Knight's pristine white shirt.

The room seemed to hold its breath.

Evie's stomach dropped as she stared at the dark stain spreading across his chest. "Oh my God," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sudden silence.

Alexander looked down at his shirt, then back at her, his expression unreadable. "Do you always make it a habit to ruin people's evenings?"

The sharpness of his tone snapped her out of her shock. "It was an accident," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't mean to"

"Clearly." He cut her off, his gaze narrowing. "Do you have any idea how much this shirt costs?"

Evie's cheeks burned. "I'm sorry," she said again, though part of her wanted to point out that he could probably afford a thousand shirts like it.

He studied her for a moment, his eyes flickering over her face as if trying to place her. "Do I know you?"

"No," she said quickly. "I'm just... here with a friend."

"A friend," he repeated, his tone skeptical. "And what's your name?"

"Evie," she said, then immediately regretted it. Why had she given him her name?

"Evie," he said, testing the sound of it. "Well, Evie, you've certainly made an impression."

She wasn't sure if it was a compliment or an insult, but before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a sinking feeling in her chest.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Evie avoided the champagne trays and kept to the edges of the room, hoping to stay out of trouble. But no matter where she went, she couldn't shake the memory of Alexander Knight's piercing gaze or the way her skin had tingled at his touch.

As the gala wound down, she found herself lingering near the exit, her mind racing. She shouldn't care what he thought of her. He was just another arrogant billionaire, and she was just a girl in a borrowed dress.

But as she stepped out into the cool night air, she couldn't help wondering if she would cross path with him again.