Chapter 4

An hour later, two of Mr. Monroe's security guys were at my apartment door.

Large, impassive, dressed in dark suits.

They weren't asking.

"Mr. Miller, Mr. Monroe requests your presence at the gala."

"I declined his daughter's invitation."

"This is not an invitation, sir. Mr. Monroe insists."

They weren't aggressive, just firm. The kind of firm that didn't take no for an answer when backed by Monroe money and power.

I thought about refusing, about the scene it would cause here.

But a different idea began to form.

If they wanted me at their gala so badly, they'd get me. Just not in the way they expected.

"Fine," I said. "Let's go."

I didn't change. My jeans, t-shirt, and worn sneakers would have to do.

The ride to the hotel was silent.

The ballroom was a sea of tuxedos, glittering gowns, and champagne flutes.

Savi, looking radiant in a red dress, spotted me the moment I was escorted in. Her smile faltered when she saw my attire.

Caleb was by her side, looking less like a dying man and more like a smug peacock in his tailored suit. He gave me a small, knowing smirk.

Mr. Monroe, a bulldog of a man with cold eyes, intercepted me before I could take two steps.

"Miller. Glad you could make it." His eyes flicked over my clothes with disdain. "Savi was worried you wouldn't show. We need to present a united front tonight."

"A united front for what, Mr. Monroe?"

"For the PetroCorp deal, of course. They need reassurance."

Savi glided over, her arm linking through mine possessively. Her nails dug into my arm.

"Ethan, darling, there you are!" Her voice was bright, false. "Everyone, this is my fiancé, Ethan Miller!"

She tried to steer me towards a group of men in expensive suits, clearly the PetroCorp contingent.

Caleb watched from a slight distance, a faint, triumphant smile on his lips.

Savi leaned in, whispering, "Play along, Ethan. For God's sake, just for tonight. We can fix this."

Fix this. As if it were a leaky faucet.

Mr. Monroe was already beaming at the PetroCorp executives, gesturing towards us.

"Gentlemen, I believe you know my daughter, Savi. And this is Ethan Miller, the brilliant mind behind our proprietary software, and soon, my son-in-law."

The spotlight was literally on us.