Chapter 4 EPISODE 4

The Gala Invitation

Lois's POV

Alex enters my office unexpectedly during the end of the workday. I can't stop looking at him because his footfall are steady and measured, like the beat of a drum. He is wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, and his face is unreadable as always.

I stop, my fingers stuck to the keyboard. "Alex?" I inquire, my voice shaking with doubt. He doesn't come to find me very often. It never occurs, though.

He stops just inside the door and looks around the room before settling on me. "Lois," he murmurs in a deep, low voice that sounds almost predatory. "I need you to go to a gala with me tonight."

I blink. A party? What does he need me for at a posh event? My mind is racing as I try to figure out what the request means. "I don't get it." "Why me?"

His eyes get sharper, but his face stays calm. "You are coming because I have decided that you will." He doesn't say anything else, but stands there like I should be thankful for the invitation.

I gently get up, not sure of myself. "But why? I've just been here for a few weeks. "I'm not ready."

He offers me a quick look that seems more like a challenge than a sign of comfort. "This isn't about being ready. It's about the part you are going to play. "Later, I'll tell you more."

He doesn't say anything else and passes an envelope over the desk to me. The characters with gold on them shine on the white paper. I reach for it and pause for a moment before holding it in my hands. The invitation seems heavier than it should be.

He turns to depart, and his shadow falls across the door. "Don't keep me waiting. They will take you up at 7.

I look at the invitation and feel sick to my stomach. I don't know what I just consented to.

I look at myself in the mirror. The dress is a deep navy blue and fits me in a way I've never worn before. It's classy, maybe too much so. This level of formality is new to me, especially in a world that feels so strange.

I touch the fabric and smooth it down, my fingers shaking a little. I'm not sure if it's because I'm excited or scared. Alex didn't say anything; he just gave me the invitation and ordered me to come. The unclear words keep coming back to me. "The part you are about to play..."

I don't know what that implies.

What if I'm merely a piece in a game he's playing? What if this party is just one more move in the chess game that is his life?

I shake my head to try to calm the increasing anxiety in my chest.

I almost jump out of my skin when the doorbell rings. I guess it's the driver. He is on time. Too early.

I look in the mirror one last time and fix my hair. I feel like I'm getting ready for a fight, not a night of high society mingling.

I leave the mirror and walk to the door, holding the invitation in my hand. It still feels weighty as it did when I first got it. I'm going into a world where I don't belong. I can sense it deep inside.

I get out of the car, and the valet greets me with a trained smile. His movements are slick and quick. The gala is in front of me, with a sea of sparkling gowns and sharply dressed men. The sound of people talking, drinks clinking, and beautiful music fills the air. It makes me feel too much, it's lovely, and it's hard to breathe.

This isn't where I belong. I don't belong. I feel insignificant in this big, polished world of luxury. Every time I catch their eye or smile, it feels like they're judging me to see if I'm good enough to be in the same room as them.

I look around the room to see if I can find someone I know. And then I saw him. Alex. He is across the room from me, talking to a group of people. The warm light from the chandeliers makes his strong jawline stand out. He is calm, collected, and strong. People appear to move out of the way for him, drawn to him.

I don't even know why I'm looking for him. But there he is, like he's waiting for me to see him.

When our eyes connect, my heart skips a beat. Even though he isn't smiling, the way he looks at me makes me feel like he can see right through me. It's like he knows precisely how weird I feel.

I take a deep breath to calm myself down, but the way he looks at me-his gaze is piercing and intense-makes my skin crawl. It feels like everything about me, including the things I attempt to hide, is out in the open for him to see.

I had to turn away, but the tension is still there, heavy and real.

I don't know what's going on, but I can't shake the feeling that everything will be different after tonight.

I stand at the door and try to make myself invisible. People walk by me, talking and laughing like it's nothing. I feel like I don't belong.

I see Alex across the room. There are a lot of people around him, and they are all listening to what he has to say. The way they gaze at him, like he's a king and they're just waiting for him to say yes, makes my chest feel constricted. I don't know if I'm jealous or amazed.

The woman next to him is what truly catches my eye. The gold in her dress shines, and her dark hair falls in lovely waves over her shoulders. She looks stunning without even trying, and there is no denying the chemistry between them. They converse like no one else is there, and for a second I think I'm seeing things.

They laugh together, and she touches his arm, her fingers staying there for just a little too long. I feel a jolt in my stomach, like someone punched me in the gut as I realized it. Is it possible that she used to be his girlfriend?

I don't know why the concept disturbs me so much, but it does. I attempt to turn aside and act like I haven't seen them, but my eyes keep coming back to them. I can't stop myself.

Alex suddenly turns to me and looks me in the eye. For a moment, everything else melts away, and it's just him and me, with the air between us thick with unsaid tension.

He raises an eyebrow, as if to urge, "Go ahead and say something." But I don't. I can't.

I watch as Alex walks around the room, saying hello to folks like he's done it a thousand times before. He is in his element, sure of himself, and in charge. But I can't help but think that he brought me here for more than simply a party.

As the night goes on, I realize that this isn't simply a party. It's a show of strength. The way people here talk to each other is all about status. And I'm the new piece that Alex has in his chess game.

I'm the one who stands at the edge and watches him go through this world without ever really entering it. I can feel the weight of his power on me.

I start to feel like I'm about to pass out in this crowd, and my mind is racing with the thought that Alex brought me here for some reason I don't know. Maybe he's putting me through a test to see if I can manage the stress. I might not be just a temporary helper. I might be a part of something bigger.

Then I hear Alex talking to a man I don't know. Their remarks are low, too soft for me to hear fully, but I can tell how they feel. There is something between them that they don't talk about.

I go in a bit closer and try to hear, but Alex looks over and sees me. His eyes are piercing and straight, as if he understands precisely what I'm doing. He doesn't change his face, but the message is clear: I shouldn't hear this.

I step back and my heart races. I suddenly feel extremely small in a room full of giants.