Chapter 1 – The Gala
Amara 's pov :
I've never liked galas. They're always too bright, too loud, and stuffed with people who smile with their lips while stabbing each other with their eyes.
And tonight, I had to be one of them.
Not for fun. Not for fashion. For work.
Vale Industries' annual gala.
A night of glittering lights, champagne, and carefully curated smiles. And right in the center of it all… Roman Vale, CEO, billionaire, untouchable.
I tugged at the strap of my black dress. Simple. Safe. Not flashy. My camera bag pressed against my hip like armor. I wasn't here to socialize; I was here to observe, to notice, to catch something worth writing about.
An anonymous tip had brought me here. Something big was going down tonight. I didn't know what. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was everything.
Still, I felt it in my gut—a pull, a warning, a promise that this night would change something.
Years ago, I'd written about a small leak in Vale Industries' operations. It wasn't a scandal, just a tiny crack in their perfect façade but it was enough to make the Vale family frown. Some of them still disliked me.
Not that I cared.
I had a job to do. Professionalism first. Curiosity second. Survival third.
The hall was enormous. Chandeliers hung like frozen waterfalls, scattering gold and white light across marble floors so polished they reflected the guests' perfectly arranged lives. Women floated in glittering gowns, hair piled into precise waves; men glided around in tailored suits, confident, smooth, untouchable. Everyone whispered, laughed, measured every glance.
I caught sight of her first ,tall, poised, dark hair pulled back, eyes sharp and calculating. Roman's sister. She leaned casually against a pillar, one eyebrow raised at something Roman did. She didn't look at me, didn't need to. But even from across the room, I felt it: she was important, dangerous in her own quiet way. She rolled her eyes at a man clearly trying to impress roman and muttered something under her breath .And yet… somehow, she seemed amused. A little ridiculous, too. I couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at my lips.
And then I noticed him.
A tall man, radiating control and confidence. Suit immaculate, shoes polished to a mirror shine. Every movement calculated. Presence like a storm contained in human form.
"Miss Cole," he said, smooth, measured.
I turned.
"Adrian Blackwood," he continued, extending his hand. "CEO of Blackwood Enterprises."
He brushed a kiss across the back of my hand, just enough to unsettle.
"I see," I said, keeping my tone neutral.
He scanned the room with faint amusement. "Beautiful night, isn't it? The chandeliers, the marble floors… the precision. Everything flawless."
I followed his gaze. It was all true. Everything sparkled. Too perfect. "It's beautiful," I said carefully. "They've gone all out."
Adrian's eyes returned to me, sharp, calculating. "Vale Industries expects perfection. And journalists who cover them… they expect to see what they want, not what they should see."
I raised an eyebrow. "I report what I see."
He smirked, leaning in slightly. "Some truths are dangerous. Not everyone enjoys outsiders poking around."
I swallowed. My pulse quickened. "Understood."
He straightened, one last flicker of interest in his eyes. "Enjoy the night, Miss Cole… but remember, curiosity can be expensive."
And just like that, he was gone. Leaving a ripple of unease behind him, like a shadow I couldn't shake.
The music shifted, slower, more deliberate. Couples glided across the dance floor under the chandeliers, smiling, swaying, pretending everything in their lives was perfect. I lingered at the edge, taking notes, watching, listening. Everything looked staged, rehearsed, fragile.
I needed a break. A bathroom, a quiet corner somewhere to breathe and think. Tonight could make my career. But I had to survive the people here first.
I slipped in, closing the door behind me, and froze.
There, leaning casually against the wall with a cigarette between her fingers, was Liora Vale. Dark hair pulled back, eyes sharp, posture relaxed. She exhaled smoke lazily, letting it curl around her like a halo of rebellion. She didn't look at me right away, and when she did, a sly smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, well," she said, voice low, teasing, "if it isn't Amara Cole. Bold enough to show up here. I half-expected the family to stop you at the door."
I blinked. "You… know me?"
Liora smirked, flicking ash into the sink. "Of course I do. The Vales still grumble about you. But honestly? I like that you're daring enough to walk into this circus."
I studied her. There was something almost electric about her wild, unapologetic, yet strangely kind. She didn't care about appearances or rules. She didn't even seem to like the gala, yet she owned the room in her way.
She tilted her head, eyes twinkling. "Seriously, who even enjoys these things? Sparkles, fake smiles, self-important speeches. I'm surprised I'm here at all. But hey - don't mistake my attitude for cruelty. I can be nice… sometimes."
I couldn't help a small laugh. "You're… different."
"Different is just another word for sane in this madhouse," she replied with a shrug. "And you, Amara? You're as fearless as I thought. Not scared of the Vales? Impressive. Most people faint at the sight of a Vale glare."
Her candor was refreshing. She was wild, untamed, and unapologetically herself.
I felt a strange mix of admiration and unease.
She took a long drag from her cigarette, exhaled slowly, and scanned the hall behind me. Then her lips curved into a mischievous grin.
"Ugh… all this sparkle, all these fake smiles… but I'll admit it. Fine men are here. That's a plus."
I couldn't stop the snort of laughter that escaped me. She raised a brow, eyes twinkling.
"See? Even I can find a bright side. You survive the Vales' judgment and the cocktails, and maybe you'll get lucky too."
We shared a quiet laugh, just the two of us in the bathroom, the sound tiny against the bustle outside.
Then she dropped the cigarette, smirked, and stretched. "Anyway, I've wasted enough of your precious time. Keep your wits about you tonight, Cole. And try not to fall in love with the chandeliers while you're at it."
I laughed again, shaking my head. "I'll… try not to."
Liora tossed her hair and sauntered out of the restroom, confident and untouchable.
Before I could respond, she was gone. Smooth as a shadow, disappearing into the hall, leaving the faint smell of smoke behind.
I stood there for a moment, processing. Bold, witty, fearless… and clearly dangerous in her own way. The Vales weren't just Roman; they were a family full of power, rules, and hidden games. And Liora? She broke them all without trying.
Shivers crawled down my spine. That simple acknowledgment made the gala feel different,alive, dangerous, unpredictable.
I finished using the restroom and started making my way back to the ball room
Then I noticed movement near the service door. A waiter paused, eyes darting nervously. A shadow shifted behind him. Nothing obvious, but it made my stomach tighten.
And then chaos erupted.
A tray of champagne slipped, crashing to the floor. Glass shattered. Gasps and nervous laughter mingled with frantic apologies. People jumped back, trying to maintain composure. One woman's heel slipped, sending her sprawling toward a table.
My pulse raced. Perfectly polished and controlled… the gala had fractured. For a moment, the glitter, the gold, the smiles, all illusions fell away.
I stepped back, scanning the room. Shadows moved where they shouldn't. Whispers carried hints of secrets. Everyone's eyes held something they weren't saying.
Then my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out, expecting a message from my editor. Instead:
"Some things are better left unknown. Keep your eyes open."
My stomach clenched.
The words were simple, but heavy. Someone knew. Someone was watching.
I slipped the phone into my bag, heart hammering. The night had only just begun.
And for some reason… I didn't want to run.