The doors of The Elites opened, and I felt like I'd stepped into a movie set. Golden walls reflected the warm glow of chandeliers, marble floors gleaming as if they were polished every hour. Velvet ropes guided the VIPs, waiters in crisp uniforms floated by with trays of sparkling drinks, and everywhere I looked, the glitter of expensive jewelry made my eyes ache.
Beth was already swept up in the glamour, twirling and laughing. "See? Isn't this amazing?" she whispered, eyes sparkling.
I forced a smile, gripping the strap of my bag. "Amazing is one word. Overwhelming is another."
Kale appeared beside us, effortlessly smooth in his designer suit. "I insisted on hosting tonight," he said, voice low but confident, eyes flicking toward me. "You two deserve the best."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is this your way of saying I should pretend to be impressed?"
He chuckled, brushing past my sarcasm like it was air.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
As we moved through the crowd, I accidentally bumped into someone. A hand steadied me.
"I'm so sorry!" I said, looking up.
The man in front of me was… stunning. Sharp features, dark hair, piercing eyes that seemed to study me like I was a puzzle he wanted to solve. His tailored jacket was understated but perfect, every detail deliberate.
"No harm done," he said, voice smooth and measured. A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Beth nudged me. "Oh, wow. He—he's… wow."
I glared at her. "Don't start. I barely know him."
The man tilted his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine again before he disappeared into the crowd.
I couldn't shake the feeling he had just… marked me in some way.
Beth whispered, eyes gleaming. "That was Xavier, isn't it?"
I blinked. "Xavier… who?"
"Xavier Steel. One of the top execs around here. Big name. Rich, handsome… everything this place screams."
I forced a laugh, trying to downplay the flutter in my chest. "Great. Just what I needed tonight—wealthy strangers judging my lack of sparkle."
Beth chuckled, but I noticed her glances in my direction. Something about the way I reacted had clearly piqued her curiosity.
Kale tried to get my attention multiple times, but my focus kept drifting to the man who had disappeared like a shadow in the gold-lit crowd.
By the end of the night, I felt flustered, unsettled, and… oddly intrigued. I didn't like him—I wasn't supposed to—but a small, stubborn part of me couldn't stop thinking about that brief encounter.
And just like that, The Elites had managed to make me feel both out of place and strangely drawn in.