Louis drags me through the entire banquet, spotlighting me in a way that makes my cheeks burn. If my skin were lighter, people might mistake me for his daughter.
Not that I'm complaining about the support—but the attention still prickles like a too-tight dress.
We finally sink into chairs at a table overloaded with food: silver platters of herb-crusted lamb, towers of delicate pastries glazed to a mirror shine, and clusters of grapes so plump they look fake. The scent of rosemary and melted butter wraps around me, a small comfort.
"I can't wait to devour these cakes—" Louis reaches for a slice of chocolate ganache, fingers hovering like a kid in a candy store.
I slide a spinach salad under his hand. "Madam's orders. We're watching your sugar intake."
He gasps, clutching his chest as if I've stabbed him. "Traitor! Slave of Madam!"
I smirk. "I serve only where true power lies."
He rolls his eyes but stabs his fork into the salad with exaggerated suffering. A small victory.
I turn to my steak, savoring the crisp sear as the banquet hall hums around us—a symphony of clinking crystal, hollow laughter, and ambition thick enough to choke on. Two hours of forced smiles, and all I crave is silence.
"There you are!"
Hugo popped out like a rogue storm, his tie hanging loose and a smudge of cherry-red lipstick near his collar. His cologne—something expensive and woodsy—mixes with the tartness of wine on his breath.
"Wow. You got laid within two hours of this party?" Louis grins like a proud uncle.
Hugo drops into the seat beside me, stretching his arms behind his head. "Not my fault women find me irresistible."
"Women find you easy," I mutter around a bite of steak.
He clutches his chest, scandalized. "Excuse you?"
Louis chuckles. "She's not wrong. The real prize tonight is Sebastian, but no woman dares approach a 6'7" ice statue. So they settle for…" He gestures at Hugo's 5'7" frame.
I snort, nearly choking.
Hugo's face flushes crimson. "Oh, screw you—" He glares toward the far corner, where Sebastian stands like a frostbitten king surrounded by desperate courtiers. "That bastard is… insufferable."
I follow his gaze. The crowd parts just enough to reveal Sebastian's glacial profile—sharp jaw, unsmiling mouth, and that infuriatingly perfect hair. "Tell me about it. I almost cursed in front of him earlier."
Louis raises a brow. "I heard that. Didn't expect him to take an interest in you."
Hugo's eyes gleam. "Wait—did the Ice Prince actually speak to our little marketing analyst?"
I stab my steak harder than necessary. "Unfortunately. Just for tonight."
"Just tonight?" Hugo steals a bite from my plate. "What if he keeps bothering you?"
I shrug. "Doubt it. We're talking about Sebastian. I've never been so grateful for my basic looks."
The table goes silent.
Louis's smile vanishes. "Who told you you're basic?" His voice is deadly calm.
Hugo's playful smirk hardens. "You're one of the most stunning women here. Who the hell fed you that bullshit?"
I freeze, fork halfway to my mouth. Their intensity is unnerving. "N-No one. It was a joke?"
Hugo exhales sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "Damn it, I was ready to throw hands."
Louis shakes his head. "Same. I already planned a murder in my head."
A warm flutter fills my chest. These two—more family to me than my own blood—always know how to lift me up.
Hugo grabs his wineglass, scowling. "Ugh, why does this taste like cheap vinegar?"
"Someone messed up the order," Louis grumbles.
Typical. These two would rather debate alcohol quality than the mountain of work awaiting us tomorrow.
Then I feel it—a prickle crawling up my spine. Someone is watching me. The weight of it is suffocating, like icy fingers tracing my neck. My instincts scream, Don't look, but curiosity is my downfall.
I turn.
Shit! I should give more importance to my instincts!
Sebastian's icy blue eyes lock onto mine, unblinking. The noise of the banquet fades into static. Slowly, deliberately, he raises his champagne glass—
And smirks.
Not a friendly smile. Not even a flirtatious one.
It's a challenge.
A warning.
My stomach drops.
Oh no. No, no, no.
Why me?
Why me?!
"What's wrong?" Hugo pinched my cheeks, and I gave him a half laugh, half snort, "Nothing. Just wondering what went wrong in my life."
"The day you were born," he grinned, and dang it, it didn't do any good.
I am just overthinking, JUST OVERTHINKING?!
There is no way I caught the eyes of that giant blonde.
I shake my head as if shaking it off will shake away my thoughts and everything bothering me.
It's going to be just another film, another project, another arrogant actor, another... man with a golden spoon in his mouth.