The sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of an enormous iron gate. It opened smoothly, revealing a grand mansion bathed in golden lights, its towering pillars and intricate architecture screaming wealth. Anna's jaw nearly dropped, but she quickly shut it, refusing to give Alex the satisfaction of seeing her impressed.
As the car pulled up to the entrance, a lineup of uniformed servants stood in perfect formation, their expressions unreadable as they bowed slightly in greeting. The moment Alex stepped out, they sprang into action, one opening his door, another rushing to Anna's side.
She hesitated before stepping out, the weight of their stares making her uneasy. This was way out of her comfort zone. She wasn't meant to be here.
"Come on, don't keep them waiting," Alex's smooth voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She shot him a glare but stepped out anyway, adjusting her crumpled blouse. Before she could take in more of the place, Alex turned to her with a smirk.
"I got you a dress," he said casually, like it was nothing.
Anna blinked. "You what?"
Alex signaled to one of the servants, who stepped forward with a neatly wrapped box. "I had it prepared. You can't attend the celebration looking like… that."
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Wow. Thanks for the insult, boss."
"Just stating facts," he replied, unfazed. "Take her to the guest room and help her get ready."
Before Anna could protest, two maids gently took her by the arms and guided her inside. She cast one last glare at Alex over her shoulder, but he only lifted a brow, looking way too amused for her liking.
The doors shut behind her, sealing her fate for the evening.
A full thirty minutes later, the grand doors to the hall opened again, and Anna stepped out.
The moment she did, time seemed to slow.
Gone was the clumsy, frazzled woman who had stumbled through the office earlier that day. In her place stood someone else—someone who owned the room without even trying. The deep red dress hugged her curves in all the right places, the silky fabric flowing effortlessly with each step. Her usually messy hair cascaded down in soft waves, framing a face that, for once, wasn't scowling.
She looked nothing like the woman Alex had seen earlier—the one he had grown used to, the one who annoyed him at every turn. Tonight, she looked like someone who could command a room full of powerful people without even raising her voice.
Alex had seen countless women dressed to impress, yet for some reason, his chest felt… different. Almost tight. His fingers twitched, and his usual sharp remarks died on his tongue.
She was breathtaking. But what really threw him was how completely out of place she seemed, standing there among the wealth and polished guests, yet somehow owning the moment.
Anna, however, was too focused on the many unfamiliar faces staring at her. She had barely adjusted to the ridiculous transformation before a booming voice pulled her attention.
"Ah, there she is! The woman of the hour!"
Mr. Carter, the company's chairman and Alex's father's close associate, walked toward her with a beaming smile. He gestured for her to join him at the center of the room. Confused but with no other choice, she moved forward, hyper-aware of the murmurs around her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the reason we are gathered here tonight," Mr. Carter announced. "This brilliant young woman is Anna, the one responsible for securing the biggest contract of the year!"
Applause erupted, and Anna felt her face heat up. She hadn't expected this. Sure, she had worked hard on that deal, but she never imagined being the center of attention for it.
Mr. Carter went on, praising her negotiation skills, her quick thinking, and how she had impressed the clients with her determination. The words seemed to flow effortlessly from his lips, and Anna's heart pounded. She hadn't realized how much she was holding onto the idea of being accepted, of proving herself in this world that felt so foreign.
For a brief moment, she caught Alex's eye across the room. His gaze was unreadable, but something flickered in it. Was it admiration? Regret? She couldn't quite tell, but her stomach fluttered nonetheless.
Alex, still standing by the entrance, watched the entire scene unfold. He should've been unfazed—this was business, nothing more. Yet, for some reason, watching Anna under the spotlight, watching the way her eyes shone with uncertainty yet quiet strength…
He felt something shift inside him.
And he wasn't sure he liked it.
As the applause settled down, Alex felt a solid bump from behind.
"Damn," a voice whistled beside him. "Who is that hottie? She looks like the woman of my dreams."
Alex clenched his jaw before slowly turning his head. His younger brother, Ryan, stood next to him, eyes locked on Anna like he had just discovered a hidden treasure.
Ryan was the complete opposite of Alex—charming, easygoing, and an absolute flirt. And right now, the way he was staring at Anna made something sharp twist inside Alex's chest.
Alex's voice dropped into an icy tone. "Don't you dare mess with her."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Whoa. Chill, big bro. Since when do you care who I mess with?"
Alex didn't respond immediately. He didn't even know why he had said that. But the thought of Ryan flashing his signature smile at Anna, making her laugh, making her blush—
Yeah. That didn't sit well with him.
Ryan chuckled, clearly amused. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Alex shot him a sharp look, but before he could say anything else, Mr. Carter called out again. "Alex, come over here! You, too, Ryan!"
Ryan nudged Alex playfully. "Guess we'll have to continue this conversation later."
As they walked toward the center of the room, Alex kept his face unreadable, his usual mask back in place. But one thing was clear.
Ryan had noticed something.
And that was a problem.