A soft golden glow bathed the ballroom. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead. Velvet curtains lined the walls, while a live orchestra played a haunting rendition of "Kiss in the Shadows."
The prom was no longer a school event—it was a battlefield of power, beauty, and secrets.
Ochieng entered the hall dressed in a custom midnight blue tux. He looked every inch the man the girls fought over, and the men envied.
But tonight, he wasn't smiling.
--
Naomi Ambrose descended the marble stairs like royalty in a backless emerald gown that shimmered with every step. The slit of her dress kissed her thigh, her hair cascading like raven silk. Whispers filled the air:
"Who is that?"
"She wasn't invited—was she?"
But Naomi smiled, holding the platinum prom invite. She held power now—and she knew how to use it.
---
Inside the restroom, Ivy sobbed quietly in front of the mirror. She wasn't wearing the dress she'd planned. Elijah had ghosted her. And her name… was not on the prom list.
Lena entered behind her, lips tight. "He's here," she whispered.
"I don't care," Ivy lied.
"Yes, you do. And I know what you did to Naomi. If Ochieng finds out—"
"Shut up, Lena."
---
Special guests filled the VIP section—owners of tech firms, hotel empires, even royalty from the Emirati network. Ochieng had unknowingly been dragged into their world.
Among them sat:
Zara Delacroix, 24 – Heiress to the Delacroix fashion house, in a red flame dress, smirking with a glass of champagne.
Yoon Jae-Min, 25 – K-pop idol turned venture capitalist. Watching Ochieng from afar.
Anastasia Reign, 22 – A fashion blogger and spy. Flawless and calculating.
They weren't here for the dance.
They were here to decide: Was Ochieng worth the crown?
---
Professor Liliana Wren watched from her car, lipstick smudged, heart cold.
She murmured into her phone: "Tonight, a secret dies. Tell Elijah—plan A is ready."
---