“I don’t know, Steph.”

“Don’t leave me alone with Philippe and how he randomly switches to French when he’s drunk, as if the world is fluent in the language.”

“Then curses you when you speak in English?”

“Exactly, girl. Come on, it’ll be just the three of us.”

“Fine.” I don’t have anything to do, anyway, and I need to stop thinking about Adrian for one night.

Or try to.

After this morning, I want to see him again more than I ever have before.

“Yes! I love you forever.” Stephanie walks with me.

I grin back as a response.

She stops in front of my dressing room and pinches my cheek. “You’re glowing more lately.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. Is your lover the reason why your Giselle is so haunting?”

“I-I don’t have a lover.”

“Of course you do. He’s the reason why you hurry home every night and refuse my and Philippe’s invitations.”

“That’s…how did you know?”

“It’s clear if anyone focuses hard enough. Lately, you seem to be firmly on the ground instead of floating somewhere no one sees you. You need to introduce me to Mr. Hot Stuff.”

“It’s not serious,” I murmur. Adrian is not my lover and never will be. What are we, anyway? We can’t be friends with benefits because we’re not friends.

Sex partners? Probably, but do sex partners go to the lengths Adrian does to make sure I’m fully comfortable?

“How about you invite him to our opening?”

“Huh?”

“Yes!” She claps her hands. “It would be the perfect opportunity for him to see your Giselle and for us to spy on the man who got your heart.”

“He doesn’t have my heart,” I say defensively, then pause at the thought Stephanie just planted in my head.

Should I invite Adrian?

Since he’s part of the reason for how I shaped my Giselle, I’m sure I’ll perform even better knowing he’s there.

Or worse.

I shouldn’t take that risk, but at the same time, a part of me wants him there. In the midst of the thousand strangers, I want to step onto the stage, knowing Adrian’s among them.

“I guess I can ask him,” I tell Stephanie, who squeals.

“I’m getting you a VIP ticket.” She winks at me and hurries down the hall.

I laugh at her enthusiasm and go in to change.

Half an hour later, I’m wearing a blue dress with a double V-neck, complementing the look with a dainty sterling silver necklace—the only memory I have of Mom.

My heart tugs at the reminder of her and I tuck those black memories to the back of my brain. I wear low heels and let my hair fall in loose waves down my shoulders before I put on my coat and meet Stephanie and Philippe.

She shoves a VIP ticket in my hand, grinning like an idiot.

“Chérie.” Philippe kisses my cheek as we walk to his car. “I’m glad you could join us.”

“I won’t make it a habit.”

“I’m happy with what I can get. Don’t spoil my fun.”

We leave the theater together in the midst of glares from other dancers. I learned to tune out their envy a long time ago. Adrian was right, in a way. If I care too much, I’ll be the only one who suffers.

Matt, who’s tall and obese, meets us at the venue where the event is being held. Apparently, it’s the opening for some subsidiary of a large corporation named V Corp. Our producer has associates here and owns some shares. While leading us inside, he keeps reminding us to be on our best behavior like we’re children.

The hall is enormous and majestic as is expected of a large corporation. Gold glitters everywhere as if they want to shove the fact that they have money down everyone’s throats.

Men in tuxedos and women in gowns are scattered all around, chatting happily.

I’m glad Philippe and Stephanie ignore the commotion, choosing to attack the long lines of the buffet and the open bar.

I climb onto a stool and wait for them to stop arguing over which food is fattening and join me.

“What can I get you, miss?” the bartender asks.

“Nothing.” The voice coming from my right gives me pause.

The young bartender pales before he retreats to the corner, going to serve the customer farthest away from me.

I stare up to find Yan, Adrian’s younger guard with the long hair, standing by my side, his face as stoic as usual. “You need to leave, miss.”

That’s the first time he’s ever addressed me in the month I’ve known Adrian. He has a subtle Russian accent that resembles Adrian’s, but it’s less sophisticated.

Wait. If Yan is here, does that mean his boss is here, too?

I hate the fluttering in my belly as I stare around Yan, searching for the most threatening and dangerous man in the room.

“Miss.” Yan repeats, impatiently this time.

“Why do I need to leave?”

“You have to.”

“Says who?”

“Boss.”

“Well, your boss doesn’t get to tell me what to do. And if he has something to say, why doesn’t he do it himself?”

Yan’s gaze shifts sideways as if he’s nervous or lost about what to do. “You can follow me willingly or I’ll have to carry you out by force.”

My lips part. “What the hell?”

“Orders are orders.”

“Are you a robot?”

He pauses at that as if he’s offended. “By force, then.”

Yan grabs my hand and pulls me down from the stool. I’m about to scream the whole place down when I catch a scene over Yan’s shoulder.

Adrian.

He’s wearing a black tux that flatters his tall, muscular body. It’s the first time I’ve see him in such formal clothes and it suits him to perfection, making him appear like the latest hot model on a men’s magazine. His hair is styled back and his lips are tilted in a smile.

One he doesn’t give me.

One that’s now directed at a slender blonde with stunning features and a bombshell body to go with it. She doesn’t need to be naked to showcase it either. Her red dress is long-sleeved and stops right above her knees. It’s modest and beautiful, giving her a classy look I could never pull off.